There has been a lot that has happened since I wrote last. First off about the wind company thing. I had a meeting with the president of another wind development company who had offered me an internship and then taken it back, the president, Chris, said that working for Goldwind would give me invaluable experience and insight into the goings on of the wind industry in China. He was pretty impressed that I ended up getting connected with them. He also offered to help me in any way that I needed once I got on the ground out there, whether that be information about the international wind industry or the goings on of the one in China. Having a perspective that is beyond my limited view at this point was very useful, so now I am getting really excited about going to the far northwest. It is funny how your perspectives can change when you hit the ground. I will probably move out there in the next 5 days. I still need to buy my plane ticket.

I spent most of the week in Xian visiting my good friends Michelle, James, Shomace, Sophia, and Dayyan. For Shomace and Sophia it is their first time in China and they are settling in very well. Even though it is a bit rocky at times: finding and moving into an apartment, getting things fixed, establishing their job they are handling it very well. Yesterday we went to Xian's big wholesale market and bought just about everything you could need to start a new home. I have also really appreciated being with Michelle, because I have so much to learn from the way she lives in China. She is so good at making friends with people from all walks of life, it is funny to hear her joke in Chinese. I hope that I will be able to joke in Chinese soon. I will be leaving Xian today, so I will see Dayyan and James before I go. Other than hanging out with friends, what I have found exciting is that you can have down coats made in Xian, the cost is very reasonable ~$30 US. So I had a long green coat made. It is good quality and it fits very well. I don't know if it will be entirely warm enough for Xin Jiang, but it will at least keep me warm until I find something more.

Hi there everyone,

I know that many of you have been wondering what I have been up to in my first few weeks back in China. I should rewind a little bit because I have only really been in China since the 7th. I flew with Shomace to Hong Kong where we spent two days hanging out in a jet lagged way. There are few moments that need some sharing, first and foremost is that while we were on the ferry another tourist as we were getting ready to get off stepped on my toe. This doesn't sound so bad, but since my toe nail was hanging on for dear life anyway it got totally pulled off except for the small corner where it was still attached. Too bad it was the middle of a big shopping day, so all that could be done was put a band aid on it and keep going. It didn't actually hurt.

On to more interesting things, Shomace and I had a great time in Macau where we were for a week. It was so much fun, everyone there was a youth either in spirit or in actuality, so we had a great time. I think we laughed more than anything else. I actually knew 7 of the 20 people who were there, but then I got to know everyone else. We also probably put on a few pounds, because the bakery where they make the world's best egg tarts was around the corner. People literally come from mainland China to get them and this place is kind of out in the boonies, by Macau standards. Coloane Village is quite interesting because of the Portuguese influence it looks like a small village in Brazil. Tropical with a slightly Spanish style architecture and a bit of a plaza.

I am in Beijing now as of 4 days ago and it is great to be in China again. I am staying with one of my good friends from Stanford Naree. It is so wonderful to have such a good friend that you can drop in on. Naree is teaching English for the year at Beijing's Science and Technology University. I am in Beijing for a little while to meet with two companies that I have been in contact with via email. Although I am 99% sure that I going to take the job in Xinjiang with Goldwind the wind energy company, I still wanted to touch base with these other folks. I'll give more updates on that later, so until next time...