China here I come!  I’ve been in Sweden for the past two weeks, got home late last night and tomorrow morning I leave for a trip I’ve been dreaming about for years.  I can’t believe it’s really happening.

It’s been a long process just to make all this happen.  First I had to apply for a visa, and word on the street was that they had gotten really strict (Meredith Viera got denied)  But before getting a visa I had to buy a ticket to prove to the Chinese Embassy that I meant business.  They also wanted my hotel info on the Visa app, oh wait, I’m not staying at a hotel, what do I do?  I then had to get a letter from a family inviting me in.  After sending in my passport and paying nearly $200 it seems that the visa gods have been good to me.  I now have a stylish green sticker in my passport that says I’m an official tourist.

I’ve also been advised not to bring equipment that looks too professional.  I don’t have a journalism visa (don’t tell anyone) So I’m stripping my camera down to make it look like any other tourist cam, but don’t worry, you’ll still get the same high quality ‘Out There’ videos!

I’ll be staying with a Chinese family I’ve never met, a friend of a friend kind of connection.  I’ll get off the plane Friday afternoon and try to find my way to their place, should be easy in a city of about 15 million right?  I don’t think my Swedish will help with the Taxi Driver either, I should have taken more Chinese, darn it!

I get there on the day of the opening ceremonies and leave on the 18th, that should leave me plenty of time to run all around!!!  Get ready for the ride.

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