We had joy, we had fun, we had seasons in the sun.

On August 28, 2013,
I did the scariest thing I've ever done in my life.
I left my family, my job, my home, my comfort to go on an adventure.
An adventure that I will remember for the rest of my life.

I got on a 10 hour plane ride to end up on the other side of the world.

I spent the past four months in the land of dragons and kung fu.
China.

I traveled to beautiful places.

Shanghai

Zhangjiajie

Yangshuo

Lonji Rice Terraces

Beijing

& the Great Wall

I made lifelong friends

For the first time in years, I changed my hair. Not just trimmed. Four inches off.
Probably going to cut off even more.

and most importantly,
I fell in love.

I will never ever forget my four short months in China teaching kids english.

Strapping my possessions to my back and hiking to the top of Zhangjiajie,
Bartering in the markets of Beijing, pissing off every shop owner,
Playing charades with the locals trying to find where the bus station is,
Riding an elephant in the wildlife parks,
Sleeping on the dirty floor of my 28 hour train ride (not exaggerating),
Eating nothing but rice, oil, grease and chicken feet,
and looking at my sweet babies' faces soaked in tears when they found out I was leaving, then crying along with them.

All of these experiences I wouldn't trade for the world.

For the LDS peers, you can relate to me on this.
When the mission age first changed, I was 19 years old. Instantly I was bombarded with questions.
"soo you going on a mission?" "When are you putting your papers in?" "You got a boyfriend? no? you should go on a mission." "Why aren't you going on a mission? You unworthy or sumthin?"
I thought about it. Really thought about it. I never really considered going on a mission. Sure if I wasn't married by 21, maybe. But I could go now. But was just the fact that I was able to, a good enough reason to go for me? It wasn't.
I prayed, longingly. Asking if it was right for me. Should I go? I never got a yes. But then again, I never got a no. I had this feeling like I was supposed to do something, but not really sure what. Guessing it was a mission.
Until I heard about the ILP program. Then I got my answer. This is was what I was supposed to do.

For the first time since I graduated high school (two and a half years ago!!) I felt like I was where I was supposed to be. I was doing what I was supposed to do.

If you have any questions on how to get involved in something like my chinese semester abroad, I'd be happy to answer any questions you have, any concerns, pretty much anything :)

seriously. I'm an open book.

now to get back to real life.....

P.S. I didn't neglect my blog. I couldn't get on it because it was censored!
faithful readers. Get ready for in depth blog. This stuff is my passion and I'm going to continue on it.