Jeremy In A TuTu ---- THE MOVIE!!!

Ok, so I was asked by some guys at work to join them in the "talent" show performance at our work New Year bash. How could I say no? HA HA! I was the "special guest" dancer! It was a hit! I mean, I'm in a tutu, how could it not be?!?!? HA HA HA!

Crider Walks On The Great Wall --- THE MOVIE!

I feel like someone should play the Rocky theme! I walked on The Great Wall of China today! WOO-HOO! It was amazing! No words! I went with my new Aussie friend Chris. We had a blast! Anyway, here's a bit of my experience. As you'll see, I was a little overwhelmed to be there! Chris was a little, well a lot, unprepared for a hike! HA HA HA!

My first day of work!

Well, not really my first day AT work! I'm not allowed to film inside the newsroom. In China, remember? HA HA HA! It's my break-down of day one. AND YES -- day one was 4 days ago! I filmed this, got sleepy and never uploaded it! I've been busy, ok!!!

Beijing Day One: THE MOVIE!!!!

So, wanna know what Jeremy's life is like in China?? Watch this video of my adventures during my very first day in Beijing! It's long and I have a huge zit, but I think you'll enjoy the plot! HA HA HA! Lemme know what you think!!!!!

My Last Blog Entry Before Arriving In Beijing!

Ok, so this is my last full day in the United States for, well, at least a year! Or, until I visit next Christmas. Either way, it's gonna be a long damn time! HA HA! I can't believe it is really happening! It hit me Sunday that I'm not packing for a vacation, but for an actual move to the other side of the world! CRAZY! Especially crazy since I can only check two bags and take a carry on and a laptop! So, I stuffed those babies full, but not too full, because I don't wanna pay a bajillion dollars for overweight luggage!!! I leave REALLY early tomorrow morning for the airport. Thank you underwear bomb terrorist!!! Anyway, I fly out of DC at 12:15pm. I land in China at 6:20pm THURSDAY evening. Yes, Thursday! I'll be in the air for about 16 hours. Add in the 11 hour time difference and I lose an entire day! Anyway, representatives from Xinhua are meeting me at the airport Thursday night. They will drive me to a hotel and I will get a wake-up call at 8:30am Friday. A driver and someone from Xinhua will take me around Beijing to do some paperwork, help exchange money, get a cell phone and move into my apartment! Busy times! The good news? I will have Friday night, Saturday and Sunday to adjust to the time change and settle into my new home before I have to go to work on Monday. Surreal, right? But, I'm soooooo excited! I am at total peace with my decision to move and believe this is going to be an AMAZING year!!!! I can't wait to see what awesome opportunities, adventures, people etc... God throws my way! Don't worry, I'll keep you posted on all of it!!! OK. I'm done for now! Pray for me! I'll give you another update once I'm in Beijing and have a second to sit down!!! PEACE!!!

My Apartment In Beijing!!!

So, it took longer than I expected, but I finally have a home in Beijing! Praise God! It's a one bedroom, fully-furnished and ready to move in as soon as I arrive. My realtor negotiated a great deal and even talked the landlord into giving me a new microwave and dining room table! I'm really excited! So, pictures of the pad are below! I will of course give ya a video tour of the digs once I'm settled in :-)


View from the front door!


The living room!


I have a balcony!


The kitchen!


The bathroom!


The bedroom!

Goodbye Bash In Roanoke...

I left Roanoke two years ago to take the job in Norfolk. When I left, my friends there threw me a goodbye bash. And wouldn't ya know, two years later as I am about to embark on the journey of a lifetime, the Roanoke peeps do it again! Did I mention I haven't lived in Roanoke for two years? Gotta admit, makes me feel loved! Had a blast at the Crider Goes To China event! Here's some of the evidence. FYI - I didn't shave for two weeks, because I didn't have to! HA HA!


One last round with Pete, Charley and Matt!



Big smiles with Marathoner Matthiessen (aka Alison)



Havin' fun with Laura and Ryan!



The group!



The buds - Jarret and Mike!

Happy 2010! It's gonna be one to remember...

So, it's the first day of 2010 and I'm really excited about this year! I'm gonna spend it in China!!! I officially got my work VISA on Wednesday. It took several weeks and two trips to the Chinese Embassy in DC, but I got it! My plane ticket has been booked. I take off for the Far East on Wednesday, January 13th. In short, I have a week and a half before I'm living in Beijing. Can you say, WOAH! I moved outta my Norfolk apartment on Tuesday. I'm staying with my family until I take off. I still don't have an apartment in Beijing, but a realtor there promises me I will by the time I arrive. I told her I trust her and she said, quote, "It is my greatest honor" to find you a place to live! Greatest honor? Not sure about that, but hey, if it gets me a cool pad in China I'm all about it! HA HA HA! Anyway, leaving WTKR didn't go as planned :-) I'll fill ya in later! But, I did have the chance to say goodbye to pretty much everyone I will miss. It's crazy to think I spent two years in Norfolk! I remember moving there like it was just yesterday! SHEW! Scary to think 2010 will be here and gone before we know it! But, alas, it is time for a new adventure. I gotta be honest. I've never felt more at peace about something than I do about this trip to Beijing. I believe it's exactly what I need to be doing right now and I'm so grateful for the opportunity. OK, enough sappy stuff for now! I'll save it for later, because I'm sure there will be more sap over the next year. HA HA! Thanks for keepin' up with me! I promise to update you as much as possible. You do the same! Here's to an awesome 2010!!!!!! Peace!

Where are you work VISA?

So, the latest update is the wait for my work VISA from China. I applied for it Friday, December 11th. The problem? I was flagged by the Consulate, because I currently work for American media. I've been told the Press Office in Beijing will do a background check, which might take a week or two, but shouldn't be an issue. Another problem? I'm supposed to fly to Beijing on January 13, but Xinhua won't buy my ticket until my VISA is officially processed! So, we wait. We pray. We gain patience. We prepare. I have changed my address, convinced AT&T to suspend my service (so I don't lose my number and don't have to pay for a phone I'm not using), scheduled electricity/cable shut-off, began preparing my taxes --- and there's more to do :-) But, enjoying every second of knowing I'm about to have the most amazing adventure ever!!!! Such a blessing! Keep me in your prayers!!!! I'll keep you posted :-) PS: My work peeps at WTKR got me a Flip Cam as my goodbye gift! SO GRATEFUL! Now, I'll be able to video tape my adventures and post them to the blog. Sorry, but you're gonna be seein' a lot of my life on the other side of the pond!!!

The move, departure and start date and life on an air mattress!

So, I'm writing this post while sitting on an air mattress in the middle of my living room floor in Norfolk. The reason? My sister and buddy Zack helped move everything I own on Saturday. I'm left with the air mattress, my computer, a tv, some clothes and good ol' Cheerio (she's the cat :-) I will be here until the end of the month then move back to Broadway, VA until I depart for Beijing. Speaking of the departure, I just got an email from Xinhua saying they're flying me to China on Wednesday, January 13th. I won't get to Beijing until late Thursday or Friday, because of 12 hour time difference and long-ass flight! I start work on Monday, January 18th. So, everything is coming together! Well, I don't have an apartment in Beijing yet, but a realtor is looking for me. She's supposed to send me some options soon. I hope she hurries up. Can you imagine Crider homeless in China?? HA HA! Anyway, this entire process is unreal. It still hasn't fully hit me that I'm about to spend a year in China. I don't think it really will until the goodbye's happen and I'm officially living there. So, if I seem out of it or crazy for the next few weeks --- be patient with me! I'll keep ya posted!!!!