APOLOGIES

Turns out my blog was blocked in China, so I never posted! :( 

I made this video to show my experience instead. Check it out!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUMg8NpcZVk

PACKING PACKING PACKING

For the past week my monstrous suitcase has been sitting in the center of my room mocking me.  It's a constant reminder that I suck at packing.

Typically for me packing consists of shoving articles of clothing into bags minutes before I leave, hoping by some divine intervention everything will stay together.  Something tells me these rules do not apply for international flights. 

But seriously, how do you fit six weeks' worth of stuff into ONE SUITCASE?? I'm horrified at the thought of dealing with different outlets, etc. so I've decided to pack for every possible scenario.  Naturally, this means I'm going to be packing enough for me and the population of Zimbabwe.

My thoughtful friends threw me a goodbye party, pictures below! The theme was "America." Brilliant!!

GOING TO JIAXING WITH ACES

If my life was a blender, somebody just hit the puree button.

Seriously, I was just accepted for a NSLI-Y Scholarship.  This means the U.S. Department of State is paying for me to study abroad in China for six weeks! WOOT WOOT

I honestly don't know how to mentally prepare myself for this craziness—in less than a month I will be diving head-on into the alien expanse that is China. No friends, no family, no cell phone, no facebook, no Boba Tea... You get the point: I will be 7,000 miles away from everything for six weeks.

Here's the rundown of what's about to happen:

Who: me (Megan Higgins) + 19 other American high schoolers

What: exchange program with Mandarin classes

When: June 26-August 10

Where: Jiaxing, China (Near Shanghai)

Why: Broaden my horizons and learn a new language!

Goals until I leave:

-Do well on ACT

-Solidify friendships

-Save money so I can blow it all in Shanghai

-Do random nice things for my family

-Study Mandarin as much as possible