Salty Caramel and Quarantines

The World Health Organization has declared H1N1 to be a global pandemic of level 6.
It doesn't mean that it's more dangerous, just that it's spread to more countries.


So... this means that the leaders of the Wuhan program are negotiating with the Chinese authorities to get approval for our trip. (I wish they'd let me beg - I'm do a pretty good pouty face when I need to.) We could even end up quarantined for the first week upon arrival! Teach by podcast for that week from the hotel? I have no idea what we'd all do. And much as I'd enjoy a week's worth of room service, I don't think it would be a very thrilling kick-off to the program.

If I don't get to go, I am SO gonna eat Jeni's icecream twice every day for the whole month to cheer me up. Can "salty caramel" soothe my disappointed soul? We may have to find out.

Swine Flu Worries

We've been warned that there's a teensy weensy miniscule chance that the whole trip could be cancelled due to fear of swine flu. I guess China hasn't had many cases, and the ones they had were brought over from our continent. I'm crossin' my fingers that things go as planned... so far, so good.

I feel a little bad for the swine... I wonder if they're experiencing discrimination like muslims did after 9/11? People stop eating bacon, nobody will touch them at the petting zoo... Poor piggies. Why can't we all just get along?