 You probably didn't realize it, but I took a vacation! My lack of updates recently has not been for lack of interest, but time. Work was very busy through the month of January, with no spare minutes in a day. No kidding. So the Lord rewarded me by opening up a chance to travel to Shanghai for a few days! My friend Joe has lived there for the past several years, and I couldn't resist the opportunity to drop in for a visit while I was "in the neighborhood." I thought I could get some work done while I was there...but not a chance. This is about the extent of the work I got done! It was a wonderful break! 
I flew in on the eve of Chinese New Year...the best time to go! Joe treated me to my first real Chinese dinner...burgers, fries, and chocolate chip pancakes--with a fork. I love China!!! 
Anyone who knows me knows how much I loooove fireworks and how disappointed I am when the display is over. I think Shanghai has cured me of that. It's hysterical! There are fireworks going off EVERYwhere in the city! Literally every street you go down random people are blowing these things up. We had quite the time dodging sparks and expolsives...darting through allyways and laughing at stupid people lighting these things on fire. It lasted all night long, and was still going on at 9 AM when I woke up! Every night there were more displays...it got to the point (on Monday night when I was trying to sleep as they were blowing things up right by my window!) that I just had to laugh. It was so funny. I would totaly do it again next Chinese New Year! A people group who know how to party. ha.  
As if they read the sign. hehe 
The crowds were incredible, too. With everyone being on vacation, people from all over China came to visit. You also know how I love crowds. So this was the best time for a visit! However, even some of the crowds were too great for Joe and I to tackle. We would find cool restaurants instead. And Starbucks. We laughed at the end of my trip that we basically had coffee at a lot of cool places. 
 
The Bund View. 
The Pearl Tower 
Lots of festivities going on in celebration of the new year. The Year of the Rat. ew. 
A view from the top of the Pearl Tower! 
Our side-trip to Venice... 
And my quick trip to Bejing...I always wanted to see the Great Wall!!! 
A few fun mascots in preparation for the Summer Olympics!  
Danny...I called for you, but you didn't answer! 
Joe was a great tour-guide! It was probably the most laid-back vacation I've ever had. Normally my vacations involve catching planes, renting a car, figuring out my way around a city, arranging places and times to meet up with friends etc etc. This time, though, the only person I knew in the city was my friend Joe and he would ask me what time I wanted him to stop by in the morning, which allowed me to sleep in as late or early as I wanted...and then he would show up at my door with Starbucks and say, hey...what about doing this today...or...I got tickets to go to... That is what vacations are made for. :)  
      
 
We also had fun hanging with some of his friends! Everyone was on vacation, so it was fun to meet so many new people! Wishing they all lived a little closer!    
Sadly, as all good things do, my vacation came to an end. We were late for the airport because of a manicure I was trying to get...so we took the Maglev (magnetic levitation) train and made it to the airport in about 10 minutes flat! Pretty incredible to see the world swoosh by you at 450 km/hr.  
So, now I'm back in Korea and Shanghai is just a fun memory. Such a great experience! Thanks, Joe! 
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