An attempt to catch up...

So, apparently you can't use this blog in China without a VPN program...by the time I finally got the program on my computer I'd already fallen behind on keeping up with this blog. There's my excuse...

There's so much to tell! Where to begin? It's been quite an adventure from when it started until even now. I spent so much time preparing to come, but little did I know how much there was that I couldn't possibly prepare for. Like the feeling of reality sinking in on a whole new level as the plane took off. I was really leaving everything behind and venturing into the great unknown. The long flight gave much time for my mind to dwell on the hard good-byes and how I really had no idea what was going to happen when the plane landed. I was fortunate enough to sit next to a woman who was on her way to teach middle school science in a neighboring city. It was comforting to have someone to share the flight with even if it was just to chat.


When I got off the plane, I was very thankful to see one of the school employees (Bruce) and another foreign teacher (Patrick) there to pick me up. There was a brief moment in time where I was told that I would have to get from Shanghai to Wuxi by myself. I remember nervously scanning the crowd looking for them as I got off the plane. I thought the majority of my journey to China was over, but it was quite the trek getting to Wuxi. First we took a bus to the train station where we bought the tickets. After baking in the sun outside the station while Bruce bought the tickets, we took a taxi to yet another train station (we could only get fast-train tickets). A wheel broke off one of my suitcases on the bus to the train station, so poor Patrick had to drag it around everywhere. I felt bad that an almost complete stranger was subjected to lugging my suitcase on one wheel. Up stairs, through the train station, etc. When we arrived to Wuxi we had to wait in a long line for yet another taxi. Just when I thought I couldn't possibly be any more exhausted, I learned that I had to help drag my 60 pound suitcases up 5 flights of stairs to the apartment that *NEWSFLASH* wasn't just my apartment. It had been given to Patrick after it was promised to me because he had arrived first...so now we were sharing it until other accommodations could be arranged. I tried to make the best of it. It wasn't as strange as I thought it would be, although not ideal.

Well, I hope to add some other updates soon. I know this doesn't paint a bright picture of my experience, but it gets better. There have been definite ups and downs, but such is life.

It's hard to believe...

Wow, I cannot believe I'm finally on the way to China. It's not just talk anymore; it’s definitely very, very real. Saying good bye to friends and family was so difficult. I’m excited, but also very nervous and scared at the same time. I can’t believe I won’t be in the U.S. for a year (unless I get to go home and visit). All of this feels like a dream.