China Camp 2009

Just got back home from a fantastic time at China Camp. This was my first year teaching and was going in praying for the best but fully aware that it would probably be the worst.

I taught the 4th graders and on day one, when everyone was slowly pouring into the class room I tried everything I could think of to get these young ladies to open up and start talking. As time seemed to slow before my very eyes I was begining to think that these three days were going to seem like an eternity because everything I was trying to spur some form of conversation was falling flat.

I'm still not sure what happened, what I said, or did, but after about half an hour my class began interacting with me and with each other. Friends that only get to see each other here at camp were getting back together and steadily bringing new friends into their fold. It was an amazing thing to see and be a part of.

Over those short three days I witnessed these fantastic young ladies grow in their knowledge of their birth country, extend their friendships out to everyone, stand up and help those in need, and most importantly they all seemed to genuinely be having fun.

I don't know what I would have done if I didn't wind up with such a fantastic group of kids, thank you all for letting me be a part of this amazing event, you all made me so proud to be your teacher this year.

One Month And Counting

Well here I am, one month until my trip and I just finished the last thing needed for my journey. I just booked the hotel for our final night in China. We're arriving a day earlier than our tour group, so I really hope that my dad and I get to go see the Forbidden City. I've been to Beijing twice and have yet to step a single foot on Tiananmen Square or in the Forbidden City. Now I have been three blocks down from them both, could almost see them, but we made our way to the Temple of Heaven instead. Oh well, maybe the third times a charm.

I guess now it's just wait the month out until travel and try to remind myself to PACK LIGHT!