In NJ

Well, it seems there won't be a road trip with my dad as my aunt was able to get me a train ticket back to Beijing

This morning me and my dad drove from Hangzhou to Nanjing. Well, I did most of the driving, as in back in 2006 :) I guess once you get used to the Chinese traffic "rules" - or lack thereof, everything goes a lot smoother.

I also finally saw my grandma - I mean after she got seriously ill, was hospitalized and subsequently released for home care about a year ago.

I guess I'll be spending the rest of my week here, so there's plenty of time.

I'm standing here outside your door

(Originally written: on plane)

Sorry I had to post first few entries and then backdate them, but I wasn't able to do it on the fly (literally)...

Anyway, all the farewells are said now. I'm writing this on the plane so that there's no escape for me anymore :) I'm really no good farewell person, but at least now in the age of the Internet, keeping touch with friends is easy enough so the distance doesn't feel long.

Let's not worry about things that gets people upset. Instead, keep a keen eye on what's coming! See you in Beijing! (Although my plane is about 2 hours late... surprise surprise, Finnair...)

All my bags are packed I'm ready to go

Wait, hold it. Slash the topic. I still haven't packed a thing. It's just Jewel's song is so sweet that I've borrowed the first line from it.

The handles of the clock has now officially turned into first of September, the month my exchange studies begin.

I've set up this blog as a "base of operations" from which all essential parts of my trip can be tracked. I believe I've got everything here, but of course if I discover new resources, as I like to call them, I'll put them here. Right now I've already got feeds for twitter (for quick status updates) and flickr (for, obviously, my trip-related photos) and some other stuff. If you don't like it, then remember kids: you can always skip the extra stuff by subscribing to my blog feed.

Anyway, this is just my opening post, more will follow after my jet lands onto Chinese soil (hopefully runway though :)

Edit: (September 4, 18.28 Helsinki time) Well, now I'm packed. :) Flight delayed for 2 hours, so I'm still sitting at home, waiting.