I Am Ready!

Since I found out, back in February, that I would have the opportunity to travel across the world, I really haven't had a chance to just sit back and soak it all in. And seems as though every person that I tell is MORE excited than I am for the chance to cook at the Olympics. Don't get me wrong, I am stoked for this opportunity, I just don't thing that it has hit me yet. In just thirteen short days I will be boarding a plane in Chicago, and flying 14 hours, across the Pacific Ocean, in between two people that I don't know, to a place I have never been, surrounded by people who don't speak my language. It's a lot to wrap my big, fat head around, I don't think It will happen until I step off that plane.

The funniest thing about this whole experience is the reaction that I get from the people that I tell. I have noticed that there are three responses people will have...

A. "Really!?!!? That great! You must be so excited!"

B. "Wow! You'll probably meet your future wife over there!"

C. "You better bring your bulletproof vest. Aren't you afraid of terrorist attacks?"

Reaction A is what I expect from people, reaction B sounds pretty good (I'm not ruling anything out :) ), but reaction C really irritates me. I don't get a C reaction from most people, but every time that I do I just want to slap these people around a little bit. 1.) You don't say that to someone who is about travel across the world for the first time. 2.) I can see that these people have been watching too many Mid-Michigan news programs, and have NO idea what is happening in Beijing to prepare for the games. It is totally transforming itself into the perfect destination for the Olympics. But the news programs only want to talk about all of the negative stories that surround China, and it gives us a bad impression.

The people of China are committed to making this the best Olympic games ever. I have read countless articles that support this statement. And you know what? This makes me even more excited to travel to China. I found this video on YouTube, and it gives me chills every time that I watch it! I am going to share in the excitement of the Chinese people, and I am going to do my part in making the 2008 Beijing Olympic games, the best, and biggest sporting event ever!!!

5 Things I already know about China

5.) Everything in China is crowded.

I know that I won't have a lot of time to go to the beach when I'm in China, but after seeing this, i'm glad!



Look closely. Can you see him? Here's a hint...




4.) The Chinese are not the world's best drivers.





3.) The food. The food. The food.





2.) Some of the greatest actors of all-time have been of Chinese origin.







1.) American boy bands got nothin' on these cats...

Welcome!

You have officially entered, what will prove to be, THE most entertaining blog on the internet!

My name is Chris Uhl, and the details of my life are quite inconsequential. My father was a relentlessly self-improving boulangerie owner from Belgium with low-grade narcolepsy and a penchant for buggery. My mother was a 15-year-old French prostitute named Chloe with webbed feet. My father would womanize, he would drink, he would make outrageous claims, like he invented the question mark. Sometimes, he would accuse chestnuts of being lazy–the sort of general malaise that only the genius possess and the insane lament. My childhood was typical: summers in Rangoon, luge lessons. In the spring, we’d make meat helmets. Ah, but enough about my childhood...

I will spend the next few months of my life in Beijing, China, working as a sous chef at the Olympic Village and I thought I would document some of the more interesting things that happen to me along the way.

I know that work will consume most of my time, but if I am so lucky as to have a day off or so, I want to take full advantage of this trip and see and do as much as I can.

And for those of you who are interested in reading about the things I do, the people I meet, and (most importantly) the things I eat, then this blog is for you!

So sit back, and enjoy the ride...