It's for real!

Well, the bags are packed. The clothes folded. The textbooks ready, the new-book smell preserved. And I can hardly believe that the next time the sun sets I'll be halfway around the world. I guess these things always approach slowly and ridiculously quickly at the same time, and while I recognize that fact, it's still inevitably a surprise. But, regardless of how prepared I am or not, I'm off to Beijing tomorrow morning. So before I leave the U.S. of A., I just wanted to send out one more heads up.
I can't imagine what it'll feel like to land in Beijing. I can't smell what Beijing smells like, or hear what Beijing sounds like just yet. But not knowing these things just makes me more excited to find out. I can't wait to speak Chinese (or rather, try miserably) for the next eight weeks, to look around at my surroundings and soak up everything I can. Doubtless, it'll be an experience to remember for a lifetime.
But none of this could be possible without the Light Fellowship and Duke University. So before I embark on maybe the best summer of my life, I want to thank these two groups for the chance they've given me. They're unbelievable.
But enough of this. The next post will be the first from China, and, I promise, far more entertaining than the past two. Zaijian!

Counting down...

Hey all, this is the first post of my summer blog while I'm in Beijing for the DSICP program. And, while I'm not there yet, I just wanted to (finally) establish my own little corner to talk about the things that catch my attention while I'm in China. That said, if you do happen to come across this blog, wherever you are, I hope you enjoy!