Back in the USA

So I'm sitting at the Detroit airport waiting for my final flight home. It's 3:00 pm and I've been awake for 22 hours. Beijing was AMAZING, but they wouldn't let me access Facebook or my Blog so I'll give the last update here.

Got into Beijing and found the most most beautiful, quiet airport with security guards on Segways. Going through customs was a breeze and then you open a door and thousands of people of standing behind a fence ready to greet you. I have no idea how I found Maggie, but there she was with my name on a plaque!

We took the subway to my hotel which was right next to The Forbidden City and across the street from Tienanmen Square. Then a quick drive by of thy Olympic village.

Then it was off to the Great Wall! I climbed about 317 steps (I video tape the last part as proof). It was soooooo amazing. Best part is the Pepsi waiting for me at the bottom! But here's my dilemma, The Great Wall has been #1 on my list of things to do for so long so now I have to find a new #1. Feel free to offer suggestions.

Then we went to the Summer Palace and off to a night market. I tried deep fried star fish (something I've wanted to try since I saw them during the Olympics -- I passed on the deep fried scorpions & snake).

Final Countdown

Sitting in my hotel waiting to go to the airport. Can't believe my 30 days in Taiwan are over. Now it's off to China to see the Great Wall and back home to my bed.

I had a great couple of last days. My host family took me to one last library. This building is made entirely of recycled material, has solar panels and greenery on its roof,and uses nothing but collected rain water to run the bathrooms. We then went to the actual hot springs. The water was over 90 degrees Celsius. It was raining so the springs were really steamy.

Had a nice farewell party for Allen (almost didn't happen because none of our families wanted out to go out on our own). The last Rotary meeting was last night. I'm trying to condense my luggage because I'm only allowed 20 kg on my flight to China. My host family has graciously offered to ship some of my souvenirs home. I think I'll see how overweight I am when I get to the airport.

Meran & I ended out trip last night by taking MRT to a Reggae Jam at a club. Do you know that in Taiwan, if you don't use all the $$ on your MRT card, you can get a full refund? Here's another interesting fact: While I was sick 2 weeks ago I went to a doctor. I took a cab at the clinic, the doc saw me IMMEDIATELY, prescribed some medicine, filled the prescription himself, and 15 minutes later I was back in the cab on my way home AND it did not cost me one cent!!!!! Back home this same ordeal would have taken 4 hours out of my day and cost me at least $100 w/ the office visit and meds!!

Stay tuned for updates & pix from China.

Barbie Museum

Yes, I went to a Barbie museum today -- best visit of the trip. We weren't allowed to take pix, but I broke away from the group & took a ton!

Also went to the Taiwan Traffic Control Bureau -- very ironic b/c there is NO CONTROL over the traffic in Taiwan. I haven't written about the insane driving b/c no words or pictures do it justice. We actually had a really neat time at the facility.

Then we went to, what they call, The Welfare Building, but it was really a home and work site for people with a disability. Parents bring their children here to learn or even to live and adults can come here and get jobs. We made pineapple cake -- a very popular job for the adults (they had to throw away our cakes b/c they weren't good enough).

At dinner tonight we insisted that all the GSE members (USA & Japan) sit together. Not only did we get boiled chicken again but this time it still had its head and feet on. One more 12 course dinner to go....

Back in Taipei

We're back in Taipei for the conclusion of the trip. I'm staying with Gordon & his family. He has 3 sons and one is named PJ. Wednesday we went to a Tea Museum and had tea ice cream. It was actually very good. Then we went to a temple being built. The best part was watching the men & women carving the detail work. These people were in a hot warehouse bent over blocks of wood carving intricate detail -- no way would I want that job. Then we went to an archeology museum. Allen, Meran and I went through the museum very quickly & went out and rented bikes.

Gong Show

Today I visited the Yilan Public Library. The mayor of Yilan was there to greet me. I also got a library card. It is my first Asian Library Card and I was the first America to get a Library Card at this Library.

After our visit they took me to an orchid nursery. These orchids in the greenhouse were so beautiful and really cheap! For lunch I had marshmallows dipped in chocolate on a stick -- proving my theory that anything deep friend and/or on a stick is delicious!

Tonight we had our farewell dinner in Yilan and we got engraved GONGS!!! I cannot wait for Patrick & Joey to see my gong!

Back to Taipei in the morning -- our last host families!

Free Day

Oh the joy of a free day. Woke up at 8 am and Skyped Cathy & Betty -- congrats to Betty on her pending grandmotherhood!!!! Went back to bed for a little while and then headed out with Meran & Allen. We had McDonalds for lunch -- double cheeseburger, mcnuggets, fries, Coke, mcflurry! Went shopping at a mall and found Witness T-shirts we don't have in Cleveland -- can't wait to wear them on the night we win the CHAMPIONSHIP!!! Allen and I walked to Pizza Hut for dinner. Brought back the pizza and watched a movie while we ate -- almost felt like we were back in college.

We're in the home stretch now. Only 6 more nights!!

Go Cavs

8 am and I'm finally watching the Cavs live - this is the 1st time since I've been here!

Last night a group of 16 year olds gave a short concert in my hotel. There were 5 violins and 1 cello (one of the violins was the daughter of the hotel owner). I have never heard anything so wonderful. I would have paid good money back home to hear the same concert. After the concert several additional students in the audience got up and played solos on the violins or piano -- no warm up, they just got up and played. One of them played Madame Butterfly on the piano -- CRAZY!!

After all the music they were so excited to speak English with me. What a fun night!

Free day tomorrow - I plan on doing laundry!