Lately i've been just so incredibly busy, with my parents and sister visiting (they just left this afternoon), with the prepartion for the Taklamakan Rally, for the visit of our two friends arriving at 2am tonight... i'm left with a scrambled brain, a big sleep debt and lists upon lists of things-to-do. I do enjoy being busy, but i would like some down time to come up for air, to not have to wake up with my brain already running through all the things that have to be accomplished for that day. It's incredible, having no job and yet i'm busier than ever!
Seeing my parents and Anice off at the airport made me realize yet again how absolutely lucky i am to have such a loving and supportive family, who trust my judgment and choices always. And that isn't easy to do, i admit. After our trips to Turpan and Yili, we spent this past week in the big U-town, visiting EF, seeing friends, meeting up with my former students and Matt's colleagues, shopping at ErDaQiao (Uyghuer market). Yesterday we all went up to our wedding site number 5. We've been to 4 already, but two of those were part of the summer-yurt culture where it's set up mainly as a tourist attraction. Another one has the bubonic plague, and so naturally we had to rule that one out. Pity, as it was a beautiful view on top of the mountain. But we agree that Wedding Site #5 is probably the best option, big open grassy field, with towering pine trees surrounding it, views of the mountain (it will be a spectacular sunset and sunrise), and there is even a little stream running near the bottom of the hill - PERFECT!!
Oh, i don't think i've mentionned it yet: we are currently being filmed by CCTV5, who is doing a short documentary on "Xinjiang's Sporting Icons". Just to clarify although i'm sure it's obvious to you all, it's Matt and not me who is the icon. Matt was filmed last year for his football (or as we North Americans call it, 'soccer') participation as the only foreigner on the team in Urumqi. They want to do something a little more elaborate on him, being a foreigner and all. Matt told them that things have changed quite a bit since last year and that he would be getting married in September in the Xinjiang mountains to a particular Canadian gal. So this news update coupled with the fact that we will be participating in the Taklamakan Desert Rally, provoked more interest to do the doc. Anyway, we now have a third wheel in our relationship, Mr. WangDeWan (or 'Wang da Man' as i call him) who follows us around on our driving expeditions, and videotapes us packing, eating, playing the piano... he's pretty quiet and you don't even realize he's filming until you turn around and get this huge lens looking right into your face. It happened to me when i was brushing my teeth in the morning - what a shock.
Alas, life is good to me and as much as i do want some more hours added to the day, I shouldn't complain as every minute is jammed to the fullest.We're off to have a meeting with the rally people. Apparently there have been some significant changes to the route. We want to make sure we're getting our money's worth and that it won't be some huge media profile event. Ah, only one way to know huh?
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