China or SF?

May 12, 2012

China was myth.  A foreign land that manufactured many of the goods I use, who populate quite a bit of the earth, and have much political and economic control in the global market. Not a real, tangible place! Even flying over the country, about to land in Shanghai, I couldn’t believe it was real. I landed, saw the water, the foggy/smoggy air, and Chinese Characters and still assumed that I was not in China. It’s just too far! It’s just too foreign! I Must have just in landed in SFO. 

Yesterday (or was it two days ago?) I flew from Phoenix Sky Harbor airport to Burbank, where Grandma Jane picked me up for the night. We spent all night packing and looking over her old photo album of her trip to China in 1988. I slept for 3 hours and woke up to LAX. LAX to Vancouver (2.5 hours) and Vancouver to Shanghai (12.5 hours). With minimal amount of sleep and a day lost due to the international date line, we arrived in Shanghai and I was ready to explore!!! We are staying in the Shangri-La Hotel in Pudong area of Shanghai. Our hotel room oversees the Huongpu River and the oriental pearl.

We walked for 2 hours in the Bund, and I could have walked all day, but my body simply wouldn’t let me. I need sleep.  I am delirious. I still think China may be a myth. I am pretty sure I am just in San Francisco. Despite the 16 hours of air time it took for me to get here, yup, I am pretty sure I am in San Francisco. Maybe tomorrow I will learn better.