Things to do before I leave for China...

1)  paint my toenails

2)  pay my bills in advance

3)  return library books

4)  finish packing!!!

These are not necessarily prioritized.  Just in case you were wondering. 

P.S. Have you read any good books lately??

I am looking for a book (or two or three) to read on the plane.  The really well-written, "can't put it down" kind.  (Not that I think you'd suggest a dud.)  I'm trying to find ways to keep myself occupied during the flight.  Thanks for your help!

I'll be in the air about 18 hours (one way).  I'm not sure even a Literature major could read that long.  Maybe I should take Tylenol PM, too. 

18 days and counting...

Here's what I've been up to:

1)  Creating PowerPoints for China

2)  Salsa dancing like a maniac

(That's me, except not nearly so bendy and in a slightly longer dress.) 

3)  Studying Spanish...  I know, why am I learning Spanish before going to China?  What can I say?  I make no sense.

4)  Tutoring a 10-yr-old Ukranian boy... trying to play English games so he's not so restless.  Not that I can blame him.  It's summer.  Who wants to study?

5)  Freaking out about the luggage limits...  I can take 2 bags there, 23KG each.  But since I have a domestic flight in China, I can only take 20KG total.  How in the WORLD am I gonna cut back that much?  I'm gonna have to leave my clothes and shoes and toiletries there just to fit the souvenirs!

Do I really have to get shots?

It's not required for the trip, and although I'm not afraid of needles, it's not like I enjoy them.

Also, if I get Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Tetanus-Diptheria, Yellow Fever, and anything else they say I could get, I'll be way in the hole cash-wise.  Not to mention malaria pills, which are also an option.

Hmm... maybe if I just wear a surgeon's mask and gloves everywhere I go?

I have been selected to lead a group of teachers teaching the same theme...  Drumroll, please... 

My theme is "FOOD AND DINING". 

So, rather than teach about types of foods and plates and forks, etc., I have decided to deal with more relevant and modern topics.  We'll talk about obesity, fad diets, preservatives, and all the food-related issues we face in the U.S. today.  I'm also gonna touch on table manners and restaurant protocol, since that would be really useful to know if you planned to travel here.

I'm also gonna take fortune cookies for my students, since fortune cookies are an American invention and they don't really have them in China.

Ha, don't worry.  I won't give them fortunes like this... I don't want to offend or frighten anyone.

Anyway, that's another exciting addition to my already outrageous "to do" list... now I have to plan lessons for China on top of homework, planning lessons for my job, buying groceries, laundry, dirty dishes, clipping my toenails, brushing my teeth, and any number of other tasks.  I can't seem to get caught up!  (Actually, the brushing my teeth part is not a chore... quite enjoyable.)

So, whisper a prayer that I'll keep on top of all of this and I won't lose my marbles before July. 

Attention, please.  I have an announcement... 

This summer, I was selected to teach for four weeks at Wuhan University in CHINA!!!  I will leave the U.S. on July 18th and return toward the end of August.  I might also get to stop by Hawaii on my way home and see Joy Sever, which would outrageously ROCK!!!

I'll be keeping a journal on xanga while I'm over there, for those of you with scads of free time who want to read juicy details about my trip.  (Especially for my parents.) 

I am a little nervous, since I've heard it's so hot that occassionally people melt.  Also, there will be a "monitor" in my classroom, placed there by the government to ensure that I'm not talking about God, China, Communism, Tibet, Taiwan, Nascar, Shrek, Tylenol, figure skating, gangsta rap, belly chains, polka dots, polka dancers, or any other topics that the Chinese government disapproves of.  Hmmm... what if it's like telling a kid not to touch something and I blurt out things just because I know I can't?  I hope I'm not in the middle of a lesson when I develop anti-Communist tourette syndrome.

Anyway, I'm going to buy lots of thin cotton clothing and prescription strength deodorant and camera batteries.  If anyone can think of anything else  I should bring, I'm open to suggestions.

Peace out for now.