California

I sit on a plane lazily looking out the window upon the frozen tundra that is Idaho Falls airport.  It is currently -18 degrees outside.  I know that i will not be missing those temperatures.  I'm terrified though.  This is the start of everything i have worked for.  All the planning and anxiety and working and working and working has led up to me leaving for the great state of California.  I arrive in LAX without a hitch and proceed to pick up my bag.  I find everything fine and then move to the bus that will take me the train station.
I will be staying with my friend Trio for six days while I acquire my Chinese visa and give me some time to relax.  I hop on a train headed for Oceanside and realize that this entire day has gone perfectly.  There was no cool stories or mishaps.  Just one crazy bum in the train station telling everyone how we are all going to die.  I'm amazed that everything has gone so smoothly.  is this how the whole trip is going to be or is this just the beauty of America.
But I did learn this.  This country boy needs to learn a lot about the city and quickly.  From a  mob of old Asian women offering me Korean newspapers to a bum pooping in the park and picking the last bit out with his hand.  I apologize for the graphic details but this is what I was witness too.  I couldn't wrap my hand around being so strung out and low that I would finish the number two with my hand
I also realized the language barrier will be bigger than I thought.  As i sat in line waiting to pick up my passport with visa intact an elderly Asian women was ahead of me.  As they spoke what I could only assume was Chinese, the conversation began to intensify.  Soon a massive screaming bout broke out and lady was put into cuffs and escorted off the premises.  I had no idea why.  Holy crap!!  Was this going to happen to me.  Cautiously I give the lady my receipt and she gave me my passport no biggie.  I couldn't wrap my head around why that had happened and that moment will now have me on edge at every visa office from here on out.
But aside from that I got in some much needed relaxing.  In between  casual beach trips and sleeping in there was various trips around town.  Most notably bumping Tech 9 and going to a Barnes and Noble.  Yeah I'm pretty sure we are the first to ever do that.

From here I get on a 13 HOUR PLANE RIDE to end up in New Zealand.  I am nervous but from the beautiful experience I have had here I am more excited than anything.