pre-China jitters

So, I promised many of you I would keep you up to date once I leave the country. In effort to not repeat myself, I thought it may be a good time to start a blog. That way, if you choose to read it you can, if not, then don't. But, I will try to write as often and as much as I can. For all of my international friends, this may seem amusing to you, but coming from a small town in Washington, it's a lot to take in, understand, and go back to.My intention of writing this is to keep my Bellingham/Washington friends informed, but also describe what Beijing is like now to those of you who left long ago that I graduated with. Remember this is all very foreign to anyone who has never been to Beijing. But also remember that many of us have spent years living there and may know no different. I have two audiences to work with, and want to try and inform, possibly entertain everyone.

As many, or all of you know, I am moving to China. In T minus 21 days I will be boarding a plane to take me to the other side of the world. I accepted a position working at a company in Beijing teaching English. (For those of you who don't know the location of China, I have included a map below). Now, I have heard good things and bad things about this particular job, but my contract is only a year. I may end up finding another position while over there, but for the time being I will be employed with this original company. I depart September 11th at 2 in the afternoon from SeaTac. I will arrive in Tokyo on September 12th. Switch planes, and then fly to Beijing. My arrival time is 22:50. I will be picked up at the airport and taken to my hotel where I will be staying for two weeks. Now, this is a 2 star hotel, but it includes free breakfast :). Whatever, that consists of, I am not sure. I currently have a return set for November, but not knowing when I can take vacation, this will change. It may not be until next August.

Having grown up in China, I am excited to be going back, but also a little jittery at the thought of such a large place, and knowing so little about the changes made. I have begun to pack, clean, throw away everything. On September 4th I will move in with my brother as I have sub-letted my unit. I am getting rid of almost everything. I can travel with only 2 50 pound suitcases and a carry-on. This doesn't leave room for much, and I don't know when I will get back. I figure everything is so cheap though, that I will take clothes and find the rest on arrival. I will be given a cell phone by the company, but only with a few minutes on it.  I may or may not have internet to begin with, but hoping Starbucks will be at my rescue with a free wi-fi connection. Facebook is blocked, but I hear there are ways around this.

As the day gets closer I am more excited to board that plane, but also sad to move on from the last 8 years in Bellingham. It hasn't quite hit me yet, but as my owners and tenants find out, I realize the vastness of my choice from the eyes of people that have never been outside of this town. It's eye-opening even for me.

With that being said--- I have never blogged before and will next time try to make this more entertaining. I will include photos, color etc. I am very much looking forward to the next step in my life.