zomg disoriented pre-orient post

i'm going to totally ruin the import and style developed by jorgen's first post by frantically typing for about 10 minutes before leaving for the airport. after compressing 2 weeks worth of packing and preparation into about 20 hours of frantic scrambling, it's a ready-or-not sort of feeling. here we come, China. 

the upcoming 6- and 15-hour plane rides should be good training for what will be a borderline-preposterous travel schedule for the next 3 weeks- hitting 6 major cities in 19 days, with the longest train ride being a solid 25 hour shot to Chengdu from Guilin. 

My elderly great-aunt asked my mother to relay a message to me- first and foremost, "you go, girl"; secondly- travel is 80% confidence (and 20% money). I don't know that we've got the second, but

being yelled at to leave. more from the other side.