So much to do, so little time...

Well, we are able to count on one hand the number of days until we leave!! Four for the curious reader! I honestly don't think it has yet sunk in that on Sunday I will be landing in Beijing. It feels like an eternity since I first heard Purdue was sending students to the Olympics. Before I tell you about my preparations I should probably introduce myself. I am Megan Jahrling, soon to be a 5th year senior in Visual Communications Design (graphic design) and Communications. Currently I am at home in Mount Prospect, IL anxiously awaiting my departure on Saturday!!!

I took this week off to prepare and relax. Thankfully I have traveled abroad before so I knew a while ago what I was in for this week. Sunday was taxing, (NOT) I made my list of everything I needed to do, buy, and pack before I left...I did not want to be stuck doing all this on Friday or even worse Saturday morning before I leave. I have had a number of electronic woes lately (computer getting a virus, losing a key on the keyboard, and the battery dying on my cell phone) so I checked everything to make sure that it all worked. IT DID!

I decided it would be best to break things up into parts, so Monday I did the typical pre-travel shopping excursion. Naturally I went to Target for all my traveling needs(they did not pay me to say that.) I already had all my adaptors and converters so that was one thing I didn't even have to think about. I did however need shampoo, (which I think my roommate, peers, and most of China will be thankful I bought) sunscreen, a first aid kit, medicines, anti-bacterial hand gel, and most important...PEANUT BUTTER! When I went to Italy I made the mistake of not bringing peanut butter and I vowed NEVER again would I leave my dear friend behind. I would have bought the ever important ranch also, but I figure I won't be eating very much salad over there. I did some more random shopping and looked up ideas for gifts to bring, but that was pretty much it for the day.

This morning I was fortunate enough to catch Good Morning America's Traveling Tips segment. I learned that rolling your clothes saved more space than simply folding them. As my mom and I discussed we don't understand how that is possible, according to the woman it gets out the air. Anyway, I decided to give it a go on the bottom half of my suitcase and AMAZINGLY the same amount of stuff takes up only half the space. I will have to repack again Friday (usually it takes me three rounds to get out most of the useless junk) but for now I was quite impressed. I then took over the computer to scan my credit card, ATM card, visa, passport, and other documents, so I would have a back up in case of an emergency. I left a copy with my parents. I called my bank to let them know I would be leaving the country and please do not put a hold on my credit card because then I will have no money!!! My local newspaper has asked to do a story about Val and me so I wrote all about the experience for them during the afternoon. I wanted to sound super intelligent (more so than I do here) so I put some extra effort into it.

Other than that, I haven't been up to much. I have pretty much finished everything besides updating my iTunes and repacking. Like I said, I have done this before so it made life a lot easier. The next few days will be spent relaxing. Thursday is the Taste of Chicago, me and three million of my closest friends will be waiting to see the fireworks, while trying to enjoy some of the best food in city! Then Friday I am just going to hang out at home, repack and SLEEP!

That is pretty much it!!! Have an excellent 4th of July everyone!!!

:: Megan Jahrling ::

Media reports

The local media has done two stories on our approaching trip. You can read all about it in the local Journal & Courier and the Exponent, Purdue's student newspaper.

Welcome to SAE306E, Exploring Media Institutions, at the 2008 Beijing Olympics

Hello everyone. Welcome to our class blog! We are thrilled to have this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to volunteer at an Olympic games in an exotic and, frankly, mysterious country. The 15 of us will be working as media liaisons for the Olympic News Service at the 2008 Olympic games in Beijing. Specifically, we are assigned to cycling events at the Laoshan Velodrome. We will be gathering quotes from participants to share with reporters, writing recaps of events, and generally assisting the media in any way we can. At work and at play, we will be exploring a different culture and the way mass communication affects that culture, and how that differs from our own culture. It's a rare opportunity. We intend to make the most of it. We hope you will check back here frequently to view our comments. We arrive in Beijing on July 7 and are there through the closing ceremonies on Aug. 25. It's a unique opportunity to live and work in China. We hope, through the use of new mass communication technology (blogging, podcasting), to bring the Olympic experience home to West Lafayette for you. We will be taking turns writing posts (and posting pictures and podcasts) each day. You will get 15 different views of what is happening. We hope you like it.

Thanks for checking us out,

Jane Gibson Natt, Assistant Professor, Purdue University