Hello World, Revolve Around Me

As far as summers go, this has been one of my faves. Yet, I am SO ready for August 21. It's become difficult to tear myself away from making lists and perusing my Lonely Planet in order to go to work or sleep. Patience is a virtue, I hear. I think that means I have none of it.

Just a week ago, I was getting myself all worked up over things I would miss in the 10 months while abroad. I was angry that my nieces and nephews would surely look different next I saw them, and would nearly burst into tears every time the thought entered my mind; then I would get irritated when friends and family dared talk about the holidays or make any plans for occasions that would take place while I'm across the world. How dare people continue living life without my presence! Seriously, now.

Yep, I've been preettyyy self-absorbed. But the last few times I was set and ready to feel sorry for myself or complain about people not being considerate enough of my feelings, I was touched by situations in which people have, you know, VALID concerns in their lives. The humility stung for a bit, but it popped things back into perspective pretty quickly. So, here's to wake-up calls--of which I am grateful. Cheers.

Departure = 16 days.

Bring on the adventure.

The Countdown Begins

Departure = two months

Whoop! My first entry! I'm determined to get into the habit of journaling via this blog; so, here I am.

I have a loooong way to go as far as preparations for the big move. I went through a spurt, right after I graduated in May, where I was reading up on Chinese history and studying Chinese geography non-stop. The excitement has been tamed a bit and now I've fallen into a daily schedule of working and then coming home, relaxing, and spending time with family. I'm pretty excited that it's time to switch up to second gear. He is so good to me. Please lift up good thoughts concerning preparations, especially in the form of fundraising, for me.

I am very fortunate for the summer job that I've landed... times two. Fort Walton Beach, normally teeming with businesses eager to hire sales associates and waitresses to assist with the rush of summer tourists, has been strangely void of these miserable, minimum pay customer service positions. This, no doubt, is another effect of our stuggling economy. Therefore, I did not go back to my position at Belk among low-rise jeans and tube tops, rather, I find myself at a well-respected local day camp escorting bouncing, bubbling, and ever tattling 5 year-olds on numerous field trips around the Emerald Coast. No complaints, here.

I have an adorable Chinese girl in my Pre-Kindergarten group. She has been teaching me basic Chinese vocabulary per my request; mostly she has tutored me in numbers and body parts. She is amazing to me--what with being bilingual in such diverse languages at such a young age. Despite occasionally getting confused as to whether she is speaking Chinese or English, she is an excellent teacher. On the other hand, my skills as a language learning student are not quite so impressive. I have yet to pronounce her name correctly. This, as you can imagine, is the product of a lot of laughter--hers.

Just a reminder that I will be accessing this blog throughout my stay in China, so comments to be posted now and in the future should be done so.. thoughtfully. :)

EEEK! (Random squeal of excitement. Sorry.)