When in China, do as the Chinese do... Or not.

I'm dedicating this post to all the stereotypes and weird things I've heard about China from my own research and personal resources. I shall revisit this post after I arrive in China and see for myself what's true and what isn't.

It is rumored that the Chinese...

• Will drop their drawers and do the dirty, and I mean dirty in the literal sense, not the figurative, for all you gutter-dwellers, in the middle of the street. Or the the store. Babies and small children supposedly have slits in their pants for convenience. No toilet? No problem!

• Are way into Farrah Fawcett hairstyles and Michael Jackson. Apparently they're unaware that the 80's are long gone. 

• Believe that only children and soldiers stand in lines. They will push and shove each other out of the way. There is no such thing as courtesy, or organization.

• Eat things we have never even heard of. Let me fully express my excitement for eating fried chicken feet, eyeballs, sea slugs, and bamboo. I will try anything once, though, so you can hold me to that. Thankfully, rice will be served with every meal!

• Never see a blue sky or the sun in the city due to all the pollution and smog. Living in one of the big cities is equivalent to smoking a pack of cigarettes a day. If I come back with a smoker's cough, you'll know why!

• Are fascinated by Americans. Particularly white Americans, because they believe that more white equals more beautiful. Isn't that a far cry different from here in the States where nearly everyone is dying to be tan?

• Will constantly ask to take picture of/with you because of the above statement. If they don't have the guts to ask, it is not uncommon for them to take the paparazzi route. 

• Drive like complete and total maniacs and nearly every taxi ride will have you sending up Hail Mary's.

• All look alike.

Please keep in mind that these are not my personal opinions, but just typical stereotypes or things I've read about or heard about from people I've talked to. Now, if this list doesn't make you wanna hop on a plane and go to China RIGHT NOW, I don't know what will. Negative and pessimistic as it may seem, I'm dying of excitement to go and have the opportunity to be thrown out of my element. How many times does that truly happen in our lives? Not enough. I know that we live a very spoiled life here in America. But that's not enough for me. I want to feel it. I want to be humbled, so that I may gain a greater appreciation for all that I have. I always like to hear bad news first, hence why this post was posted before the super long one about all the amazing things about China and why I'm excited to go. Stay tuned, folks!

Inauguration

So, I'm kind of an anxious person. I get really excited about things and they all but completely consume my life leading up to their beginning. Going to China just so happens to be one of these things. Although departure is two months away, I feel like I'm running out of time to get everything done (this is where the anxiety comes in). I panic because I don't have a packing list and will not get such packing list until TWO WEEKS before I leave. Say what? It seems as though I must earn my beloved packing list, as well as my flight itinerary, by completing a very large (but shrinking) list of things to do. 


1. The biggest of all, finalizing payments. This $2,520 program fee has been a thorn in my arse, to be frank. Granted it is not expensive for all that's included. But, for a destitute college kid such as myself, it can be difficult to cough up that much dough without resorting to illegal means of gaining profit. Don't worry, I resisted the temptation. In fact, I was beginning to think that it would be impossible. Then out of nowhere, my prayers were answered and it is about to be all taken care of. God is good, kids.

2. Obtaining a visa. For this, I have to mail my passport across the country. Kind of nerve-wracking seeing as how if it doesn't make it back to me, then I can't leave the country anyways and then all of these minor heart attacks would not have been worth my while.

3. Sending in my college transcripts and a resume. Apparently they'd like to make sure I'm not an idiot I've taken adequate amount of English classes myself?

4. An updated medical recommendation. Ah, yes. I did indeed already send one in. It so happens that the one I sent in originally said I was as healthy as a horse. My, how things change. My ovaries and I do not get along. I'll spare you the details.

5. Speaking of failing health, I also need to pay for my international health insurance. Did you know, some people have health insurance that will pay for things even when they're in another country? This is laughable to me, whose insurance company won't pay for hardly anything at all here in the States. Here's to hoping I don't actually need my IHI.

Believe it or not, I started this process over a year ago. It seems long and tedious, and truth be told, it is. But  I know that it's going to be so worth it once I actually get to where I'm going.

Speaking of where I'm going, let me tell you how I'm getting there. My BFF Megan introduced me to the International Language Program. ILP sends volunteers to Mexico, China, Russia, Ukraine, Thailand, and Lithuania to teach English to children of all ages. It truly is an amazing thing knowing that you can make such a difference in the lives of these kids and their families by teaching them the world language. If you would like more information about ILP, click here.

Well, that's it for my inaugural post! I probably won't be updating much between now and when I leave, but when I get to China I solemnlypromisetrytoswearto update almost everyday.