If you saw my subway email - you will notice the Chinese, have NO sense of personal space. Not only are they "all up on you" but the push and shove...I've learned - feel free to push back! i pushed a kid today and felt good about it - the little shit!When children are given names at birth they are given a "family name" however in their teenage years they are allowed to choose an "American Name" for example my translators names are Alice and Iris. However these names are chosen at an impressionable age therefore I have already met...Apple, Triangle, Banana, Jellyfish and my all time favorite Hong Kong King Kong....In China the stores are in sections..meaning if you go to a golf store...there are 100 golf shops on that street. If you go to a shoe store...100 shoe stores on that street. Today I was on my way to destination and I saw "Sex Machine Shop"...yup there were 100 of them.Saw Pangu Hotel today, it is one of only 2 seven-star hotels in the whole world. The other is in Dubai - gorgeousWent to a building today that is under construction (they've halted construction to cut down on pollution - in case your wondering, it's not working) when the building is completed, it will have more office space than the pentagon.FYI you are not allowed radio's in China..not music radio - two way radio's like you would use for an event...NO RADIO's anywhere, we do all planning via cell phone. April this is for you...my Assistant Program Manager says "Yes Dear"...and i didn't even have to train him - I dies laughing when he said it and thought of you (and Britton & Tim of course)Just another example of my lack of knowledge...i did not know what a concubine or unick was today on the tour and when asked by my guide did we all know what it was I said no!. Try and have a person who's first language isn't English and raised on a communist conservative country explain this to you - very awkward.The million dollar question from the states is about the pollution...it sucks. Being here for almost 10 days you really start to see how it effects your body and respiratory system. I'll save you the gross details - but bottom line you notice.Until next time...PS A lot of you have asked me if you can forward my notes to friends, family or even mutual friends of ours - and i say SURE, why not...everyone should laugh at my stories with us.

So I'm starting to feel like I'm on the TV show Amazing Race. Today we received a series of "to-do's...one of those tasks was to take the subway and find the following places....As my team and I started our day we were excited. First stop - get on the subway.The following link depicts my experience this morning - this is not a joke, it's Beijing people.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8FQsg12hoY

Climbed the Great Wall today, it sucked! (But that's because I'm a lazy bum) I would say it was a close second to completing the Marathon, in terms of work. But oh my god, once I was up there...it was amazing! Here's a little fact.It is the only human work that can be seen from the moon.Also went to the Ming Tombs today too - we have to visit all these tourist places and learn about them as we will be taking clients to each one of these places when they are here. My sigh seeing tomorrow - the Beijing Airport...gotta love that! Hi-ho-hi-ho, back to work I go.Until next time

I saw today a father holding his baby...probably 15/18 mo old over a cigarette stand INSIDE a nice department poop'in in the part wear you put out the cigarette...to make matters worse there is a perfectly good bathroom on every floor...I can't even find verbiage to describe it...hysterical.

So I've come to the conclusion today that I am nothing that I thought I was...if you asked me to describe myself I would say I was a down to earth chick, rough and tough with the boys, and that I am not judgmental or prejudiced....APPARENTLY NOT.
I'm know where near down to earth - my head is actually in the clouds, I had no clue about how the other side of the world lives. I am not rough and tough...I'm pissed my blow dryer doesn't work, and don't like being left alone anywhere. And worst off - I‘m judgmental about everything I see - I have a lot of work to do while here. Just another chapter in my discovery of self.

Went to WalMart today...this is where all my judgmental-ness comes pouring out, so I will not say anything...but by saying nothing I'm saying everything...(shaking my head) Oh My God!

My last crazy story for the day is I was approached my girls who we later found out were prostitutes. Dunno what they wanted with me...but it was scary, and eventually had to walk away.until next time...

So much to tell so I'll just share bullets:
had my first worm in my food, I can see how easy it is to get parasites here - CRAZY!
I have a cell phone, but the funny thing is in China no cell phones have voicemail
The Government regulates the air condition...it can't below 26C (approx 76F)
So far i have seen a WalMart, Hooters, OUtback, TGI Fridays, Hard Rock, McDonlad's, KFC, Subway, Starbucks
Until next time!

I'm here

Let me make it quick...but I'm here. I arrived yesterday and suffered a HUGE culture shock (laughing at my self) and wasn't sure this was the right decision. However today was day one of training...all I can say is Oh My God....it's fascinating all the planning and detail that goes into this...I don't care what you've done in your life, I can bet you it is NOTHING like this. I loved every minute of it, and was probably the only one excited to receive the 5inch thick 3 ring binder (I know I'm weird) - but the efficiency and detail is remarkable.All in all I should be able to get on the net at least twice a day for at least this next week. My programs start on the 7th so it gets more busy as the days go on.Just in case you need a number this is more for you mom & dad, 01065906688 room 1031....MDM staff you'll get a kick out of this...who do you think was the VERY first person to call me when I got here? Come on Johnny you should know????? LENI!!!!! Gotta love her, she can find us anywhere - what would we do without her?Okay guys...until next time.

All Journey

So how long has it been? Only 6 months, it feels like it has been years...I guess it just

goes to show I've been living under a rock. I hope this is an acceptable excuse for those of you that have emailed me or called me and are still waiting on a response...sorry!

Well let me start by welcoming my "new friends". For those of you receiving an email like this from me for the first time I feel the need to explain. About every 3 - 4 months (or maybe 6 months) I sit down and try to recap or even sometimes pour out my heart and soul on paper for all of those around the globe that I try to keep in touch with and hope appreciate the small yet heartfelt glimpse into my life.

So where did we leave off...I was leaving MDM Group, which was my career of 12 years to start my own business. (What was I thinking?) No in all seriousness it's been great - but I'll cut to chase. It seems I haven't grown up much in my "old age". As a child I always had to do things my way, which coincidently was the hard the way. No one could

give me advice or even a suggested alternative - I was doing it my way damn it, end of story.

So what would make one think I was going to enter the world of being an entrepreneur any different. Nope, no different here...everyday I sarcastically say the statement "and this is what I've learned today". It's kinda like that everything I needed to know I learned in Kindergarten poem - but guess what boys and girls. In kindergarten they don't teach you how to tell a client "back off I got this", nicely. And I don't remember the day they taught you this is how you function with only 2 1/2 hours of sleep. Oh and I know for sure there was absolutely no accounting classes on how to stretch a dollar. Stretching last

seasons "skinny jeans" to fit this season - that I know how to do. But cutting my salary in half was way worse than being the last kid picked in dodge ball. Not that I know about it first hand, I was too cool. (wink, wink)

But with the realization that this was not all fun and games it was time to get down to business, I did just that and haven't looked back since. My DoD (Department of Defense) contract is going well. I enjoy the people I work with and they trust me to do a good job for them. When I don't know something (and that's often) I ask them and without fail they

invest the time in helping me learn so I can continue to do my job. But really the biggest obstacle is the cultural differences day in and day out of government work vs corporate America. (They didn't teach that in kindergarten either)

Within the past four months I have had great successes with my business. I've done everything from non-profit events, to four-day music festivals, military events, equipment rentals, and even head-hunter work. But what it's taught me is to really hone my craft. Figure out what you like, and more importantly what your good at - and stick to it. Most

importantly remember how good you are at what you do and don't let anyone tell you any different.

Well if my life wasn't crazy enough as it is...I like to say "kinda like LaGuardia in a snow storm...arrivals and departures are all messed up" I'm at it again. My next big adventure is I am leaving July 20^thfor Beijing, China where I will be living for the next 6 ½ weeks working on the Olympic Games. My role will be a program director working Operations and hospitality for the American based companies coming to the Olympics. At this point I will try and answer every question I think you might have.

And I only know these questions because I have been asked them on a regular basis everytime I tell folks of my plans:

Beijing 101 FAQ's

1. Am I excited?

This is an understatement. The best away to explain it is like this. There are two parts to this experience. Part 1 is living in Beijing for 6 weeks. Part 2 is being involved in something as spectacular as the Olympics. Listen if the Olympics were in Atlanta - I would be just as excited. But there not - they are ½ way around the world. And I'm on my

way there.

2. Are you taking Chinese lessons?

Sure, in my spare time. (Translation) Hell no! I don't have time to do that...but I have a plan. The company that has hired me provides me with a full-time translator. He/She has their work cut out for them - cause I talk a lot.

3. Where are you staying?

I stay where the client stays and in this case it is at the Landmark Hotel

4. What is the time difference?

China is 12 hours ahead of Fort Lauderdale time.

5. What is the weather going to be like?

HOT! To quote the almanac it says "summers is in Beijing are smoldering". (I don't think this person is from Florida, or at least visited this great state in August.)

6. Are you getting any shots/ vaccines, etc?

The jury is still out on this. I will say I am prepared. I've visited my doctor and to my surprise my Doctor will be in China as part of the medical team in the Olympic Village. Therefore he kindly wrote me a prescription for everything he is bringing/ doing. It includes Hepatitis A, Malaria and a multitude of drugs "just incase"...Penicillin, Z-packs, Montezuma's Revenge, and a few others I can't think of right now. But it's safe to say - "I'm good".

7. Are you scared?

Yes! But not of China. Not of protestors. And not even of the fear of terrorists blowing the place up....you know what I'm the most scared of - yup you guessed it, THE FOOD. And the internet chain email (I have received about 6 times already) about the food in china, does not help the situation.

So there you have it...What's Maureen doing now? She's headed off to China

to work the Olympics and try to take one more step further in bettering her skills at learning as much as she can about this crazy industry of massive events. I will keep good notes during my travels and promise to touch base when I return. I leave Fort Lauderdale on Sunday July 20^th and return home August 29^th. But don't expect to hear from me for at least about a week so I can catch up on my sleep.

Until next time I'll leave you with the question I once heard... "In life do we really need to have a destination...can't life be all journey"?