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We'll be arriving in Hong Kong tomorrow morning after only 2 days at sea! I'm not so sure I like these super short stretches of time in between ports. There's alot to do in between these 'big countries' and not enough time to collect oneself and prepare for what's next. We actually have to take every person on board's temperature as well for the Chinese Immigration officials. You're not allowed to get off of the ship and enter the country if you have a fever! Its one of their precautions about SARS and Avian Flu. Everyone passed.
I'll be in Hong Kong tomorrow and then leaving for Beijing on the 4th. Dan, one of the other RD's and I are trip leading a trip to Beijing sponsored by Peking University. We're the only staff with a group of 60 students. It'll be neat because we won't have a normal tour guide; everything is arranged and done with host students from the Chinese university including accomodations and meals. The trip is 4 days/3 nights and we'll be meeting back up with the ship in Shanghai. It's also going to be cold in Beijing! The latitude is actually north of NY and we've been in tropical climates this whole time so that will be a change.
Other than that things are fine. I had a nice dinner conversation with some friends on the ship tonight and alot of us are feeling the same like its getting time to go home; people are missing significant others, getting nervous about what jobs they're going to return to, where they're going to live, etc... As much as we're all here for the great experiences, its tough sometimes and definately not always glamorous. I guess it was just nice to know that I'm not the only one! This has been a phenomenal opportunity and I'm grateful for every day but I'm also counting the days if that makes sense. (38)
I am really excited for China and Japan though!!! Other than the first day in Hong Kong and the last day in Shanghai, my time there is pretty much planned by SAS but Japan I'm doing on my own, which will be nice becuase I feel like I haven't done enough independent travel. I even got an awesome Lonely Planet Japan knock-off on the street in Vietnam for $5. You can find a fake anything there!
Here we come China!
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