Some of my Chinese colleagues are inconsolable; hurdler and national hero Liu Xiang has pulled out of the Games.

The man is more than just a star athlete. To the Chinese youth who I spend my days working with, he's an idol, a symbol of hope, pride, and ambition who has come to epitomize China's desired global image; fast, strong, able to stay on par with international competitors.

Adopting Noodle the dog has forced me to access a side of Beijing that I didn’t expect to. Everything until I found her had been all awe and confusion, all mystery and glamor, all Olympics or sightseeing or nightlife, all the time. Now that I am in charge of caring for a living creature, I have to navigate animal hospitals and veterinary visits and pet stores.

Oh, adventure.

China certainly keeps me on my tiptoes. If I were an asshole, I might write something like "Good thing I packed a sense of humor!" but since I'm not a fan of getting punched in the babymaker, I'll keep that linguistic gem to myself.

Yesterday, I decided to use the Olympics to my advantage and do the exact opposite of what everyone in China is trying to do; get OUT of Beijing.