Category Z

Today, I patiently awaited the arrival of my passport and visa. Sure enough . . . 

I received my identification card, which very clearly identifies that I am a TEACHER, in case you were confused . . . I'm not sure what types of benefits or sweet deals this card might bring me, hopefully they have an internationally recognized discount on beer for TEACHERS. That would be just grrreeaat. It is my health insurance card above all, as you can see from the list of "Losses" that might be incurred and their payout below. 

I also received my visa. It is the coveted, Category Z. This is a class higher than the standard travelers' visa, and enables me to stay in the country longer. . . a whole year!! Again, hopefully, it will bring to me some sweet deals, potentially for abroad travel on the Asian continent during my stay. Again, this is all speculation . . . 

In all seriousness, getting these documents today is one of the many things that makes the reality of my upcoming departure settle deeper into my consciousness. I am on the downward slope now, as we go into the month of August. What once seemed like an endless summer of leisure is rapidly realizing its end. This realization brings about feelings of joy, anxiety, excitement, and melancholy within me. Needless to say, its a little confusing to be me at this juncture. 

I cannot imagine the feelings I will have as I board Delta flight 19 in Atlanta on the morning of the 21st, knowing that I will not place my feet on U.S. soil for at least a year. I am super excited to be on a plane with four other TEACHERS (Dennis, Tiffany, Hillary, and Nathan) from SHSID. It'd be one thing if the flight were only 5 or 6 hours, where there would not be a lot of time to evaluate and re-evaluate my current life plans. However, on a direct flight lasting 18 hours, I think I might end up in the tiny bathroom on at least one occasion, staring myself down in the mirror asking, "Why?" 

Waiting

No updates lately because its not too interesting to write about waiting. But, here I go anyway. I have been waiting for my visa, my passport, and my teaching assignment (grade, classes, etc). The online class is over, and we are all doing our own thing to get ready for the year ahead.

Personally, I am navigating the line between excitement and anxiety. Thus far, I have successfully stayed on the side of excitement. I figure the anxiety will set in once I get on the Plane of Fate (as I have been affectionately calling it) from Atlanta to Shanghai. I am flying with two other people from the program who will also be at SHSID, Dennis and Tiffany. It is my assumption that this will make the whole ordeal of leaving the US for a year a little easier. 

More updates later when I actually have something to update about. Later. 

Hour-by-Hour

When life makes its own plans, one is faced with two options -- fight it or follow it. In the last year, I have done a little of both. When I finally surrendered, and began to follow life wherever it might decide to lead me, I realized that throwing away my calendar was a huge part of that. I let it go last September, and somehow navigated my way through the final year of college without a calendar and without a plan. In the process, I adopted a new philosophy -- living hour-by-hour. Turns out, it is actually a very pleasant way to live. The future is less intimidating, existing only in hour increments. 

I am now navigating the balance between living hour-by-hour and being a high school teacher in China, as I will have to do come August. I am beginning the slow integration of a calendar into this process, and finding a Moleskine at Barnes and Noble today is making that process much more enjoyable. 

This calendar will be with me everyday for the next year. I hope to fill it with exiciting plans and wonderful memories.