Gone East

Delayed reactions are funny things.

Like how, mid conversation about your pending Gap year, it can hit you. Shit. I'm going to China. I'm still not entirely sure how this minute detail seems to have missed me before. You'd think a few months of Visa applications, TEFL courses, planning and preparation would highlight the fact. But no. This comes to me, mid conversation about 9 hours before i leave.

Shit. I'm going to China.

"Where you leaving from Huw?"
"Err, Harwich, Headed for Amsterdam" I say, Distractedly pointing west.
"Isn't Harwich on the East coast?"
(Damnit. So... Which way's East?)

Ok slow down Huw. There are many land marks pointing your way there. Amsterdam, Berlin, Warsaw, Riga. That's Europe. All big cities, Surely they'll all be signposted. Then Russia, the great landmass. St Petersburg, Moscow, Irkusk. On to Mongolia. Ulaanbataar (hang on... wayy to many vowels in that word, did i just make that up?). Then... finally. Beijing. China.

Woah. I'm going to China.

Ok Huw, Checklist. You've got Train tickets. There'll be a lot of them, there are no aircraft on this trip. You've nearly packed. You know how your getting to the Ferry (free lift wooh!). And, most importantly you have a Blog. Somewhere to pretend your a REAL journalist. Pad thy ego, and appease your family, stopping you being reported MIA if you've forgotten to fire reassuring emails home every two hours. You've got Visa's... well nearly. Still need the Chinese stamp, but I have a cunning plan for that one.

Hey... I'm going to china

So this is it. T minus 9. Leave home. Leave the Country, Continent and Culture for somewhere new. Still your never that far. You've got a facebook. And Email. Shiny new blog. Keeping in touch has never been so easy.

I'm going to China. And i don't think I've ever been so excited. Now... if only i could work out which way's East.
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Todays Lunch: Cheese, Ham and Sping Onion Sandwich