Training in Zhuhai

Not sure if it was practical to take a little vacation in San Francisco prior to moving to China, but it turned out to be a lot of fun. When I managed to push thoughts of my family, Kevin and friends in Charlotte out of my head, I was able to really enjoy this Californian city. Ian, my travel partner (and former coworker who decided to take this journey with me), and I stayed in a cute hostel somewhere between Chinatown and the Financial District. The people staying there were from all over Europe mostly and the hostel was more like a big house - where everyone was helpful, cooked for each other, and went out together at night. We walked all over the city, even up the steep hills and "crookedest" street, took the ferry to Alcatraz, had lunch with a friend of Kevin's who was in SF for work near Fisherman's Wharf, biked along the Bay and across the Golden Gate Bridge, walked around and relaxed in some small parks, and watched a movie in Union Square at night. When we learned that our flight to Hong Kong had been delayed due to a typhoon in Hong Kong, Ian and I were very stressed out and didn't know what to do! I didn't want to stay in the hostel another night. It was nice...but, a hotel was sounding really good. So we spent the extra day exploring the Golden Gate Park, Haight-Ashbury, and Castro before checking into a Howard Johnson near the airport. I felt tired and ready to go home. Ian and I ate our last meal at Celia's Mexican Restaurant across the street, took nice hot showers in the hotel and watched the Olympics before going to bed.

The next morning, we headed to the airport for our 13 hour flight to Hong Kong. I had to say another emotional goodbye to Kevin, Amma and Anand on the phone before boarding the plane. Ian and I sat next to a guy named Jesse, who was going to teach with another program. We also met a few other teachers in our program, and for the first time since I had started this journey, I felt excited about what was ahead of me rather than sad about what I was leaving behind. On the flight we slept, ate, watched Nim's Island, Kung Fu Panda, and Maid of Honor. We arrived at Hong Kong, and I felt so ready to get off the plane, but due to air traffic we had to circle in the air for about 40 minutes. We all got our luggage, and stood around for a couple of hours and shuffled onto two busses with mass confusion, before the busses took off for China. We had to stop again in China and go through customs, and I felt embarrassed and frustrated by my three HEAVY suitcases that I clumsily dragged through customs and onto the bus. Most of us fell asleep on the three hour bus ride to Zhuhai. I woke up right before we got to the hotel and got to see Macau by night, all the casinos lit up along the water.

The hotel is decent, and the food is good. I feel a little nervous about making friends. Everyone is younger and very outgoing, and I feel shy...or maybe just too tired and jetlagged to socialize. But today after our Mandarin lesson and TEFL training, I went to the mall and got pizza with a few others. We walked around the mall and tried to practice our Chinese and looked around at all the interesting Chinese merchandise. Then we headed to this pizza/coffee shop, where I started this blog and where we are watching the closing ceremony of the Olympics. We are all starting to get sleepy, so we will probably head back to the hotel soon. PIZZA? I know, I know, but I've already had plenty of great Chinese food in the hotel and will definitely have more.

Now that I am here I am really excited, but the homesickness is there... I have Kevin's photo on my nightstand, and my roommate (Liz from DC) has her teddy bear. While I went through my suitcase, I thought about my last night in Charlotte - the whole family was helping me pack and we went to eat Mexican food. It made me miss Amma so much, I couldn't find things in my suitcase, because she had pretty much packed it for me. I miss Kevin so much too. There are a few couples here, and I am so jealous that they have that comfort. Today, a girl and I were talking about how in past years some people leave after one semester and how we don't want to give up and come home early. I NEVER thought I would come back early, but I have to admit that when I think about Kevin sometimes I think I would. I just keep reminding myself to take one day at a time. And I am counting on people to come visit (hint, hint)... I also keep reading the verses in Deuteronomy that Amma gave me before I left...."Do not be afraid, do not be discouraged...." And like an eagle stirs up her chicks so they will fly... God stirs things up so I can grow.

---

---