Nintendo Boxers...

Howdy from Beijing!

What a place: biking that emits more adrenaline than Six Flags, food worth cutting off an appendage for, a sea of humanity thirsty for the Word. Only one week here, but I am already pretty calloused to people gawking at "the big gringo." It's starting to feel less exotic and more like "home."

Right now my stomach is trying to tame some kung pao chicken (actually more pao than kung), but I thought I would share the highlight of my day with you before I hit the proverbial sack.

Today, Matt (roommate / amazing friend) and I didn't have to teach (the school still doesn't know our schedule; on Wednesday we arrived and were told, "You're teaching in 10 minutes!" But that's China - expect the unexpected) so we meandered down to the Olympic acreage to be tourists and see the Bird's Nest and Water Cube. I still prefer the natural beauty of Yosemite, but these structures are truly awesome. Anyway, we are wandering around the Water Cube and spot on the sign: Swimming - 50 qui (divide by 7). Matt and I make eye contact, grin, and shout, "Giddiup." So we part with the cabbage and enter the Water Cube, giddy as Scandinavian schoolgirls at the thought of swimming in the same pool as Michael Phelps. We find out we won't be swimming in the grandiose pool, but the warm up pool.

Doesn't matter...

We find out we have to buy swim caps.

Doesn't matter...

We find out we didn't bring swimming suits.

Doesn't matter...

So we strip down to our boxers and enter the pool area with an air less than debonair. Then descend the ladder into the pool - two Midwestern, milk-drinking, Packer-loving, ripe-smelling kids in their boxers swimming in the Water Cube. True Story.

I love you all and think of you more often now that I'm a world away.

His Love. Your brother.
- m -