I'm still trying to figure out where I'll be in 24 hours.
I know I'll exist, but I also know I'll step on a plane in Atlanta, and 12-13 hours later, it'll be 24 hours later.
What's harder to figure out is what to do on an airplane for that long. I've got a few movies, books, and albums ready. But I've also been told it's best to sleep on the plane.
Problem is, I'm not sure how to do that. I sleep on my stomach. Sleeping upright is almost impossible. I tried it just today on my way home from Michigan. I used the upright tray. I used the airplane window. I used my palm, sturdily rested on my knee. They all made me look like a flibberdeegibbit.
After an hour in the sky, my back was singing grand opera. Not a good sign.
My colleague suggested bringing along a beach ball, inflating it, and resting my head upon it. It seems like a sound plan.
The bags are packed. I've surrendered to the idea of having to iron in China.
We leave Baltimore at 7am on Friday. We should be in our hotels in Jintan, Jiangsu, China around 10pm on Saturday.
On Sunday, we dine with the Mayor of Jintan.
On Monday, the four of us will begin teaching. Our students during the day are Chinese English teachers, and in the evening, we will try the same lessons on English students.
I will be teaching English through the lens of the Model United Nations and conflict resolution. I've been assured this isn't as touchy of a subject as I've been thinking. It certainly has occupied a lot of my headspace recently. We shall see.
Ok, Odenton. I'll try and post from the airport tomorrow.
If you have any tips for a first time international flier with chronic back pain, I'm all ears.
