Today marks the end of my contract here in Hangzhou, China AND my last day of work. I fly home to the U.S. tomorrow and I am more than ready and SO excited!
I took the east sidewalk today… I would say that 80% of the time I take the west side. It depends a lot on the traffic lights 🙂 The darker tile is the Blind Person walkway, it is on every sidewalk in China that I’ve walked on. And the lane next to the sidewalk is the bicycle, e-bike, scooter lane. They have their own lane separated from the car traffic.
Last year I walked on my first day of work. I was a month into the Dukan Diet and I weighed 236 lbs/107.5 kgs. I was walking every day in Abu Dhabi for the prescribed 30 minutes. On that walk to work which is 1.5 kms/0.92 miles I decided that I was going to walk to and from work EVERY SINGLE DAY for the whole year of my contract. AND DAMMIT… I DID! I walked every single day to work for 12 months. My estimate (taking into consideration vacations and trips to work in other cities, where I also walked to work) is that here in Hangzhou I walked to work approximately 200 times. That’s 200 miles! Woot!
I have to admit that there were days that I was SO tempted to hail a cab or take the bus (it’s a .35 km walk to the bus stop, then it’s just one bus stop up)… there were 7 weeks in February and March where EVERY SINGLE DAY it was 41F and raining and it sucked… but I walked, because you set goals and you reach them and you feel like I do right this minute! 😀
I also walked home 90% of those days. The only days I didn’t was days that I was going into the city for groceries or dinner and caught a cab or bus. So my best guess is that I probably walked to and from work about 380+ miles over the course of this past year.
Did you get in your 30 minutes of movement today???
Ciao!
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I did!! 🙂 45 min. of Pilates and 3.5 on the bike. Tough getting there but great once there. No where near what you’ve accomplished but day at a time…lol I am SO proud of you!! You have accomplished so much and are the best of inspirations. I can’t wait to see you next weekend and break “steak” with you…ha!! Safe journey!! xoxoxo
LOL… break steak… you rock 🙂 I totally want to do more Pilates when I get home, hoping to find a nice, affordable studio!
Yes, I did move for 30 min today!! I am sooo proud of you!! xoxoxox
Yay! You are rockin’ that C25K my friend… love you!
40 min to be exact. Now I just need to tackle the eating…
Your walk looks so nice. Wish there were those kind of bike paths here!! Safe Travels!!!
I am amazed by the bike paths… both sides of the road on almost ALL of the roads… it’s pretty awesome!
I so SO proud of you and I hope that you have a safe flight home. I’m looking forward to reading about your adventures back in the states ….. you just might experience culture shock. By the way, I found out the hard way that there’s a 10 kg weight limit on carry-ons w/ China Eastern. What are you flying?
I’m flying American and my carry on is 6kg 🙂 I have to pay over weight fee on two of my 3 checked bags, so I stuffed them to the max 🙂
Looking forward to being on home soil 🙂
Hi! And yes. I did. Helps me fight Type 2 Diabetes without taking any medicine. I try to encourage other people, just like you.
Walking is a great way to keep your sugars in check 🙂
couldn’t get out for the storm we were having. But I did do some stationary walking in the house, plus sweeping and mopping. Does that count ?
Any type of movement counts 🙂
How exciting it’s your last day and sad too! Good luck and safe travels home x well done on the exercise front, yes I have got my 30 minutes walking in! 🙂 Xxx
Thanks, Meg… and now I’m about to take my last walk home from work! It’s been an interesting year! Glad you got your 30 minutes in!
Congratulations, Sandi, on keeping to the walking goal you set for yourself! I am so impressed by you! Safe travels home!!
Thanks, Sarah! The walking has definitely been a big part of my weight loss 🙂
What a milestone! I hope your travels home are uneventful and that you have some time to just “be” as you settle into your new normal. Keep on keeping on 🙂
MJ
Oh, MJ… No rest for me… Home late Thursday, a million things to do Friday, drive to west coast of Florida Saturday and then to NC on Sunday… Will have 3 days of rest while hiking the Appalachians 🙂
obviously you have the superpower to sleep while standing! 🙂 MJ
LOL… Shhhhh, it’s a secret superpower bestowed upon midwives!
you are simply amazing! safe travels home! xxoo!
Thanks, Cyn 🙂
I’m so proud of you for sticking to you goal. But I’m even more proud of you for being a stand-up employee and sticking it out until September. I know we both had many a “Get me the hell out of here!” moments in China. Good job Mama!
Lol… I can definitely say I finished my contract 🙂 now I’m ready for home!!
Wow Sandi, you must be feeling a gazillion things at once on the last walk du jour. xoxo
*anna
Lots of stuff, Anna… It’s a lovely walk and the weather has been perfect this week! I did a lot of mental check lists while rocking to the Rock of Ages soundtrack 😀
Sandi, I have to say it once more, you are such an inspiration! All the best for your move back to the US! I am looking forward to hear about your new adventures! 🙂
Thanks, Tatjana 🙂 I’ve been blessed with adventure in my blood! I’ll be home in about 27 hours… YAY!
Congrats!
Thanks, Mouse 🙂 I’m going to miss the food the most!
I hear you!