Welcome to the new site!

I’ve been out of touch with my blog the past month or so but have no fear regular updates will be forthcoming.

As I write this time seems to be slipping through my fingers. I feel it was just yesterday I sat here thinking what I would do for the four months before my trip to get ready. Yet, here I am with nine days of work left and only 16 days until I leave. Since we last talked I have been slowly amassing what I call my ‘China provisions,’ everything from q-tips to my MacBook Pro. I have read a lot of material from students and teachers who have taken this trip in the past and they all say less is more when it comes to packing. I just hope as I start packing this up I do not end up with 4 suitcases!

My Chinese lessons are slowly progressing… very slowly… My tutor tells me I am doing well but I feel so unprepared. I hope I can find some people at the university or in my VU group to venture out with and travel some. I want to see and experience as much as I can while I am there and a travel buddy would be indispensable. Have no fear though, if I must a will brave the wild accompanied with my wits and a Chinese English dictionary, and of course my camera. While I am not usually the photogenic type I promise the next four months will be full of pictures and videos for everyone to enjoy.

Anyways…August 24th here I come!

China by way of the Doctor’s offices

Ok, so I’m not a medical miracle, but it does have a catchy ring to it. We’re a little off my once a week posts but last week was a slow one full of anxiety. This week and the next one are full of doctors visits. I have been doing my best to tackle all these hurdles and problems when they appear so I thought I might as well cram my appoints into a week.

Today was a visit with a general physician. My usual Doctor is indisposed for the time being so I had to see a new woman and I was worried things wouldn’t go well. But, amazingly, things went great. This leaves immunizations @ the Health Department, the Dentist, and the Optometrist.

An equipment update is also called for. My Passport arrived last week so my Chinese Visa application is in. I’ve also purchased a leather Passport wallet. Perhaps the most important item is my Intro to Chinese book. One of the students going in the trip has offered to tutor me over Skype for the next few months and I am indebted to her.

On a final note I’ve been thinking about where I’d like to travel in China. As far as I know we’ll be going to Beijing, and to see the clay soldiers. I know I’d like to see the Great Wall also. Any suggestions would be appreciated as I want to see as much as I can.

Where to begin…

At this point in my life I have decided to veer off the “boring” path and dive headlong into some excitement. For those who do not already know I’ve been taking classes at Valparaiso University going on two years. It has been a long time coming but I will finally finish my Bachelors in History, as my first experience with college in Dayton was more a social experience and less a scholarly one.

Valpo offers a study abroad program in Hangzhou China and when I first heard of it in January it struck me as interesting, but not something for me. Over the past four months I’ve found out more about it and became more interested. One day out of the blue I was talking to my History advisor about China and it hit me. I’d really like to go. After a couple days of thought and testing the waters with my family the choice was made. Tim is going to China!

Zhejang University Main Gate

Since that faithful day a myriad of decisions and questions have arisen. How will I afford it? Is it safe? Can I psychically and mentally survive four months in a foreign country? What do I do about work? And most importantly how do I charge my iPad? Slowly the questions are being answered and the decisions are working themselves out.

So that’s where I am at now. Stay tuned for more of my trials and tribulations leading up to August 24th and then of course my experiences in China.

Tim