The Adventure Begins

So, the day is here. For the last 16 months, I have been studying, working and parenting my way through this whirlwind life knowing that, as part of my MBA program, I would spend 2 weeks in China. Now, here I sit just hours before take off sportin' my 11 hour flying attire and my "I hate make-up on airplanes" face. I just returned from the last delivery of the forgotten lunch box to Mrs. W’s class and have paused to think about the 14 days in front of me. What makes this trip so different and my anxiety level so much higher? Maybe it’s the fact that 2 weeks away from my family is..well…simply a painful reality. Or that I am traveling with one person I have spent 16 weekends with and 8 others I hardly know.  My phone won’t work there and I haven’t figured out what, if anything, I will do about that. I could not get my hotel reservation canceled so I am not staying with the others. I leave Portland by myself and go on the hunt in Shanghai for the rest of them. When I return, Xia will be officially a third grader and Sydney will be wrapping up the final days of her Sophomore year.

So, why would I do this? I have not been to China since 1996 when I adopted my beautiful Sydney and any other trip in another country has always been work related. This is different. I won’t have any expense reports, conference calls or attorney driven unrealistic deadlines to meet-and I certainly will not be bringing home a baby. This is all about my learning experience and my passion for everything international. I am limited on time and creative juices right now but look forward to sharing this experience and getting all of those preparing for their 2012 China experience excited about what is to come.

Every link that applies to this trip is here:

This is the program I am currently in and, yes, the countdown to completion has begun.
http://www.cu-portland.edu/som/mba/

This is the school I will attend in China-
http://suzhouuniversity.com/index.php
I will be taking some mandarin and….well, I don’t even know. I am definitely a follower for the next 2 weeks.

For the first week or so, we are in this city-
http://classicsuzhou.com/
I absolutely cannot wait to experience it!!

After a 9 days in the less than luxurious dorm room, I will be staying here (info for my family really- June 11-4)
https://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/shalu-shanghai-marriott-hotel-luwan/

Then, I come home………….