Delta 19, Atlanta to Shanghai

Boeing 777 - yup, it's big. We were able to change our seats around so we could sit together, and they even gave us a space in between for more room. Very cool. The back of each seat had a gps, among other things, so you could, at any time, see where you were in relation to the globe. I snapped some shots along the way. Notice the temperature mid-flight... -60F. Yikes!

Hello Shanghai!! 16 hour flight. 3 meals. Not too bad. Too excited to think about much of anything.

Atlanta Airport Muppets

After taking separate flights from Raleigh to Atlanta ... (slept the entire flight!) Denisa and I met at the Atlanta terminal in our gate - everything on schedule. We were tired but very excited to have made it happen.

My last Starbucks: Tea is the thing in China. They have some coffee shops, and even Starbucks, but nowhere near as accessible as in the States.

My last sip of tap water for a very long time... and the home brew of air-born hypervitamin potion... so far , I must say it's worked pretty well... we'll see!

I really got a laugh out of this guy. I imagined that he looked like he was using a computer mouse with his one hand to browse the screen in front of him... which revealed to him the life story of whomever walked in front of his nice glass enclosure there in the airport. As I stood in front of him, I felt somehow responsible for his expression! totally cracked me up! :D

12 years into 2 bags

OK, so the SUV sale took up a few hours of much needed packing time. While I was elated that the sale went through in record time, the reality of the pending flight schedule was looming ... the next 12 hours would be intense.

2 check-ons, 1 carry-on, and a laptop. When I reached this point, it was a huge relief.

The carry-on bags by far took the most time. In those bags, all the appropriate documents, gadgets, and things needed for survival in the first few days. Lots of planning goes into those bags. Once they were done, then the bigger check on bags. Still, filtering 12 years of US style living into 2 bags of clothing is a challenge. I was hoping to go with Denisa to their place at midnight, but that deadline came and went. It looked like it would be an all-nighter!

Sure enough, 4am rolled around, and I was ready to go, a slight drizzle outside, the condo completely cleaned out and prepared for the renter, and me, ready to get on the plane for some shut-eye!

The last glimpse of my home, farewell Quaker Landing!

Goodbye Rodeo - Thanks for the memories!

Well, I hadn't expected to sell the Isuzu Rodeo that has been good to me for some 8 years, but the last minute idea was presented, and I figured I'd give it a shot, with only about 30 hours until I was to board the plane to Shanghai!














So, at about midnight on Tuesday night, 8/26, I posted the ad, not really knowing what to expect. Well, by 9am the following morning, after finishing a paint job for a friend, I logged on to check my email, and noticed there were 25 + responses to my ad! So, the first one I called ended up being the buyer, and we did the deal at around noon after I had a chance to run a few final errands, and get the title from the bank. I have to say, craiglist is pretty incredible.

Not having the SUV in the parking lot for the year will eliminate a number pesky worries and provide some cash for me, and provide a good set of wheels for someone else! Thanks for the good idea Amy!

Raleigh Friends Potluck

A rare "third hour" on Sunday August 10th at Raleigh Friend's Meetinghouse to celebrate the upcoming trip. Here are some great pictures sent to me by Marsha Presnell-Jenette. Thanks to all who helped put this together, and all who helped us celebrate.

Anywhere with Friends

Sometimes words aren't enough (or photos, or videos, for that matter)... so I threw together a quick video to share some images and photos from the past couple years of my time with Raleigh Friends. There's already so much to say... I'll start with "thanks."

2010 Quaker Landing

12 years in this place! I can't quite believe it. 2 miles from downtown Raleigh, right on I-40. What a great place. I've been spoiled with it's conveniences and terrific proximity.

So the decision had to be made to sell, or rent. It turns out that I will rent it out as a single apartment for a year, and some of my stuff will be stored in the back room.

Sounds pretty simple, right? ha ha

Tia McCoun came down to help move some stuff to PA. Thanks T!

Then stuff got moved around just to clean the rugs.










Then stuff got put back into the corner bedroom...

and more, and more and more!!!

Then, we celebrated a little bit.

Now, I learn how to fix stuff that hasn't worked in a long time.

The carpenter bee holes...

The toilet intake hose

The bathtub faucet

The new door nob.

Anything else?

Sophia's Turn

In preparing for this trip to China, I will get rid of lots of things that I won't need while in China. My Suzuki Savage motorcycle is one of those "things."

A woman named Sophia came to check out my Suzuki Savage motorcycle that I've had listed for a week or so on Craigslist. She was looking for a good starter bike.

She rode it around the parking lot a few times. I encouraged her to take it down the neighborhood road one time to get a better feel for the bike. The skies were getting dark with storm clouds, but we were both excited about a possibile transaction... so she went, even though it was thundering in the distance.

3-4 minutes later, Sophia pulled back into the condo parking lot, with a smile on her face. We had a deal. She put a $200 deposit down, and we agreed that she'd pick it up later in the week. I joked with her that this way I'd have a few days to say "good bye.." One last ride or two.

Looking back, I'm surprised at how much I have enjoyed riding that thing around, and saving some cash every month on gas.

Even though I was way too big for the Savage, she was good to me. But now, it is Sophia's turn.

Handyman for Hire

I posted the below notice to some local friends, and the response was incredibly supportive. In fact, I had to be careful with my scheduling since it got very busy right in the first week. What a beautiful showing of outreach and support. I couldn't have found a finer group of folks... Friends.

My email request went something like this ...
... "I'm hoping to earn some extra funds for my China trip. If you have any tasks or handyman work around the house that you've been needing to get done, please consider letting me help you with these items in the next couple of weeks.

Lifting, painting, yard work, light carpentry, pet/child sitting, cooking, cleaning, errands, music(guitar) lessons, studio recording/producing(I have a home studio), video production, PC lessons, home computer help, Internet tips/help, blog/vlog website setup, etc. ... "

So far, after about a week, I've done some pruning and yard work, shovelled up a gravel walkway, worked on some website design, removed a swing from a really high tree branch, repaired some old wooden siding on a barn, laid plastic under a porch while fending off wasps, giant Wolfe spiders, black widows, and ticks, done some laptop revival and data recovery, and even helped get some folks set up on skype so we can talk overseas for free.

I can only guess what tomorrow will bring. (Actually - gutter guard installation!) It has been a great way to spend time with close friends, to help, and to be helped. Thank you to all who have reached out in this way.

Here are a few of my adventures...

Yard work and gravel at Sandy's!

Take down a tree(tall!) swing at Beths

Gutter Caps at Roberta's!

Windows and pruning at Betty's

Window cleaning at Joe's place

Painting a hallways at Doug and Marsha's

Photo Session!

Our trip coordinators and advisors have been encouraging us to get the necessary forms - resumes, cover letters, and pictures submitted so they can begin to help us with placement. We found a good spot - the Pogue St rose garden to take some photos to go with our resume and portfolio.

Range of Reactions

One of the most interesting aspects of this process has been the range of responses and expressions we have received after making the announcement that we are going to China to teach English for a year.

Some have suggested that I am running "from" something in my life... and that, maybe I should consider that I take myself where ever I may go.... and that sometimes the change that needs to happen, is a change that is within.

This is a deep spiritual question, and one that I very much appreciate, and continue to contemplate.

In one recent email reply to such a suggestion, I responded as such:

"Every moment, the world changes.

I believe that we can, and do, everyday, change the world, both individually and collectively, through both action, and non-action.

Either is a choice.

Some changes are needed internally, and others, externally.

Some individually, some globally.

The two are not mutually exclusive."

It is true, I am a runner. But I am running "to," not "from."

Hard to Breath

Some walk the streets, and feel a kindred spirit a mile away.

Some notice the dead stares of uninspired lifelessness ... waiting on the world to change.

Is there not more than waiting?

Some walk the streets, and see need in the blank stares... some feel the desperation behind the lying smiles.

If I can't recognize a falsehood, how can I know to not follow?

Then if I believe in a falsehood, what is the risk?

I believe such a path has clear signs and signals. If I can't see them, then maybe I can feel them... like not being able to breathe.

"Time to get up, go outside and breathe ..... "
--- --- Grave Dance, Emerald Pool, 1996
www.myspace.com/jombjomb

Sandy, Denisa and John

My close friend Sandy and I had talked about future ideas and plans many times previously, but this week, late June, 2008, was different. Within 24 hours of this discussion, Sandy's close friend Denisa called to inform me that she was going to Shanghai to teach English in September, and I should go too. Within a week I was signed up. These are a couple pictures we took recently.

To Go, or Not to Go ...

"Why would I go to China to teach English?" Perhaps a better question might be, "Why would I not go?"

The opportunity and moment to act has arrived, thanks intitially to friends Denisa Hall and Sandy Bernard.

Sometimes clarity is better available from a distance.

Boundaries are meant for what, if not challenging, exploring, escaping?