Fun With Words!

Twenty six days or three weeks and five days till China!
(On a side note, eighteen days till I turn 21)


One of my best friends is leaving to go work in New York for an entire year on August 1st, so I've been using that as something to keep my mind off of how anxious I am to leave. I'm really going to miss her...we've had quite an interesting summer together. 


This is really a crazy waiting game. This whole summer I've just felt like I've been holding my breath, waiting for something to happen. And sometimes things did happen. Like getting my awesome job helping ESL students with their conversation skills. I can't even begin to explain how much I've learned through that. But really, for the most part, I'm just impatient. Maybe things will pick up on my birthday? Hmm...

 

I just downloaded this sweet app called "Google Translate". It's the nifty phone-version of this popular site...and I figured it would not only help me learn the language better, but also might be useful IN China (The jury is still out on whether or not I can use my phone during my stay, though...). Right now, however, it's mostly been hilarious. Anthony and I decided to say things that we thought would be helpful, listen to them repeated back in Chinese, switch the translation from Chinese, to English, and then speak the Chinese as best we could and see how well it translated back. Obviously A) there are hardly any 'perfect' translations when going from English to another language and vice versa and B) we are super new at this...but I have to say, I didn't expect it to be this bad:

 

This was Anthony's attempt at "Where is the bathroom".

Yeah...this might end up being a little bit harder than originally expected.

Honestly though...that is hilarious. 

We're screwed.

Love,

     -Z

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The Countdown

In one month, I will be boarding a plane to China.

Yep, China.

From August to December, Anthony and I will be at Sichuan University in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China. The Sichuan Province is in Southwest China, and it's capital city, Chengdu, is known for it's blending of traditional culture and modern advances in technology and economics.

When considering study abroad locations, Anthony and I chose China for a few reasons. One: it is much less likely that we'd be so inclined, later on down the road, to travel to China (rather than tour Europe, etc). Two: being religious studies and cultural anthropology double majors with focuses in Eastern philosophy, studying in China just made sense. And three: because this trip was going to be my first step into becoming a world traveler, I wanted to pick somewhere completely out of my comfort zone.

I have a feeling I'll be getting exactly what I'm asking for, and much more.

I've spent the summer earning money, filling out endless paperwork, and studying up on Chinese culture and modern life. I think it's safe to say that...I'm not ready at all.

I still have so much to figure out. Communicating with friends and family (No Facebook or Google in China), classes I'm going to sign up for, basic language...don't even get me started on packing. Ugh. How am I going to pack what I need for three and a half months in one suitcase under 44 pounds?!

The answer, I know, is pretty simple:

                       I just will.

There really isn't any "ifs" or "buts" about it. I'm going to China. I'm starting my life. This is it.

Passport, Visa, campus map:)

If you're interested in keeping up with my daily life leading up to, and during this amazing experience, then bookmark this blog. I'll put the links to my Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram in my sidebar (Although keep in mind I'm not sure if I can use any of those while abroad).

If you're super insterested, you can click here to visit the website of the university I am officially enrolled in.

Twenty-nine days.

With love,

         Z.

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