Prep for the trip
I have started putting aside things that I will be taking on the trip with me. I have listened to some of my Mandarin CD's to get my ears used to the tones. Jonathan and I have spent much time brainstorming and talking about how close the trip is and how excited we are getting! Now, it is time for us to begin some of our mental prep before we even get to the airport. As the days draw nearer to our departure, there are some things we can do to help us get ready for the trip.
Start looking up some information about the places we are going to. There is a lot of history and culture and it can be kind of overwhelming--but if you take a look at it, even if it doesn't really mean anything to you right now, you can look back on your notes after we have gone to the landmarks.
Update your address book if you are planning on sending post cards! I know, in the age of technology we are used to sending off electronic messages of all sorts, however, parents and little siblings LOVE getting old fashioned postal mail! I still send postcards almost every time I am abroad and it is a beautiful thing to look back on the sites I have gone to and see where I was in that time of my life.
Sit down and think about your thoughts about China--what do you think China will be like? How have you heard China described? What was the food like that you have tried? What stereotypes do you have about Chinese people? How have people reacted when you said you were going to China? What do you hear about China in the news?
I hope that you will each find yourself getting a little more excited as the days go by and it is surely ok to be getting nervous or anxious. Make sure to go over your packing list, and remember that you will be in charge of carrying your bag--practice carrying it around up and down stairs and for 15-20 minutes to see if you can do it. Remember that you can go shopping in China and you will want to bring things back!
One of my suggestions would be to get a small notebook for the trip. Some of the things you may put in it are the answers to some of the questions that your teachers, parents, siblings and friends have asked. Maybe you will want to jot down some of the answers to the questions that Jonathan and I will pose to you. Through the trip, you probably will have questions or observations that you want to follow up on--or you just see something interesting and want to remember it--using a notebook to keep the ideas fresh in your mind is a great way for us to talk about them when the time is right. You will also find some amusing "Chinglish" phrases that you will want to remember and maybe we don't really have time to stop so you can just take note.
Start thinking about the destination of China and start getting used to the idea that it really is right around the corner. Have a beautiful day!
Lindsay