I’m here, physically at least. I’m a little strung out after a long flight, but at least the food on United was well nourishing, (not!) Everything is very shiny, the brand new airport looks like a giant basketball arena, very modern. There was an army of helpers around every corner, ‘Can I help you?’ Yes, I need help, I have no idea where I’m going!’ I ran into marathoner Ryan Hall at baggage claim, he was the number one U.S. runner at this years Bolder Boulder. He is excited to be here, a ‘dream come true he says.’ He won’t be training in Beijing though, he’s off to somewhere clean, the pollution is even worse than he thought.

Time to move. Unfortunately though, the phone number for my contact didn’t work, Joe where are you? Plan B, just get in a taxi and hope I get to where I need to go. I had heard that all Taxi drivers were supposed to speak English by the Olympics, this was not true in my case. But nothing that a smile and handshake can’t fix. I got dropped off at building 18, in some neighborhood that I cannot pronounce. He’s assured me with some head bobs that I was in the right place. I got out, looked around, took off my sticky backpack and embraced the ‘where the heck am I? I don’t care, life is beautiful’ moment.

Joe where are you?  Joe has become something of a mythical character, the man I’m in search of, the guy who will house me, the guy I’ve never met and only chatted with briefly.  I walk up to a nice lady holding a baby in diapers, she helps me into the building, I point at the number 463, I assume this is the apartment number but it could be anything.  I get buzzed in, someone mumbles something that sounds like my name on the speaker, ‘Lyan?’.  I pace up the stairs, I’m sweating like a dog.  Joe’s cousin Harry opens the door and shakes my hand, ‘Lyan!!.’ He knows about as much English as I know Chinese. We smile and shake hands, I know him for all of 5 seconds but his warm welcome relaxes me. Harry is gonna be my buddy. He hands me a Pepsi and says, ‘Take a relax’

I haven’t slept in over 24 hours but I couldn’t feel more alive. The city is buzzing with positive energy, people all over the streets, decorations everywhere. China is doing it right.

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.

I’m on my way to China and I couldn’t be more excited! I spent a month in Beijing about 8 years ago on a study abroad and loved it. The people are super friendly, the food is amazing and there are more bikes on the roads than cars! What more could I ask for? I made a promise to my Chinese friends that I’d come back for the Olympics, and HERE I COME!