The flight is booked, the contracts are signed, and my visa application is on its way. So let the countdown begin - I'll be leaving for Shanghai on July 21st! In the meantime, I'm taking my online teaching certification course, trying to learn as much Mandarin as I can (unashamedly with the help of Nick Jr.'s "Ni Hao Kai-Lan"), and squandering countless hours watching YouTube videos about all things China. Here's one of my favorites (at least for the cinematography) from BBC's "Wild China":
But before I sign off, I feel I owe a bit of explanation for the title of my blog. For those of you who don't know, my blog is named after the film noir starring Rita Hayworth and Orson Welles (see the trailer below). So while the next year may not be filled with murder plots, awful Irish accents, or funhouse mirrors, I'm looking forward to being able to call Shanghai home.
