Chapter 1: An Incredibly Long Plane Flight

I said goodbye to my family (ok, part of my family) in Atlanta and flew out for a week of orientation in the California desert. Now, in the morning, I'm heading off with the whole group of new China teachers to LAX and an 18 hour journey that will end in Beijing. I'm already done with the goodbyes and leaving things part, so now I'm just excited. I was walking down the street today thinking, "Tomorrow, all these people will still be here - but I will be in China!" It was a fun thought. :) It's just weird to think that it will be nearly a year before I'm back in the United States again.

I have met many amazing people here, all with their own stories about how they came to leave their lives behind and go to China. There are a number of 20-something singles and young married couples. There are also 10 families, with kids ranging from infants to teenagers. And I have met a few couples who said goodbye to their grandchildren before heading off. I'm not sure of the exact number, but there are around 100 new teachers getting ready to head out tomorrow.
Among the wonderful people I have met are two of my new teammates, Matt and Corrine (see picture). They are from Oregon and have been married for almost a year. I'm already finding out all kinds of fascinating things about them. Corrine loves quotes, Matt loves coffee, and we all are very happy about the existence of ice cream. We are already bonding.
Well, we have to check out at 5am, so that's all for now. Next time I write...it'll be from China!