So I have 2 weeks and 1 day until I leave! I am very excited, but also nervous at the same time.
I am home for Thanksgiving break! It's very nice to be home and everything, but not nice when you are sick. Yesterday (Thanksgiving) I was in bed with a fever ALL day. I was awake for 4 hours consecutively, and that's the longest I was awake all day. I am still recovering, and hope to be able to go back to school on Monday. Making the drive will be difficult when sick, so I'm just hoping for a full, speedy recovery: espeically so that I can get classes done so I can leave for China! I am finally getting all of my finals scheduled so that I can take them all a week or so early.

I heard that it's VERY cold there. It's about 50 degrees EVERYWHERE...inside and out. So it sounds like I'll be needing to bring lots of warm clothing and such. Even though 50s are normal (and even warm!) around here...we can escape to a 70 degree house. There it's cold all over. So it will be different than what I am used to!

I found out that when I'm in China, I will probably not be able to use this blog...but don't worry. I'll have my mom update it while I'm gone. I'll send her e-mails and she can post. :)

SO I was at a conference this weekend in Chicago, and I was asked when I left for China. The date happened to be November 12, and I realized that it is just ONE MONTH before I leave! (Well, now less than a month!) I am super excited for this! I still have some papers to send in, and some things to take care of, but for the most part I am ready. I got some mental readiness this weekend at the conference as I talked with people who are currently doing the exact same thing that I am about to do: teach English in Asia! They encouraged me as I will be on my way soon!

I saw God working so much in my life this week. I walked downtown Chicago and just saw the crap that there was. There were so many homeless and hopeless. My heart just went out to them. I wasn't able to do much, but I was able to talk with a few people downtown and hear what was going on. It's hard to just see through the fake story that they tell you and realize that behind that front there is a hurting man. I don't know if the message of hope got across to the man I talked to, but I think that he at least heard about the Christian homeless shelter and will find his way there. After that, he will hopefully hear about what Christ has done for him! Isn't God good?!

Well, I'm off to play some frisbee :) Gotta love playing Ultimae on warm fall days!

Wow. It's NOVEMBER already!!! I leave in 5 weeks and 4 days! I am so excited to be able to teach English to the people in China. It is a new experience for me, and I hope that the blessings will overflow! I want to thank everyone who is supporting my trip, and am so pumped that this opportunity has come up!

The dates for the trip are December 12, 2009-January 22, 2010! (Rapidly approaching!)


What I've been doing so far....

• I've been reading. A lot. I've been googleing China and looking at the geography, weather, population, etc. I've been looking at photos of past English teachers, and have been familiarizing myself with the place I will be spending more than a month in!
• I got my visa! It arrived in the mail yesterday, which makes this even more of a reality that I am actually leaving soon!
• I have been filling out LOTS of paperwork including insurance stuff and contract-like stuff. It's great :)
• I have been reading books on traveling in general, and about my specific trip! It's been encouraging hearing what others have to say who have been in China or similar countries in terms of what I will be doing. It may be challenging teaching English when I do not speak Chinese! I found out that I will be teaching some free classes and also helping out with some of the long-term teacher's classes as well.

I am on my way home this weekend to get a few more things in order, such as medicine/vaccinations (and making sure they're up to date!) and getting my car fixed so that it can survive the Wisconsin winter without me!! I'm also making sure I can see my friends back home before I head off for over a month, completely missing Christmas AND my birthday at home! :( But that's ok. I will get to celebrate it in China! :)

I am so excited! I am preparing to go to China for about a month, and everything is starting! I am still waiting on the contact information, and am excited for this direction that God is taking me. As soon as more information becomes avaliable, I will let you know :)