I hate leaving!

I haven't blogged since I've been home, mostly because I'm lazy, but also because when I have had time to write, I haven't been in the best of moods. I'm nervous about starting the new job and worried about my sister and I hate leaving!

Coming home has been great. I've gotten to see my parents, all my grandparents, some cousins, an aunt and uncle, my brother and sister, my nephew, my dogs, etc. I missed every single one of them so it was nice to reconnect. I have, however, only been able to see a couple of friends, because seeing people all over the east coast becomes a lot more difficult without a car. I'm glad I saw the people I did, but as time is running out I'm starting to feel rotten about not having seen the people I didn't. I wish I could see everybody, but that probably wouldn't be possible even if I did live in this hemisphere.

On a positive note, I did get into the FAST TRAIN program which means that I will be forced to spend some time in the D.C. area next summer and, therefore, will be able to see the majority of my friends. I'm really excited to start school again, too. I just got my textbook for the fall class I'm taking and when I was ordering it, I couldn't stop myself from ordering about five other books on teaching. I read through one of them in about an hour which makes me think I may have been a tad starved of stimulation for the past year. Not to fear though, I'm sure I'll have plenty of challenges this year! I'm not looking foreward to writing papers, but I do think it will be good for me. Over the past four years, my English has slowly declined to about an eighth grade level, so being forced back into academic writing should help a little.

Only a few days before I leave and I feel so unprepared, like always. I have my bags almost packed, but in my head I'm screaming "Noooooo, not yet, please!!!" Unfortunately, I signed my own fate. Six days until take-off.

Slacking

Today I signed in to blogger only to realize that I hadn't published my last blog (probably thinking I would write more) and I hadn't written anything for over a week! I have been super busy, lately, and internet access has been fickle at best at school.

Last week flew by! I think it helped that Dan and I went into Beijing on Wednesday night and so it sort of broke up the week. We intended to go climbing, but it was raining, so we just hung out with Matt and Tamara. We ate too much and drank some wine and watched "Little Children" which was actually a decent movie. It's hard to explain without giving it away, but it's basically about the reactions of people living in suburbia when they're faced with morally unacceptable situations. If you do watch it, be forewarned that there is a slow part somewhere in there.

Friday, I had to run into Beijing to get my passport, mostly thinking I was going to start changing money. I got the passport alright, but changing money was another story. Apparently, China published something saying that foreigners would be allowed to change up to 500 U.S. dollars with just their passport at any Bank of China. So, on my way back to the apartment, I stopped by to give it a shot. It totally didn't work! The woman told me that foreigners couldn't change money. Unfortunately, my arguing skills are limited to "Yes, they can!" which isn't much of an argument, I know. So, I left, really frustrated.

Friday evening, Dan and I went to Wangfujing to watch a movie in English. It is the only original version theater we've found yet, and it only had one movie in English. So, we saw Pirates of the Carribbean III. It was actually better than I expected and excepting a few scenes, I thought it was amusing. Dan and I did laugh out loud at at least one thing, though now I can't remember what that was. After the movie, we went to a bar to meet up with Matt and Tamara. The plan was to have a drink or two and then Tam and I would join Traci and the other Matt at a club. Unfortunately it didn't work out that way because Matt and Traci wimped out and left the club by 1.

The rest of the weekend flew by hanging out with Matt and Tam and Traci and Matt. Sunday we tried out a new restaurant that has the best french fries I've had in a long time. It also turned out to be way cheaper and way less crowded than our regular haunts. We have Matt and Traci to thank, because we will be going back there every now and then.

Now there are only a few days left before I leave. As always I have so much to do and so little time. I hate leaving!