Preparations

One of the strangest things about this trip is that there have been very few setbacks. When I applied to the Peace Corps, it was a year of two steps forward, one step back, and eventually it came to the point where I figured if the application process was this ridiculous, I most likely would not be able to accomplish what I want to accomplish overseas.

This isn't necessarily a good thing. It's very likely that the lack of setbacks is because I haven't prepared like I have, but as I get closer to departure, everything seems to be coming together. My visa came along with very little trouble, I am holding my plane tickets in my hand, I've talked to people who used to work for this organization and they say that the place is pretty legit (which is saying a lot for a Chinese teaching agency).

I've got one suitcase packed and the rest of my stuff is scattered throughout the living room. It's starting to hit me that I'm actually leaving, and I'm more sad than anything right now. I'm going to miss my friends and family. I'm starting to prepare myself for lonely nights, but I will be able to handle it. I am excited that I'm going to be meeting new people, though.

Anyway, I'm leaving in 36 hours. I just found out that blogspot is one of the many sites that China has been blocking, so this might actually be one of the shortest-lived blogs ever. Hopefully not, though.

If you have skype, my name is cckrspnl56. Feel free to add me.