The Planning...

One never realizes how daunting the planning is to pick up your life and leave for a while until one attempts it. I'm coming to the scary realization that I have a million things to do and only 2 and a half weeks to accomplish all of it. I guess that's what I get for going on vacation for a week less than a month before I leave the country! (I'll post some info and pictures from our trip shortly)

This week is my last week of work, and there are 26 signatures to be gotten before the week is out from various offices at the DOC, proving I haven't stolen a computer or library book in the nearly six years there. It is truly amazing to me how difficult it is to quit a federal job! And unfortunately I'm stuck at home today with a nasty cold.

I still have to get my Chinese visa, and haven't received any information as of yet on my host family, but I'm really starting to get excited/scared all at once for the adventure. I've started realizing the big bite I've decided to take out of life, and am just hoping that I'm up to the challenge.

Next question for me: do I pack up a good portion of my things here in DC in case the move to San Francisco happens before I get back or would that be jinxing things? sigh...so many decisions...

Hi Everyone

Well, since I'm going to be "untethered" for the next 3 months, I thought I'd start a blog to keep people up to date on happenings, etc.

Notes on what's happening:

• I quit my job this week: thought it would scare the bejesus out of me, but turns out it just made me really happy! (for those of you who know me well, I have a long and nefarious history with my doomed job at the Department of Commerce, which is a story for another day).
• I'm getting ready for my stint at the homestay immersion program in Beijing China. As many folks know, I have a long fascination with China, beginning with my Junior year of college, when I went on the Carleton Beijing program (http://apps.carleton.edu/curricular/ocs/beijing/). Roy Grow has a way with making you fall in love with China...and once it's in your blood it's very difficult to purge the obsession. So, I'll be living in Beijing for 2 months. Bought a one-way ticket today.

So that's the long and short of it. From time to time I'll update the blog, hopefully upload some pictures, and in general use it as a lazy way of keeping in touch with friends while I'm immersed in China.

I'm imagining my first posts from China now - briefing all of you on the tasty goodness of Chinese food (yummy jiaozi - boiled dumplings not to be confused with the run-of-the-mill potstickers - is all I can think of right now).

So...welcome to my silly blog!