So I'm in China!

Here I am...China. I've been anticipating my arrival for months now and it has finally come!

Last Monday, I flew into Shanghai. With a slightly queasy stomach, I stepped off the plane into a place that was (and still is) a complete mystery to me. As Ji Yi and I were riding in a taxi to our hotel, I couldn't help but wonder, "What the heck am I doing here?" I'm still not completely sure why I decided to come to China, but eventually I hope to be able to answer that question.

Shanghai was fun. and crowded. and hot. I went to the World Expo on Tuesday and it was enjoyable, but even the amazing architecture couldn't distract from the intense heat and 5 hour long lines. Wednesday, Ji Yi and I went to the Bund district, Nanjing Road, and Shanghai Old Street. They're all very touristy things to see in Shanghai, and all turned out to be fun. Thursday was our last day in Shanghai, so we met up with one of Ji Yi's friends who lives there and she took us to the mall and a film park. She made me feel less like a tourist, which was nice. Although I enjoyed Shanghai, I had an eagerness to leave for Chengdu. I wanted to get settled in and meet people and find my way around.

So on Friday we boarded the plane to Chengdu. I sat on the plane in disbelief that I was finally going. Shanghai was such a whirlwind that I'm still not sure if it actually happened or not. But now it was real. It is real. I'm here. I'm an international student in China. I will be here for almost four months. I stepped into a place where I know virtually no one. I don't even know the language.

My first day in Chengdu was hectic, scary, and frustrating. Hectic because I had so many things to buy and places to go. Scary because I didn't know what I was doing half the time. And frustrating because I couldn't communicate with anyone. And when I got in bed for my first night of sleep in my new dorm room, I realized that my "mattress" is really no mattress at all. It's more like a piece of wood with a few blankets on top.

I know it takes time to adjust and right now I'm going through culture shock. I mean...China is so different from the US that it will obviously take some time to get used to. Chengdu is dirty. There are stray cats and dogs everywhere. I can't drive a car. My dorm isn't as luxurious as Humphreys (unbelievable, I know.) It's tough to eat vegetarian. The water smells funky. "Cold" drinks are actually room temperature. And the list could go on. It's not that I don't like China...it's just that I don't know China. I am confident that as time passes I will get comfortable here. I will find my way around. My Chinese will improve (hopefully.) I will become accustomed to the things I don't like so much. It will become a home for me just as Fayetteville did during my first semester at U of A.

These four months will be a challenge, but it will push me to depend solely on the Lord. I must trust that He will provide me with boldness and patience and safety. I must find comfort in His arms when it is difficult. I must let myself be enveloped by His grace and love, the same grace and love I hope to show to the people around me.

P.S. I met two Korean girls on Friday and they are so sweet and cute! I've been spending a lot of time with them the past few days. But it's difficult because their English isn't too good, so we speak a mixture of English and Chinese. It's interesting and fun. And I'm about to go to dinner with them!

Six weeks? Really?

Less than six weeks until I leave for China.

Whew...

Every time the thought of going to China comes to mind I have to stop and take a deep breath. In one swift moment, I'm overcome with excitement, fear, anxiety, and the realization that my trip is less than six weeks away. Six weeks left to prepare. Six weeks left to spend time with family and friends. Six weeks until I fly to a foreign country. Six weeks until I embark on maybe the most bittersweet experience of my life.

Time is going by so quickly that every time I sit down to write this post I have to change how many weeks I have left until my trip and that makes me a little sad.

Honestly, I don't like dwelling on thoughts about my upcoming trip (and maybe that's why it has taken me so long to write this post.) But lately it's been difficult to avoid the thoughts. Studying Chinese, reading China Wakes, working on my visa application, and just making general preparations all force me to think about my approaching departure date.

And of course, here I am making it sound like I don't have one good thought about going to China. In reality, I am so fortunate. Also, I am ecstatic to travel overseas for the first time. I know that studying abroad will be scary, but it will also be a great learning experience. Not only will I attain some Mandarin skills and see some cool places, but I will be immersed in a culture that is so completely opposite of America. I will see a totally different perspective. It's going to be amazing.

Sometimes I think it's impossible that I won't love China. Several of my friends have instilled in me a strong desire to see the country they grew up in and learn about the culture that they so passionately love. I cannot wait to return in December and share with them my experience there. Let's just hope it's a good one...otherwise they might abandon me. :)

End of the yearrrr :( :( :(

There are always good and bad things about the school year coming to a close. The end of the year always holds exciting prospects for the fall semester, but it also reminds us that we won't see our dear friends much longer before we all pack up our stuff and move home. The really bad part about the end of this year...I won't be back next fall because I'm going to CHINA. The really really bad part...my friends aren't going to China with me. Now don't get me wrong, I'm SOO excited about going to China, but I'm also a little sad that I won't be in Fayetteville for fun things, such as everyone in the world's birthday (Katy, Kalli, Rachel, Sam, mom, dad...everyone.) Plus, I cry everyday knowing that I'll be missing the Razorback football season (we all know how good they'll be next fall.)

Another sad thing about the end of the year...Rachel and I will only be roomies for one more week! As you can tell...we're pretty distraught over this. We try not to talk about it too much because it's likely that I'd start crying. Only a week left to listen to good music, steal irises from the cemetery, and play guitar together. Saaaad. :(

On a happier note...I bought my plane ticket to go to China. And the best part is I'll be connecting in South Korea...home of the cutest people on the planet!