What we've REALLY been up to... (abbreviated truthful version)

...is simpler than joining the French Foreign Legion in some ways, but not by much. Jane and I have gotten used to repeating our "Rock Star Tour of America" schedule to anyone who asks, but just in case you haven't heard it (or forgot), here it is...

Accomplished so far:

• One week of Suzuki Institute for Xander in Beaver Creek, Colorado (think piano, not motorcycles)
• Two weeks (or so) visiting with friends and family in various Colorado locations, including Broomfield, Fort Collins, Berthoud, Pueblo, the Great Sand Dunes, and Salida.
• A mule-packing trip into Gila Canyon in Southwestern New Mexico with 25 international friends of Jane's from high school.
• Eight days of program orientation with 60 people going to 20 different countries, located at the Mennonite Central Committee's headquarters (our sponsoring organization) in Akron, Pennsylvania.

Next on the list:

• An overnight train trip (with a 2-hour layover in Washington DC!) on our way to...
  
• Four days in Lansing, Michigan with my mom.
• Four more days in Chicago, with a little final packing and a lot of getting together with friends.
  
• One day in the Toronto area seeing Jane's grandparents, and
• A 13-hour flight to Beijing on Air Canada!

More details may (or may not) be coming soon - watch this space. You can also follow us on Facebook, if you aren't doing so already, or check out my account on Flickr. Hope to hear from you all as our journey progresses!