Five Days and Counting. . .

The days keep coming and time is rushing onward. I feel excitement growing as I begin to pack and lay out everything I am bringing. It's amazing how many things we take for granted living in America. Everyone who I talk to who has been to China keeps telling me to be prepared. Nothing in China is as clean as it is in America. I suppose they have bigger things to worry about than whether or not their restaurant/bathroom is clean. I also hear that many bathrooms are simply holes in the ground. . . As rustic as this sounds, I feel that my experience camping has served to prepare me for such conditions. I'll just close my eyes and pretend I am out in the woods, this may be like one big camping trip. :) I do have hope knowing that due to the Olympics, Chinese property owners have been rushing to up their standard of cleanliness.

I am currently looking at a suitcase laying open on the floor. It's empty and all around it my floor is covered in clothes and necessities. I can fill up two suitcases up to 50 lbs. But do I really want to pull two 50 lb suitcase's around O'Hare and some crazy Chinese Airport? I think not. So as I sit here pondering what I really will use during 5 weeks, I thank God that I even have the opportunity to be wrestling with such a dilemma. (And also, that I live in a Country where cleanliness is something I can take for granted.)