THE Lowly Peon

Sweet Home, Chicago 
17 December 2009, 1:27pm

In about twelve hours, I begin my voyage back to Chicago. In the event that no one posts anything (surprise!), I'll continue try to keep the few of you who come to avalantern entertained.

First, I take a bus to the train station here in Hangzhou. If I'm really lazy, I'll take a taxi, only because my bag is enough to make me feel guilty on a bus.

I then take the 11:25am train to Shanghai South station. I love these trains. Comfortable, fast, smooth. And if I'm lucky and sit at the window, I can even charge my iPhone.

From there, I take bus 7 to Pudong. This ride is about an hour, not too comfortable, but very frequent, and somehow always on time. This should put me at Pudon airport by around 2pm.

Since I'm a Compernolle, getting there at 2pm means I get to the airport a whopping three hours before my plane takes off. But considering all that could go wrong, three hours feels good.

Then I site in the middle seat for 13.5 hours. I'm expecting it to be awful. United flight means uncomfortable anyway, mixed with the middle seat thing, mixed with no personal screen, so I need to watch their 1975 projector up front. Here's to hoping my two MacBook Pro batteries last forever.

Then I arrive at sunny O'Hare around 4pm (so I'm traveling back in time!). Then a long drive through traffic home with nell and klcomp (and blabby11, I hope?), and I'll be home! Sipping whiskey with paul in no time flat.

So for many of you, I'll see you soon! For one of you, I'll miss you, but see you in a month! And for the rest of you, come to Chicago!

(I didn't forget you, simonite. Can't wait to see you in the armpit of America!)