Need help! Switched to Mac...

My older son's laptop died a brutal death last week, and I haven't gotten myself a new laptop in two years, so, I did what any responsible parent would do for their college-aged son...I bought myself a new laptop and am giving him my old one.

My husband became a Mac person a few months ago when he bought his new laptop, and after much cajoling and a promise from him that he would buy my new laptop out of HIS checking account instead of MINE or OURS if I agreed to change my unflexible ways and get a MacBook, I assented.

UGH. First things first - I've spent all morning transferring my music from the old computer to the new one. I just uploaded Office for Mac and will be transferring docs now. I can figure all that out, and thanks to my portable hard drive, it's pretty mindless work. My questions are below the flip...

How do I learn about all of the supposedly "cool" stuff this MacBook will do?  I'm leaving for China (yes, abandoning husband, children, and pets for two and a half months) in a few weeks and want to be able to do all of that newfangled chat, video, photo, and podcasting crap stuff.

I would love some quick and easy guides, tips, links etc. to help me make the most of this new computer. So, if you can help this old dog learn some new tricks, I'd greatly appreciate it.

Anyone who knows about Internet stuff in China - please chime in too. Thanks!