On Sunday, February 15, at 12:30pm, I fly from Chicago, IL to Beijing, China for a six-month internship with an international consulting firm.  After a fourteen-hour flight, my new reality will then commence.

Because I still have two weeks remaining in the states, I'm doing my best to experience all that is American before I leave.  As a going-away present, a good friend of mine gave me a plane ticket this past weekend.  I chose to fly to Orlando to visit friends and attend Super Bowl XLIII in nearby Tampa.  Although I didn't have a ticket, I experienced tailgating to its fullest with TONS of people from Pittsburgh!  I now have a great love and respect for people from there since they are amazingly honest and friendly.  I watched the game a block from Raymond James Stadium with 500 Steeler fans, and I think 12 Cardinal fans.  (Seriously, they were REALLY outnumbered!)

While hanging outside the stadium, a familiar face walked right past me.  After a fifteen-second reality check, I knew who it was - JESSE JACKSON!  Although I'm not a Rainbow Coalition donor, it was neat seeing him in person for the first time.

I officially move out of my apartment on Wednesday, February 4, to drive 14 hours back to Illinois to spend the remainder of my time in states with my family.