Spring Festival is of course what we call the Chinese New Year.  I have four weeks off from teaching and now have booked my flights!

The flight to the U.S.A. is almost twice as expensive because Spring Festival is so early this year!  The students from China will be heading back to America for the beginning of the new semester at the same time!!  C'est la vie!

I leave on Jan. 9 for San Diego to visit family - all the Chinese who are able will do the same.  The Shanghai Stock Market even closes for a whole week!!

On Jan. 14 I head to Houston to visit friends - I do not go to Houston (or the south) during the summer - it is too hot and so nice in the north!!  That's when I travel to Alaska and Wisconsin, etc.  Likewise, I usually go south in the winter - except for skiing, of course!!! grin

On Jan. 22 I will fly to Grand Junction to ski on the Mesa (that's Grand Mesa) - downhill and Cross Country, I expect. 

Then I will drive to Salt Lake City for a week and a half of skiing the best and lightest snow on earth - Alta and Snowbird, UUttaaahh! grin
The steepest and deepest snow in the U.S.A.'s lower 48.  Over 500 inches average snow and usually over 100" base!

I fly back from the Junction to LAX on Jan. 6 and then to Shanghai on Jan. 8!!

YES - a whirlwind tour with lots of stops and time to relax (and get into shape) along the way!!  Sorry if I don't make it your way this time!