Monday, December 31, 2012

New Years Blessing

This is a great quote for New Years day 2013...

The Circle of Time
(Author Unknown)
 
"Look well of today... for it is the Life of Life.  In its brief course lie all the variations an realities of your life, the bliss of growth, the glory of action ad the splendor of beauty.  For yesterday is but a dream and tomorrow a vision, but today well lived makes every yesterday a dream of happiness, every tomorrow a vision of hope.  For time is but a scene in the eternal drama.  So look well of today and let that be your resolution as you wake each morning and salute a New Dawn."

Traveling!

Pacific Lutheran University, J-Term 2013, Traditional Chinese Medicine students and faculty.  Everybody is packed and anxious to begin our journey. 
 
We have made our first leg of the journey today. The students were all packed and ready to go and we arrived safe and sound in Incheon, Korea. The flight on Korean Airlines was amazing; the best service I have ever received :))!
 
Although our flight was long, the on-board activities were varied. One could sit and watch recently released movies right from the screen in front of you, play a variety of video games, track how fast the plane was moving and altitude, pin-point the exact location of the plane on a world map, and you could see how much longer one had until we arrived at our destination - so nobody asked me, "how much longer until we get there?"

The picture below is taken in the Incheon, Korea Airport immediately after we landed. We are all feeling a bit tired but ready to start our adventure and studies.
 

Once we got through customs, we were welcomed by the biggest chandelier I have ever seen! It was so beautiful, that this picture doesn't seem to give it justice.

 
UFO or giant beetle?  This is on-top of one of the terminals at the Incheon Airport.  I'm not sure what the purpose of it is...
 
 
Scenes from around the Hotel Queen...
 
 
A welcoming sign...
 
 
 Barb Olson in Incheon, Korea


 
More restaurants and businesses in the area...
 
 
These are interesting fresh seafood items one could purchase and have cooked...
 
 




 
 


Saturday, December 29, 2012

Twas the Night before China

Twas the night before travel, when all through the house,
Not a calm feeling could be found, not even from the spouse.
The bags were packed by the door with care,
In hopes that Korean Air would soon take me there.

The students were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of tea-leaves danced in their heads.
And Barb in her kerchie and Lorena dressed in white,
Had just settled their brains in preparation for a long 12 hour flight.


Sunday, December 9, 2012

Travel Documents

It's official!  I have my passport with an official Chinese government visa!  Preparations are under way for the trip.  I've already opened up the course for the students and set up the gradebook.  This week, I will learn all of the ins and outs of the bookkeeping part of the trip.  Luckily I know how to use a spreadsheet pretty well.