I leave for Beijing tonight. I have a brief layover in Zurich, Switzerland before I board a plane for China. I’ve heard that Swiss Air serves nice chocolates in lieu of the usual airplane pretzels — an amenity which I am very much anticipating.

I’m sightseeing in Beijing for a couple days before heading to Jinan, Shandong to visit a few relatives. I lived in Beijing for a bit when I was younger; there’s not much I haven’t seen, though I haven’t been there for years. I’m trying to find the best way to explore a city that’s already familiar, to maybe defamiliarize it in some way, or even just see as much as possible in 36 hours.

For now, I have to find someone who can take care of my plants!