An Ambitious end to 2008

Boy oh boy, I am about to take off... in fact, I've got about 25 hours before my dad and I will drive into DC for my flight. Plenty of time to start packing, right?

I can't believe I'm going back! 3 months last year just wasn't enough. This summer will be like last year, but on Steroids: class for three weeks in 北京 Beijing, preparing us 1) for teaching at day camps in two rural villages (I will be teaching Geography and Art to 5th - 7th graders in Chinese) and 2) for making at least three large presentations and have several one-on-one meetings with rural educators about American education programs (I will be presenting about the effect of Mentorship programs on individual and communal development)!!!! After three weeks at 首都经贸大学 Capitol University, we will travel to 海南 Hainan (large island south of China), followed by 湖北 (a province in central China). We'll finish up in Beijing, a day before the Opening Ceremonies (the auspicious 08/08/08)!

Currently I am planning on traveling to Thailand and Malaysia from Aug 9 - Aug 25, but we'll have to see where I am with my visa.... I don't think it'd be a good idea to be added to the Chinese 'black list'.

And assuming that doesn't happen, I will be going to 哈尔滨工业大学 Harbin Institute of Technology up in Harbin, China for the fall semester! Harbin is located in Manchuria (in between Russia and North Korea), and is famous for its ice festival. An American study abroad agency has a program at this university, so I will be taking two Chinese language classes in addition to conducting research in Chinese for my undergraduate honors thesis. My research focuses on the ways parents' rural-to-urban migration patterns affects the education of their children. So, basically, I'll be hangin' out with kids and asking them how they feel about the college entrance exam. Any guesses for what the responses will be?

Hopefully I'll be able to update you all on where I am and what I'm doing--perhaps more than last summer, and in smaller doses, hah.


Have a happy Father's day!! In China, Father's day (父亲节) is celebrated on August 8th... sorry Dad, I'm going to miss both of them!