Packing up, Moving out!

We are 10 days from leaving our lovely home in Minnesota and moving to the bustling city of Beijing.  When you make changes in your life, you realize what a material world we live in.  Moving turns out to be a new perspective in prioritizing life.  I spent my Saturday afternoon going through all of the letters I have kept, journals I have written and yes, even notes from junior high!  (My favorite find was "Keep this note forever - this is the first note of our Freshman year!" written by my childhood best friend who passed away when she was 40.)  I threw a lot; I kept too much.  I reorganized piles, boxed them up and planned to go through 2 or three more years down the road.  We keep bringing garbage bags full of clothes to Goodwill and I keep asking myself - how is it possible we have this much stuff???

That aside, we found out where we will be living.  Goodbye Stillwater, Hello Phoenix Town!  Here is a link for the building: http://www.lihong.biz/unit-info.php?uid=13258 .  We are told we will have 2 bedrooms with queen beds and a study room with a single bed, a balcony and 2 bathrooms.  Sounds great except it is on the 21st floor!  At least we will have a great view.  There is also a fitness center and pool in the complex. We know we will miss the fresh MN air and our green, lush yard.  We are breathing deeply every chance we get.

Our last weeks in Minnesota have included a wonderful farewell (Zaijian) party given by my work colleagues (thanks, Vicki!), a Twins game, movies (Soul Surfer, Bridesmaids and Horrible Bosses) and later this week a 80th birthday party for my mother-in-law.  We will also be saying goodbye to our good friend who is moving back to Uzbekistan.  Now it is time to get very serious about learning Chinese.