getting ready to jump

I've tried my hand at blogging before, and that turned out to be slightly disasterous. So, hopefully this time it will be different! I'd like to keep you, my dear family and friends, updated on what I'm doing... and let's face it, it's easier to do this than send you a mass e-mail. So, hopefully this will provide you with a little clarification on what exactly it is I'm doing over in China.

Anyway, right now I'm sitting here in my nice, cozy Minnesota living room watching the Oscars next to my fireplace. Tomorrow I leave for the cities, departing for Beijing Tuesday morning at 7 am. After tonight there will be no more relaxing at home. No more seeing my family, watching TV in English, and using a regular toilet. No longer will I have the ability to blend into a crowd (I feel like there might be a shortage of tall blond girls in China). So I'm soaking up every minute of being at home, in familiar surroundings, and being with those I love.

I'm sure you are probably asking yourself: "What exactly is she doing over there? I don't really get it." Don't worry, you're not alone. I don't think that I even really know what I'm doing over there. But, here's the plan as I know it. I've been working for a company in Minnesota that would like to start an English language program in China. I've worked with them since June, writing a business plan and researching the viability of such a venture. Our organization, through various industry connections, has ties with a company in China that helps start and manage such programs (I know, a really awesome coincidence). So, my next four months will be spent with this organization in China, being an "intern" for them and learning how they operate, what their schools look like, if we should partner with them, etc.

Other than this overarching "plan", I have no idea what I will be doing. I don't know what my tasks will be, what my daily life will look like. Honestly, I don't even know where I'm living next week! But I'm so excited. I feel ready to embrace the adventure (and all the uncertainties that follow), ready to experience life through a new lens, to meet and connect with people from all walks of life, and to live what I feel called to do right now.

So, all that being said, I would love to hear from each and every one of you! As of now, the best way to do that is using e-mail (katelynnrae@gmail.com), OR, if you have skype, doing that (I think my skype name is katelynn.rae).

So, I'll close out this first post because I'm not even in China yet, so it's not that interesting.

Love you all!