After what seemed like two days of traveling and which actually was almost two days of traveling, we arrived to Shanghai for our Apartment Hunting trip on September 16th. Andy’s boss, John Bagley, had kindly written up some very detailed instructions about what to expect at the airport to ease the entry into the country.

This trip to China is starting to become real. Tonight we say good bye to our beloved yellow lab, Gus. Our friends, Beth and Mike Markley have agreed to take Gus while we are gone and potentially forever since they have two kids who we all imagine will become pretty attached to Gus. Despite our happiness of finding Gus a great family to go live with, we are still very sad to think that he will no longer brighten each of our days with his carefree and sometimes overly energetic ways. Tonight begins the sacrifices necessary for the opportunities of the future. (that sounded like something from one of the bad guys on “24”). I am just trying to remember that what is to come will be exciting and new and so many things I cannot yet imagine. The tears will be replaced with smiles.