It's strange to think we're going home in two days. Even stranger to think that we're taking home little Sebastian. Personally, I don't think he'll do well on a 14-hour flight...but that's beside the point.

The trip has been amazing, and I don't say that lightly. How many people can say they've been to China?? Now I can. I got to see things like the Great Wall, Forbidden City, and Stone Forest, that not many people can say they've seen. I expierenced the feeling of seeing my little brother for the first time on Gotcha Day. And, of course, I got to write some of the posts for the blog.

Although my journey has been incredible, I have one thing to say: Thank God I'm going home. Quite frankly, I've been sick for the past few days, am tired of Chinese food and Lucy's, and if I'm asked to go look in one more shop by it's owners, I think I'm going to go insane! So, in honor of my anticipation of waiting to go home, I've made a list of things I miss about it, and my mom will have one later in the post. Here you go:

- Chili's. I have no idea why, but I had this craving for Chicken Crispers yesterday, and it hasn't gone away.
- My Friends. I've talked to some of them on AIM, but for those I haven't, I really miss you. Besides, time differences get me all mixed up, and I end up IMing you at 6:00am your time. I just really miss you all.
- My iPod speakers. I hate having my iPod in my ears when I'm just sitting there, reading a book. Besides, I can't listen to Fall Out Boy nearly as loudly as I'd like with all of us squashed in a Hotel room.
- Which brings me to this: I miss my own room. You really have idea what the little things that annoy you are until you're stuck with the same four or five people for two weeks. Seriously, personal space is a huge thing for me now.
- Ok, I know above I said my friends, but this is sort of different...I miss freaking out over the most random things, with my friends. Things like a new journal post on falloutboyrock.com, or if we have some crazily hard paper to write for Language Arts, and none of us really know what to write. (Word to the wise, literary analysis's are not fun to revise at nine o'clock at night.)
- School. I wish I could say "No, I love being away from school!" but I really can't. I guess I kind of like it. I know that the first week I get back I'll be begging to be taken out again, but for now I want to return to a normal schedule. Wake up, go to school, come home, do homework, eat, TV, sleep. Order, sweet order.
- American Idol. Ok, I haven't heard ANYTHING about what's happening on that show!! Where are they in it now? Who's still in it? COME ON, PEOPLE, I NEED THIS REALITY SHOW!
- Those pretzels at the mall. The big puffy kind, and the lemonade they sell at the same place. Those things make me so happy. I could eat a gazillion of them.
- My own room. Oh, yeah...I said that already....
- Tap water. Is it really so much to ask that a country PURIFIES ITS WATER!!! Geez, China.
- This list is long. Anyway, I miss normal internet speed. If you're waiting to travel for the first time, and are used to high-speed internet, beware: It's incredibly slow here. You have no idea how lucky you are until ou try to watch a video on YouTube.
- My Cell Phone. I wish I could use it here, but I can't, obviously. I can't text normally, so I don't miss that, but I miss calling people in general.
- My Grandparents. Granny and Grandpa, Thank you sooo much for helping! Grandpa Dick, I miss you! Can't wait to see you guys!
- Fine. I'll say it, but picture me mumbling...I miss my brother Ryan. No, I'm just kidding. I miss you Ryan. See you soon. Ha, you're going to have your hands full when we get back with Sebastian. He is looking forward to meeting his big-brother.
- I miss Jamba Juice. Smoothies really are delicious things, in my opinion superior to coffee and tea. I never realized how wonderful they are until I was deprived of a Carribean Passion for two weeks. I can taste it already.
- Last one, so I'll make it good. Ahhh I know. TiVo. (TV in general) Along with American Idol, I need some CSI: Miami, Loaded (Paramore could have been on while I was gone) and a whole lot more. Plus, fast-forwarding and pausing TV is so much more fun then watching commercials. (can you IMAGINE??)

Well, I guess I'm done with my list now. MOms actually sleeping, so she'll make her list and post tomorrow...One more day, One more day. Hoped you liked the pictures, I can't wait to talk to some of you soon!!!!!

~Nikki
P.S. Was the World War One and Two Test hard? I'm nervous about that one...