I’m writing this footnote almost a year after the trip, and even now I can vividly remember the sights we saw, people we met, and places and things we experienced. I feel exceptionally lucky to have had the experience of watching the Olympics in person (especially with the incredible display put on by the Chinese), spending a week in beautiful Tibet, and touring parts of China that I never before planned to see. I had no idea food in Sichuan province would be as consistently excellent as it was. I had no idea how much we’d come to rely on our drivers and guides throughout parts of the trip. I can still remember the smile on John’s face as he’d guide us around Tibet. It was a wonderful experience, and one I’d gladly do again if given the opportunity.

The postcards that I sent out were well received, and I came back with an awful lot of stuff that has been given to family, friends, and co-workers at opportune times. I still have quite a bit too. I ended up with few amenity kits on this trip – just one from Air Canada and Thai Airways. I had hoped for more. I was able to get playing cards from Air China, SWISS, and Thai Airways.

More important than the material possessions I brought back were the memories, the photographs, and the feelings of goodwill shared amongst people with very different backgrounds. I only regret that my later attempts to contact Shannon were met with failure. I hope she fulfilled her goal to change positions and that she’s safe, happy, and successful wherever in the world she ended up.

If you’ve made it this far, you must be really quite bored. I hope you’re not stuck on the tarmac somewhere waiting for the weather to clear or a mechanic to fix your aircraft…

Thanks for taking the time to read this, and may all of your travels be safe, happy, and successful!