Shanghai, China

The Motherland calls and I answer. China, touted as a rising economic power, a land of wonder and opportunity, in my mind is still the place my parents threatened to send me whenever I acted up as a child.

A hundred years ago, North America was touted as the Golden Mountain and many Chinese made their way here to find their fortunes. Now, the flow has begun to ebb and even reverse.

Would I find my calling here? Would I finally find a people with whom I could connect on a level transcending all mental and physical boundaries? The answer is no, but I had a hell of a good time anyway.