I have been thinking about doing the second year of my rotational program in China. When else in my life will I have the opportunity to live somewhere really different? When else will I be able to learn a new language? How else can I kick off my career as James Bond? Its unclear.

A few weeks ago, these questions flowed through my head as I sipped coffee, listened to music, created a spreadsheet, and responded to some email. My ADHD was showing, and my mind was racing. Would I make friends abroad? Would it be okay to live so many timezones away? Would I feel like godzilla? Would I like Asia? Again, unclear.

To cut a long, and eventless story short, after much internal strife, and some external prodding, I finally decided I would try to make this thought a reality. Will report back if I end up solidifying plans -- a year in China will give me much fodder for discussion.

For now, zaijian.

Toilets

Using the toilet is a strange, ritualistic, experience. One that everyone gets used to. Sitting down on a chair to plop a number two is something done in routine. Some wipe standing up, some wipe sitting down, with their right hand, their left. Patterns are formed and never changed.. unless you're traveling.

In developed India, plumbing is not quite sophisticated enough to handle TP, thus a person is required to waste-paper in a bin adjoining the ceramic bowl. On first thought -- not that difficult, but after 19 some-odd-years of pattern-formed sanitation, a herculean effort.

The issue is that going to the bathroom no longer requires thought, so adding in a new step is difficult.

More difficult than the transition from western to eastern toilette is the transition to the squat toilette, affectionately known as the 'hole in the ground' one must aim over. Pain points:

1) Aim

2) Wiping

3) Sanitation

4) Where to put the toilette paper.

None of this is easy.

Transitions between toilettes are hard for everyone. A friend once told me a story of a child used to the squat toilette, who was asked to use a traditional western toilette. When the friend walked into the bathroom after the child, he found foot prints on top of the bowl. The child had thought you were supposed to stand on top of the bowl in order to relieve yourself.

For a future post: confusions between bedays and other toilette experiences.

Traveling in a chariot.

In an attempt to assert my male dominance, I decided that I needed to be the fastest person down the mountain during the Google News Ski trip to Squaw valley last week. This was a mistake. Powder and testosterone got the best of me.

The group of most advanced news-team skiers started the day on KT22. Bombing down was fun, and (temporarily) care free as the mountain was covered in feet of powder.

During the morning, Granite Chief was closed due to avalanche warning. Come 11AM, after copious amounts of dynamite, the powers at be decided to open the lift. My cohorts and I managed to get on one of the first chairs up and were treated with large amounts of untouched powder. Curse and a blessing.

Blessing: The first 90% of the run was the most fun I have ever had on a snowboard.

Curse: I did a faceplant going way to fast towards the bottom, bruised a few ribs, sprained my MCL, and tore some cartilage in my left knee.

Nearing the end of the trail, I needed to turn in order to dump off some speed. Leaning a bit too far forward, my board began to angle downwards, and quickly shot deep into the powder. I took a dive (second one of the day). As I went down, my knee twisted left on impact, and my face made sweet nothings with the snow. The rest was a doctors visit.

Two days later: I was on crutches, painkillers, wearing a knee brace, and was checking into American Airlines in Reno Nevada. I was about to fly to New York via a brief stopover in LA.

Being unable to walk in the airport is awesome. You are chauffeured in a wheelchair from checkin to baggage claim. Airline attendants give you free upgrades, and flight attendants baby you. The ultimate in style. It was so enjoyable that next time I fly, I might just fake an injury to get preferential treatment.

A worthwhile experience because I didn't need surgery. Phew!

Being reminded of a love of travel

As a co-worker, and travel companion, aptly wrote: India is trying to kill us. Not just us in fact, but everyone. Consider:

1) Transportation is mayhem. Cars, goats, rickshaws, motorcycles, children on bicycles, cows, pedestrians, trash, buses, and shepherds occupy the same space with little concern for each other.

2) The smog is so thick that you need a towel to wash it off.

3) Food is poisoned. Our local tour guide wiped his plate clean before eating meals, and consistently had to help us differentiate between the edible, and the dysentery inducing.

Prior to last week, it had been eight months since my last visit to the third world. During my new life in Silicon Valley, I had forgotten the cacophony and bloodthirsty nature of such locales. The smell of burning rubber, and trash strewn about was reminiscent of an earlier time. It felt worlds apart from my current high tech enclave.

My brief stint in a rickshaw was the most exhilarating experience I’ve had in the past six months. The trip was a blunt reminder of my love of travel, and chaos, and Indian food.

Lesson learned: I need to get out of the valley more often.

In closing, a random thought: Seeing a baby usually makes me happy, unless that baby is crying in the seat next to me on a plane.

Why am I writing?

Hi All,

I've been to a lot of interesting places, and done a lot of random things. This past weekend I climbed a kilometer of stairs to see a 1000 year old Jain temple in southern India. Last week, while in Berlin, I launched a product for Google that received global press coverage. Next week, I am going to a rave in San Francisco. The week after I am probably going to sleep, srsly.

Why am I writing? My guess is its because I think I have a story to tell, but I'm not quite sure yet. I find the idea of a roaming computer scientist, who thinks he can write vaguely amusing.

I plan on bringing you quirky stories about love, travel, business, sex, computers, art, hippie communes, and maybe some other stuff too. Let me know what you think.

Over and out.

Chase

In case you didn't get enough.