Shanghai

           It's official. I graduate from U of O on August 18th. On August 25th, I am expected in Shanghai, China to begin my new job. I'll be teaching English in a public school for one year. The organization is Pacican Academy. I am...extremely excited. Nervous, anxious, proud, questioning. But mostly excited and confident that I will succeed. Not only in teaching, but fitting in and adapting to a completely new culture. I'll be going over with a close friend here in Eugene and her boyfriend, majoring in Chinese, has been to Shanghai before and will be introducing me to the collection of Oregonians AND a Penn Stater already set-up there! There's never been a better time to go.
           For now, I'm still stuck in the daily grind of work and school (summer classes). I've got this whole packing, selling, moving thing happening as well as getting that pesky visa. In a week I get to find out all the vaccines that I get to have. On the travel clinic intake form I listed Shanghai first and then added China, Nepal, Thailand, Cambodia, India, and ASIA just for good measure. As an afterthought, I added Austria and the Balkans. Who knows, I hear Croatia is gorgeous. 
If you are interested in hearing about the real China I highly suggest the book
"Lost on Planet China" by J. Maarten Troost. It is hilarious, informative, and truthful. 


I truly appreciate all the support that I am receiving from my friends and family. I'm feeling confident but it is always nice to hear that you are too. I feel ready to take on China. After all, there's a lot that I have already made it through: