Hi guys! Pre-departure here. T-minus 18 days before I board my first plane by myself to fly 6,795 miles to Beijing. It's such a disorienting feeling to be back home after the whirlwind of freshman year of college - I feel like I'm stuck in limbo somewhat, filling my days with watching movies and catching up on Game of Thrones -- but that's a blogpost for another day. :]
In these next two weeks that I have left at home, it's time to prepare myself for my trip.
....But where do I start?
That's a tough question.
There's the physical part to preparation, but then there's also the mental.
I remember a couple of days ago I tried packing....then suddenly felt overwhelmed, stopped, and calmed myself down by watching GOT for the rest of the night. I haven't really packed since. (Failed attempt #1).
That aside, I've managed to do my research on adapters and converters (almost bought the wrong thing, eek!), phone plans and VPN...I feel somewhat prepared now (after I finish deciding what clothes to bring I'll definitely feel better), but I then realize that I'll be on my own. In a foreign country. For 2 months.
Not gonna lie, I'm definitely excited. I love the freedom that college has granted me (sorry mom) and I can't wait to see what I can do with it in another country, but I'm also terrified. Not only do I represent myself overseas, but I also represent my college, my high school, my state.. There's a lot of pressure. It also doesn't help that my mom is envisioning every single horrible thing possible that could happen to me while in Beijing (sorry mom, part II). I realize that I have to be extra careful overseas (china safety tip #1: "if you are getting mugged, and he/she demands something from you, COMPLY. the only example of when you *shouldn't* comply is if he/she is attempting to take YOU" - Harvard Safety Orientation; I laughed at this for 5 minutes) and that I have to be conscious of the country that I'm representing and the implications of the relationships between my country and the host country. In other words, THERE'S A LOT OF PRESSURE. *insert panicked flailing*
...But that's the worrier in me talking.
Yes, I'm very nervous about going to Beijing, but I'm also so, SO excited.
Just thinking of all the amazing people, culture, food, and so much more that I get to experience in the next 2 months is... mind-blowing. I remember when I was merely just looking at Yale for college and stumbled upon the Light Fellowship, I was blown away by the amazing opportunities that fellows received from such a generous fellowship. Who would have thought that a year later I would be in this lucky spot. Therefore, I want to take this chance to say thank you.
Thank you, Yale and the Richard U. Light Fellowship, for giving me this opportunity in the first place. Thank you Harvard-Beijing Academy for accepting me into your amazing program. I am forever grateful, and I hope to make you guys proud.
I initially was going to set up my blog and make it simple and sweet so I could link it to the Light website ASAP, but the more I customized it, the more I felt like I should put as much effort into maintaining this blog as possible (I need to use what I learned in ENGL 120 least I forget it...). I also felt like I should write my first post today (writing helps calm me down, and since Oklahoma is having some pretty severe tornadic weather right now, I really need a distraction...) so that I could really document my entire journey, before and after, to Beijing.
I'm not sure if I'll post again before I leave, so get ready to see less of this:
....and more of this:
Bye, America, Hello China! I can't wait to meet you soon! :]
