The China Diaries: Bon Voyage

I leave for China in the morning. I am, of course, nervous. And I am, of course, excited. It hasn't, to be fair, really hit me yet. I think I chucked that particular pebble towards my Lake of Knowledge at just the right angle for it to skip along the top, without really sinking in. I expect it to hit some time after I've boarded my flight in Chicago, and I feel sorry for the individual sitting next to me when it does. There will probably be a combination of crying, screaming, laughter, and euphoria. Perhaps I will actually purchase an in-flight drink and take advantage of the effects of high altitude on blood. Have you ever tried drinking at altitude? It's fabulous.

I will miss everyone, but I am also looking forward to making new friends, learning a new language, and experiencing a radically different culture. Nothing bad can really come of this, I don't believe. Adios, United States of America. We both knew this day would come.