As we speak Congress is debating whether or not to renew CHIP (Children's Health Insurance Program), which provides health care coverage to low income children who's parents make too much money to qualify for Medicaid, but cannot afford to buy health insurance.

Some Republicans, as well as President Bush, are fighting its renewal because they fear it's going to lead to socialized medicine and don't want to upset the big insurance companies that give them lots of lobbying money.

Now is not the time for this fight. The health care of millions of underserved children are at stake. What ever their beef is with their Democratic counterparts should not be taken out on kids who deserve the right to the best possible health care they can get.

I urge you to contact your Congress person and tell them to stop the fighting and approve its renewal. Our future depends on it.

Took the GRE this morning. Meh. It wasn't the best results, but considering things got so busy that I didn't study as much as I should have this past month, my score's not too bad.

But is it good enough for me to get into Columbia??

Probably not.

Will I be OK with that?

I don't know.

*bangs head against table*

Because the Chinese need more obstacles that prevent them for thinking for themselves...

Found this really interesting article, via the China Law Blog, about globalization, China and food safety. It's a really good read and makes me want to reread this.

(I'm sure you're getting sick of me writing about China, blah blah blah. But since I've been critical of the government since I was a wee lassie and will be heading back there, in a little over a month, for a second year I'm even more preoccupied with it than normal.)

It's crazy to think, but in 30 days I'll be getting married. And it's not sunk in yet. At. All. I wonder when it will...

After reading an article in today's NYTimes about the falling value of the dollar, I'm doing my bit to get you all to visit China. Yes, the airfare is more expensive than going to Europe, but once you arrive your dollar goes a lot further.

$1 =   .72 Euros
$1 = 7.56 RMB

I know, I know, I'm behind on posting. Since arriving in D.C. things have been hectic. I've been shuffling between chez Dan & Stacy, and my brother's place. Additionally, I'm studying for the GRE, which is on the 27th and I'm no where near where I wanted to be, so my evenings have been tied up studying.

But, last week Vishal asked: What would be your top ten tips for people going to China for the first time?

1. Bring hand sanitizer. Chinese bathrooms rarely have soap, 'nuf said.
2. Bring your own toilet paper, unless you're in a really touristy area, the public bathrooms won't have any. I highly recommend those little tissue packets, they're much easier to carry around than an actual roll of TP.
3. Make sure to get your vaccinations. Because of the hygiene issues Hep B is very, very prevalent, so make sure to check out the CDC web page for their list of recommended shots.
4. You won't need as much money as you think. Niels and I make about $500 USD a month and had money left over. If you come to visit for a month, you can get by on about $1000 - $1500 for your whole time if you watch your pennies and will probably have money left over. It doesn't mean you'll starve while here, or not be able to buy souvenirs, you just have to make sure to bargain and make sure you're not overcharged when eating out.(Remember the average Chinese person makes only $2000 per year)
5. If you travel to rural areas be prepared for lots of staring and lots of photo taking. Also be prepared for getting yelled at, both in good and bad ways.
6. Don't be afraid to try food you're not familiar with. Chinese food is by far some of my most favorite food, it wasn't that way until I went to China. But they eat lots of things you can't get in the States. I've eaten jellyfish, shark, eel, tripe (which I ate before going to China & didn't like it either times). But I've also had some of the best vegetables I've ever eaten and miss A LOT.
7. If you don't have a digital camera, get one because you'll be taking lots and lots and lots of photos. I can't tell you how many photos I've taken, probably over 1,000 and only a fraction of them are on my Flickr page.
8. The air quality in the big cities isn't that great, so bring lots of vitamins and drink lots of bottled water. Remember the water's not potable, so you have to drink bottled water, but it's cheap, cheap, cheap.
9. There is no recycling, per say, in China, it's something that is just starting to be done so everything gets thrown in the garbage. But there are people who's job it is (low pay obviously) to go through the garbage pick out the recycling and sell it to the places that recycle.
10. Throw away any ideas you have about China and Chinese people, because you're going to be amazed by what you discover. Have fun, it's a trip of a lifetime.

Since coming back to the States various friends and family have asked me how my readjustment is going. I have to say, I've been pretty lucky, because I was gone for less than a year (9 1/2 months) I've not had a lot of culture shock. But tht's not to say that there haven't been a few things.

When I first arrived in Wheeling and wanted to have water I it took me a while to remember, as well a gentle reminder, that I could drink water out of the tap. When I wanted water, I'd think "I hope Niels can take me to the store, I'm REALLY thirsty, and don't know how much longer I can last!."

Another adjustment is the ability to understand what people around me are saying. While at the Buffalo airport last week, I was doing my best to read but kept getting distracted by the conversations around me. I couldn't tune them out; I found it to be pretty overwhelming and was glad when it was time to get on the plane. It's getting better, but I can't stop help listening to the conversations going on around me. The ability to understand is just a wonderful thing.

I'm missing Chinese food in a fierce way, more than I expected to. And now that I'm home the foods I craved while in China, I don't crave so much anymore, but instead are replaced by different cravings, like Taco Bell. I hardly ever ate it while in the States but Wednesday night I had the weirdest craving for it. So, I  had it for dinner last night and it tasted SO good. But, the downside is my belly does not like the dairy so much, I'm still adjusting to that. And silly me had a milk with breakfast, needless to say I'm not feeling so well.

For as much as I love China, there's not a lot of diversity. Living in D.C. I saw lots of different people, with different skin tones from a variety of countries. The diversity of D.C. is one of the reasons I love it so much. And while China has 56 different ethnicities (although, 95% of the population is Han), diversity is a lot more subtle. And, unfortunately, there's a lot of racism in China, they don't like people of color, especially people from Africa or African-Americans. So seeing people of color was a big readjustment for me.

It's good to be back, but yesterday while exiting the metro at Farragut North, a Chinese man was playing an erhu (a traditional two stringed Chinese instrument) and I got all teary eyed, longing for China.

Now, I open up the comments for questions. If there's anything you'd like to know that I've not talked about in my entires while in China (or since my return) feel free to ask & I'll answer to the best of my ability.

I spent the weekend in Parkersburg, WV for the wedding of my best gal pal's brother. It was a super busy, often stressful, yet very very good time. The newly weds look so adorable and very happy.

In an alternate universe I am at Dan & Stacy's house right now hanging out with their doggie & kitty cat. But alas, that is another dimention. Right now I am at Comfort Inn in Morgantown (got to love free Internet) because on our way home this afternoon while we were driving down route 68, the front driver's side tire blew out. AAA came to change the tire and we drove to Wal-Mart to get the tire fixed. But by the time we got there they had closed, so we had to get a hotel room for the night.

We were really really lucky that it was only the tire that blew out. It could have been so much worse, but traffic was light at the time and Dan was able to make it over to the side of the road ok  Needless to say we were a bit shaken up but have recovered from it.

Unfortunately, being in Morgantown means I will miss my first day back at the Department tomorrow.

Life definately is an adventure!