Hi mom and dad,

Happy early birthday!! I got the book in the mail-thank you pops. It looks really good!! I leave tonight on a sleeper train to the grasslands of inner mongolia! I hope your birthday is really nice and I’ll be thinking about you ( I do all the time anyways). Many pictures are being taken, but the internet is retarded. Also, if it’s not too much money can you send me the lonely planet on china-i’ve decided i really do need it. Thanks guys! I love you mucho. Keep dana out of trouble.
love rach
P.S. how are the new weeds episodes? the only tv we get here is junk.
PPS I’ll try to call you guys but I’m not sure if there will be a phone in our yurt.
ppps My school is NW of the forbidden city,resting on the inside of the third ring-I just put a map up in my room and I mark everywhere I go!