Less than a week to go

OH.
MY.
GOD.

I can't believe that after planning this trip for over a year it is almost upon us and I've still not got everything organised! You would have thought that with 12months + I would have every minute planned out wouldn't you? But no. Not a bit of it.

Well it's not that bad - I've got most of it planned and know where we'll be for the most part, I just haven't booked all of the hotels and flights and trains yet. I figure that it'll be done before we leave on Saturday.

I'm a bit mixed at the minute with how I'm feeling about it. On the one hand I am so excited at the prospect of going on a big adventure to a country I've not been to before. I'm also excited about being away for almost 4 weeks. But at the same time I am finding the whole communication thing a bit daunting. Everything I read about travelling in China says the same thing - don't expect to be able to find people who speak English - they are not everywhere. How is that possible? :) I thought everyone spoke English so I don't have to learn any other language. But apparently no, that's not the case in China.

I have just found out though that because of the Olympics in Beijing next year, every student going to University in China has to pass an English exam or they don't get it. Wow. Can you imagine if everyone who was going to university in this country had to pass an exam in Chinese? I reckon all the universities would close down within a year. Bwahh haaa haaa

So I have my fingers crossed we'll actually be able to talk to people when we get to Beijing and Shanghai.

I guess the next time I post here will be when I'm in China - if I'm able to. I'll try ....