Preparing for China

Nee hao ma? (Hello, How are you?)

I am leaving for China January 18th, 9 days from now. Technically we will be going into Hong Kong for the first 2 weeks, then heading to Xiamen, pronounced "Shah? Men!" where we will be staying in the dorms for most of the semester. We will be studying the culture, the language, the history, the business and economics of China. We also will be taking an internship for a business in China, as well as learning Tai Chi. My goal is to come back in 4 months speaking Mandarin and knowing some form of marital arts. :)

I hope to post updates here at least a couple times a week, hopefully with words as well as pictures. I will be taking along the D200 to try to capture all of China within a still image.

I am really looking forward to this trip, and learning about my "heritage", though also a bit nervous to be going to a foreign country with people I don't know for 4 months. I just finished getting everything I need to do before China done, except for my flu shots and Hep A shots.....and anything else I've forgotten.

I hope you enjoy reading and will follow me in my travels. Feel free to comment, complain, laugh, etc, at anytime. I figure I will be back here in about 9-10 days.

so be it,

Sam Mahtani