Ridin' with the Rev

YKK on your Zipper

cross — Sat, 5 Dec 2009 12:02:00 GMT

Despite it's great size and encompassing consumerism, China lacks a few things: high quality internet connections, a discernable difference between breakfast and other meals, and good coffee. With regards to the coffee, my first taste of this disgustingly sweet concoction was at the base of Badaling, the most famous section of the Great Wall. With the help of sugar and caffeine, I was able to power up the Wall. It didn't make a difference though, because I failed to keep up with my Chinese professor. A fearless mother of two that can strike fear in anyone with a simple stare. At the top, the view was amazing. The yellow haze of progress and pollution had parted to allow the sun to warm our faces. And with every Asian wanting a picture with this grizzly bearded American, my new found friends warmed my heart. Cheesey, yes, but true. By the way, the Chinese like to say qie zi, sounding like "cheese", when pictures are taken. Translated it means eggplant. Interesante. After a few other sites, Beijing was over.

Dalian was next, along with a week of immersion language training. We had a great time in this city by the bay. We were able to catch up with a few friends, have some drinks, have some very 很有意思 food, and fall in love with our beautiful and talented Chinese teachers. I'm in the Dalian airport right now, waiting for our delayed flight to begin check-in. It snowed about an inch last night, and like in Dayton, everyone is freaking out. Here's a tip from a Dayton veteran. Drive slower, turn on your lights, and don't be an idiot. Common sense is lacking on the other side of the world as well, but the difference is that in China, the traffic laws are more like traffic suggestions. Everyone has F1 driver reflexes, but with the signature New York charm. Well, now its off to Xi'an. Cross your fingers for no more further delays.

Zero Hour...9 AM

cross — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 01:12:00 GMT

I can't seem to get that Elton John song out of my head. I did pack my bags last night though, preflight.

Tomorrow is the big day. I will finally be reunited with several friends that I haven't seen in months, and a few others that I haven't seen in a year or more. Sadly, I have to say goodbye to a few friends at home, as they are beginning study abroad tours, or are returning to their home countries. You will be missed, but that only increases my chances of potentially couchsurfing across the world. I do wish them all good luck -- 大吉大利 -- and to keep in touch.

People ask me, are you excited? Of course. Are you nervous? Not really. Are you ready? Of cour...actually...no, I'm not. I don't think that there is any measure of preparations that can be made in order to be ready for a trip of this magnitude. Of course, I have most everything that I will need for the trip, but my mind will be blown the minute I step off of the jetway and into the 飞机场. The massive exhale from the almost 14 hour flight from New Jersey will separate Casey from 凯思, and the great adventure will begin.

I'll try to keep updating this page as my travels find me in areas that have access to the internet.

Chinese Bran Muffins

cross — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 02:43:00 GMT

For grad school, I have to write a biographical sketch for each program for which I am applying. Give me a topic, and I can bang out a half decent draft in a day. Wait? What's that you say? I have to write about myself?

I can't write about myself. Perhaps autobiographies are more clear and concise as they do cut out the middle man, but I think that an aire of arrogance plagues my best efforts. I did good in school. I've worked for a while. Just look at my numbers. Do I have to throw in some commentary on how good I think that I am?

In any case, each sketch prompts you to include your plans after graduation. Somewhat sophomoric, I always roll my eyes at the mention of this and think back to those days in kindergarten when we would each stand up and talk about what we wanted to do when we grew up. I'm sure Johnny is not a professional baseball player, Jimmy is not a deep sea diver, and Jessica is now working at a truck stop off of exit 37 instead of becoming the worlds leading authority on veterinary medicine. I am certainly not a dentist. Please, hold your laughter. I was even a nerd as a child. A dentist? Really? What the hell. I also wanted to get married and move into a house next to my mother. Of which, the latter is a terrible idea no matter what the situation, and the former is growing increasingly less appealing as my wanderlust reaches critical mass.

I digress. Much like a wizard's sleeve, my plans are very loose. I do know of two things that absolutely must be a part of my life. Research and Chinese. I paid too much money to squander a technical degree on managing kayak rentals, and I've dedicated enough time to Chinese to know that it is simply the love of my life. It is heartbreakingly challenging with bewitching beauty...the Elizabeth Bennet to my Fitzwilliam Darcy.

As masterful as my descriptive talents are, I have to consider my audience. I have to make the aforementioned masterpiece into its bran muffin equivalent. It has to be ugly, coarse, and suck the moisture out of the reader's life. That's what these people like.

Going back to wanderlust, my first trip to China is only four weeks away. It is said that China is like the immensity of space in that it cannot be comprehended, only experienced. It is also said that China is like trying to remember a song that you began to write before you were born. I plan on exploiting my geographic and cultural isolation to rediscover the lyrics to the song of my future. See, that transcendental jive will be lost on those PhD chumps.