Here's my schedule over the next few days (and the last few days):

Monday, China time: Nine-hour bus ride from Songpan to Chengdu following a rather intense horse trek that involved me getting thrown off a horse after the horse flew out of control and ran into an evergreen tree -- I'm fine, the guide telling me that I was the problem, not the horse, and the guide telling another person in our group "F*** you." Scenery was spectacular, though.

Yesterday, China time: Two-hour flight from Chengdu to Beijing

Tonight, China time: 12-hour flight from Beijing to LA

Late night, Wednesday, PST: Four-hour fight from LA to Cincinnati

Very, very early on Aug. 2, EST: 90-minute flight from Cincinnati to Philly (HOME!!!!!!)

On Thursday morning -- exactly one year after I left for China -- I will be home. For the last two weeks, traveling on my own, this thought has sustained me through every rough moment. During every sleepless night I got in a too-noisy hostel, the thought of sleeping in my own bed soon kept me going. Every time a vendor tried to rip me off, it's the thought of shopping in stores with FIXED PRICES that kept a (sort of) smile on my face.

Of course, I'm a little worried that when I go into a store and see a shirt I like for $50, I'll yell "Tai gui le!" and try to haggle it down to $30. (If you happen to be shopping with me, and I do this, feel free to pretend that you don't know me.) Or that I'll forget to tip a cab driver or a waiter at a restaurant, or that I'll stare with my mouth hanging open at every person who isn't Asian (in other words: at most people on the street.)

And as excited as I am to go back to America, see the people I love and eat the food I've craved for a year, I know I'll miss China like crazy. It won't happen right away, but come late August I'm sure I'll wish I were teaching at Er Zhong, eating MSG-laden cuisine and being stared at on the street.

I'm off to do some last-minute shopping before going to the airport -- my flight leaves at 8:30 p.m. tonight, early morning USA time. So if you live in the Philly area, I'll see you soon. And if you don't, visitors are always welcome (ahem).