Phew! We're here!

I wish we had some pictures to share, but we have spent nearly all of our time in the city shopping. We have been quite the consumers - Ikea and two different Walmart-esque have benefit so far from our shopping trips. If you have a suggestion for what color we should paint our apartment, please let us know. The internet in our apartment is not online yet, so once we get that we can upload some pictures of our new place. It is really nice! Big (bigger than we need, really), and nicely constructed.

It has been a good experience being here, so far. Here's some initial impressions:

- Ikea is a world in itself. When you walk into this store, no matter what continent, it is all the same.

- Our little corner of the city is much more clean and lush than we thought. Our apartment complex if full of plants and trees everywhere. It makes it look more like a tropical resort than an apartment complex. [I don't know that I will still think of it the same way in the winter, though!]

- I'm happy to walk up 5 flights of stairs to my apartment. I need the exercise.

- I sweat a lot when it is humid.

- Life here is going to be a lot of fun.


Alan

Live from Hong Kong!

Good morning! We survived our trans-pacific flight from San Francisco to Hong Kong and now await our final flight to our new home! I think this was one of the best long flights I've ever taken. I was comfortable the whole time and didn't feel antsy. Cathay Pacific equipped each seat with a TV and had tons of movies and shows to choose from. Their food was pretty yummy as well! Alan slept a lot and I was in and out. Hopefully we slept enough (and at the right times) that jet lag will not be too much of an issue.

It is still hitting me that we are gone and not coming back for some time. We will really miss our life and friendships in Chicago. Thanks to all who made us feel so loved as we left. There were intense feelings of sadness in saying goodbye coupled with unbridled excitement about the adventures to follow.

So now we wait to board the plane, not knowing what lies ahead but knowing this is exactly where we need to be.

Successful storage

Many miles of travel, a little sweat, and 23 plastic tubs later, our lives have been packed up and stored away in a little garage in Lansing, MI. Thanks to cousin Bonnie, we have no reason to worry a bit about what will happen to our blender and all its little friends in the next few years. Now all that remains are clothes and books (piles and piles of books to be exact) that will head with us to China.

Also, we said goodbye to Chicago this past weekend. It was as difficult as would be expected. I can't imagine how much we will miss everybody there during the next two years...

One more packing job and one more set of goodbyes to go!

tourists in our own city

Wow - it is hard to believe that this is the nearly the end of our time in Chicago. It is incredible to think that we will be leaving the only place we have ever really been together in - the place we met, got married in, and worked our first real jobs. Over the past week, we got to eat with a lot of good friends (some of which taught us some Korean culture - holla to Mrs. Song for the Korean food!!) and spend quality time with them. I know we will be sad to leave the US, but we must remember the reasons why we chose to move in the first place!!

Hopefully that sentimentality excuses our touristy behavior in Chicago...

Now, we are in Michigan for a week of AP training - Rachel in World History, and me in Biology. I'd say it should be fun, be I know better!

More sights from Niagara

Here are some more pictures from Niagara Falls...a trip that can be summed up with just a few words: lots of water, a rainbow, and a crazy wife.

Goodbye PFO, hello blog...

Bring it on.

We have just completed our two week training in Houghton, NY and are back to Chicago for a few days. As you can see, we had a fun time at Niagara Falls. It was awe-inspiring to see all that water - Rachel REALLY like waterfalls, so this was a treat. Sure, it rained a bit, but thanks to the fine people at the "Cave of the Winds" we were well prepared for all weather conditions. After donning our ponchos and complimentary sandals, we took an elevator and stairs down to the base of the American falls. Down there, it was just us, the rushing waters, and scores of seagulls. Dirty birds.

This week, we will be visiting lots of friends in the Chicago area and enjoying our time in the city. It's going to be fun (and hopefully not too bittersweet!).