Orientation

Two days of orientation, a lot of mispronouncing Chinese, a lot of laughter and curiosity, much information (most of which I hope to god is accurate). Bruce was trying his best to get us focussed on traveling light, using common sense, and coming to the realization that relying on each other will be necessary to the success of our trip to the alien territory we call China.

While we are mostly strangers to each other, this weekend went a long way in helping us to see that with a little effort, patience and trust we’re gonna have the time of our lives.

Of course, the presence of our Mandarin language teacher, Anja, assuages our anxieties about being able to communicate with our hosts that we either miss our moms or our horses, that back home we have either four family members or dead family members waiting for us. And as long as Bruce is with us we are comforted to know we won’t be the weirdest person there.
Paul