(Although I flew west to get there. But whatever.) I’m back from China! We have literally thousands of photos and tons of what we think are amusing anecdotes, but I’ll keep it simple here:
Top 10 Memories
Climbing the Great Wall at Mutianyu. This was special for many reasons, one of which was that it was one of the only places we went that wasn’t elbow-to-elbow crowded. But mostly, amazing views.
Husband and me on the Wall.
Experiencing my baby brother as our fearless leader. I’m much older than him–he was still in diapers when I left home, so it was great to see how smart, gracious, and independent he is. He and his fiancee were excellent tour guides. Also, huge thanks to her family for their hospitality. I know our trip was way beyond the typical tourist visit and it’s thanks to them.
Baby Bro and me, Big Sis.
Listening to the buzz of cicadas at the Linyin Monastery and West Lake in Hangzhou. So peaceful. So serene. So green. And so wet.
Right before it poured rain on us. But, no matter–in China you can buy an umbrella for $1.50!
Being a minority. We got stares everywhere we went. Parents nudging children, teenagers asking to take their picture with us. One guy crashed his bike, he looked over his shoulder at us for so long.
One of several random photo requests.
Fighting the masses at the Forbidden City. Have I mentioned all the people? I was most excited to see the Forbidden City, but I hadn’t imagined the crowds and the pushing and the heat. Nothing like sharing sweat with a few thousand strangers. But it still was amazing.
Entering the main gate.
Visiting a seven-story bookstore in downtown Shanghai. !!!!
Outside the store. Cameras were prohibited inside. Not sure why.
Dodging Typhoon Moracot. Was it on the news here in the U.S.? Because we were watching the weather very, very carefully there.
We flew to Beijing the day before it was supposed to hit Shanghai.
Lunching at one of the snazziest restaurants in Shanghai. Gold plates! Our own room! Icy lemonade drinks with green oranges in them! Thank you, Baby Brother’s generous bosses.
Bosses, co-workers, and Husband top row. Baby Bro, Fiancee, Sister, and me in the front.
And later that same day…dining with Baby Brother’s fiancee’s grandmother. In her home, while she cooked for us and told us about her family and all the changes they’ve been through since she was a little girl in pre-Communist times.
The whole gang, plus Grandma, in the best of our timer shots.
Biking at Century Park in Shanghai. This was just pure silly fun in a gorgeous park, complete with water fountains synced to music. A perfect end to our trip.
Our fearless leaders before they broke the rental bike.
Top 5 Things I Missed and Now Have a New Appreciation For
Waiting in line. They don’t do lines where we were. Even if it’s obvious you are the next–and only–person waiting for the bathroom.
Coffee. I went two weeks without coffee. When I told Mr. E and Colonel Mustard, their eyes went big.
Toilet paper. You need a well-stocked purse to travel in China. Enough said.
Dairy products. I guess I really am a Wisconsin girl at heart.
Clothes dryers. If you only have four outfits and they haven’t dried by the fourth day because it’s too humid, do you know what that means?
There’s lots, lots more, but I’ll save the rest for those of you who physically cross my path (you’ve been warned!). Also, I hope to put together a video for my students about life in China. I’ll post that here, if it turns out to be something shareable.
My website confession was this one: 
My dad would eat, then he’d retreat to the scratchy olive green plaid couch in the living room. And I’d scramble up next to him. We’d wedge a bowl of cherries between us, and then, with a waft of ink and a slight breeze on my face, my dad would flick open the newspaper. That simple twitch of his wrist would seal us off from the rest of the world, in a place where just the two of us existed, snuggling and snacking on those red-black cherries.