Back to the states for a bit
It looks like I am going to be heading back to the states for a few weeks. I currently plan to leave on August 9th and come back to China on August 30th, but I am trying to push the end date back a week so I can spend Memorial Day weekend in Vegas again. You can read about my last trip there in this post if you want. I called Expedia today and they said it would cost around $3500 to change the date by 3 days. Given that $3500 is over 3 times as expensive as the whole ticket cost to begin with, I was not too happy. God I hate the airlines!!!
Anyway, a few things led me to want to head home for a few weeks (in no particular order):
- My step brother Mikey, who is just over a year old, has really grown up while i have been away. When I left, he was a tiny little guy who couldn’t even crawl. Now he is talking, walking, and eating solid food. He has gotten much bigger and heavier, and I generally feel as though I am missing a huge part of his development
- The little things that I don’t like about China are getting on my nerves more and more and I am finding that I am focusing on them and taking for granted all the things I love about this country. A little time at home will help put things in perspective and remind me of how much I really do love this place
- I miss western food. It isn’t that there are a ton of things that I miss, or that Chinese food isn’t good (It is VERY good), but more that I am craving a few specific items. A good hamburger tops the list right now. I have yet to find one here in 石家庄(shíjiāzhuāng). The other foods I have been missing (mac & cheese, Mexican food, potato salad, etc.) are not quite as critical, but will definitely be consumed while I am at home.
- Shopping. I can find most of the things I need here with the exception of English books, specific movies, sticky Velcro, and some photo equipment
- I miss my friends and family
- I miss flying
- I miss driving
- I need a break from studying ~6 hours a day. I think that coming back refreshed will allow me to restart and continue at a faster pace.
- I want to go out and not have to speak Chinese for a whole day
- I am sick of bargaining for EVERYTHING I buy.
So if you will be around and would like to catch up, shoot me a line and we will meet up. See you all back in the states 
….
July 24th, 2006 at 7:52 am
Buenas noticias ! Espero verte aqui cuando regreses y puedes contar conmigo para una invitacion a comer algunas de esas cosas que tanto extranas. Sera muy bueno hablar contigo y volverte a ver. Cuidate bien!
July 24th, 2006 at 8:08 am
Andy,
I hate the airlines too. You might try pushing your return back further. After Labor Day everyone’s on the planes going home. Also, you might try canceling expedia (I think they let you use the credit later) and starting from fresh, maybe with that travel agent in Hawaii who took a while but came up with good fares.
We’re all excited to see you and take you on a feeding frenzy.
Mom
July 24th, 2006 at 9:37 am
YAY! Im soooo excited for you to come home!!! eeee! a few things: 1) mikey is a half brother, not a step (do you know the attorney glen strauss?) 2) I will be happy to make you as much mac and cheese as you want! from scratch too
3) Im so happy one of the things you want while you’re here is a book! I love that you like reading! 4) if I had been picking you up at the airport, I would be there bearing in and out 
5) I cant wait to see you, im sorry it wont be until the 13th 
love you!
Rachel
July 24th, 2006 at 10:22 am
Sweet dude! We DEFINATELY gotta hang out and catch up. It sounds like you’ll be heading back to China just bout when I head back to Japan, too
July 24th, 2006 at 10:43 am
Andy! I am so excited you are coming back to the states. I will be in Colorado in September. Would LOVE to see you and Rachel! Maybe I can make a stop in California on my way back to Hawai’i. Missing you and lots of love!
July 24th, 2006 at 10:48 am
By the way, Expedia has caused problems for Jonny and I as well. We don’t use them any more. We try to stick with Travelocity. Seems to be a bit better customer service. Anyway good luck with the airfare.
July 24th, 2006 at 6:25 pm
Andrew, I am going to be in Los Angeles August 5-13th for Grandma Alices 92nd birthday on August 6th. Sara is in L.A. too. This is wonderful. We will have you over or go out for lunch or dinner or something. What a treat. Love Aunty Terry
P.S. My friend Marlene Staffin from almost 50 years ago found me on the internet through Sara. We are having a re-union August 9th to 13th so you may get to meet Marlene too. She is flying in from Arizona.
July 24th, 2006 at 6:47 pm
el viejo……tenemos que ir a comer junto
sara……thanks for the advice…..see you soon
rachel….I’m really excited too. Regarding point 1…..guess I forgot how to speak English….let me fix that. Re point 2….that sound GREAT! Re point 3…..cool. RE point 4……I remember last time….and it was soooo nice after the long flight
. See you soon
Justin…..yeah….for sure. When do you leave for Japan?
Cousin Summer….If you make it to California…..that would be GREAT!
Cousin Summer…..thanks for the advice
July 24th, 2006 at 6:55 pm
It’s still up in the air…all just depends on when Japanese immigration pulls their thumbs from their butts and stamps my passport with a work visa. Their best estimate is end of August/beginning of September. That’s quite awhile to have one’s thumb up one’s butt, wouldn’t you say?
July 24th, 2006 at 7:36 pm
Terry Jennings…..that is great but I am not sure I will be in LA during that time period. I think I will spending the first part of the trip in Colorado and then coming to LA after a week or so….DOH!
Justin…..yup….that is a good chunk of time!!!
July 25th, 2006 at 10:06 am
AJ- can’t wait to see you. I am still having trouble going back and forth on email with you for some reason. Anyway, I’ll be there on the 9th to pick you up, and we are confirmed for Telluride from 8/10 to 8/17. Take a look at the website exclusiveresorts.com and you’ll see where we’re staying. I think we’re in for a treat. Plenty of burgers coming your way!
Love,
Dad
July 25th, 2006 at 12:28 pm
Hey now. Andy, I googled you because I do not have any contact info for you. I sure you remember me from UCSD. I am glad everything is going fine for you. I just want to see how you are doing and let you know that everything is fine for me. I hope to hear from you. Thank you for being a good and understanding friend.
Darren
July 25th, 2006 at 2:42 pm
Dad…Great….thanks. I’ll check that website out. I haven’t gotten any emails from you…..so if you have been trying to communicate with me or write me…..resend all your stuff from the office machine
Darren!!! Wow. Whats up??!?!? I tried emailing you and IMing you for a while but never managed to get a hold of you. I hope all is well. I just sent you an email…….give me a full report on what you’re up to
Andy