Training complete...

Well, I've finished my first week of teacher training and I can already tell that I've improved my lesson planning and presenting. It's been quite the week for trying to adjust to such a new culture and environment. There don't seem to be many people that speak English around here, and even with a guidebook or phrasebook, it's almost impossible to communicate. The language here is so difficult to pronounce, there's not guarantee that anything you say is right. It's also very, very hot and humid here. It's been in the 90s everyday since we arrived and will most likely stay that way for a few more weeks. I can tell that I'm getting used to it, but the heat and jet lag have made me very tired this week. As far as food goes, I've had my ups and downs. It's hard to even find somewhere to eat when there aren't any signs or menus in English. We've managed to find a few good places, and, yes, I've eaten at a McDonald's. But only once! I also tried to try jellyfish. It's not good. I did not succeed.

Generally people are pretty nice, and those that will try their English enjoy having us around. The few things that are really hard to get used to are that there is a lot of pollution, so it seems like it's hazy every day. I haven't really seen blue sky since I've been here. Makes it difficult to try to go running or anything, you just can't breathe the same. And the other thing is that people do tend to stare... I understand that I look different, and I was warned that people would look at me all the time, but you don't really know what it's like until it happens multiple times on a daily basis. It's a bit uncomfortable, but like all things, I'm sure I'll get used to it.

I finally have a weekend and some time free that doesn't have to be dedicated to writing lesson plans or anything so a group of us might check out some of the bars or clubs in the area. Hopefully I'll get to meet some locals and native English speakers as well! Then next week we observe experienced teachers in their schools, I'll get placed in my city, and move! I hope to have a little more free time during the week to explore and learn and catch up with people from back home! Until then... 晚安

Goodbyes suck. So much.

7 days 14 hours to go...

As the days are counting down, I find it harder and harder to convince myself this is actually happening. The crazy thing right now is that I just moved out of my apartment in Madison. College is officially over, and while I am heading back into a classroom this fall, it's not exactly the same thing. In fact, it's pretty much the complete opposite. I leave in just over a week for China. Yes, that's right, China. I'll be teaching English to elementary students in the Jiangsu Province (right next to Shanghai).

As I was packing up my stuff, by the way I have so much crap that I've accumulated over the last 5 years, it's disgusting. Anyways, as I was packing up, I realized that not only do I have to decide if something is worth keeping but also, do I want to take it to China? And if I don't take it to China then do I want it next summer? I don't even have a clue what I'll be doing or where I'll be living, so these choices aren't exactly the easiest. Condensing 23 years into a suitcase and a carry-on is pretty much impossible, yet here I am attempting to do just that within a week.

What's really tearing me up though is figuring out my balance with leaving. It's had to think about everything going on without me. Studying in Italy for a semester at least gives me some sort of an idea on how to cope with things, but this is a bit longer...and there's a lot more that I feel like I'm leaving behind. Graduation is a weird thing to deal with, and realizing that everyone is going off in their own directions over the next year makes me realize that it's going to be a lot different when I come home. There are a few things I do want to come home to, and hopefully they will be here when I'm back.

This is going to be the best way to keep up with my life and adventures while I'm going and I will be doing my very best to update on a weekly basis. There will be pictures, maybe videos, and most likely lots and lots of stories. I hope I don't bore anyone too much, but I'll be glad to have this documentation of such an interesting part of my life, even if no one else follows it!

Please feel free to comment and keep in touch, I will need the connections to home as much as possible while I'm on the other side of the world!