I am moving to China!

OK, well my time here in the States is flying by. It is disappearing more rapidly than I thought it would. So for those that do not know how the “China-thing” came to be, here is a quick story to get you closer up to speed!! I had been wanting to do work overseas for quite some time but always put it off. After college I almost joined Peace Corps but instead moved to Connecticut to be near Glenn, Trenee, and the kids. Oh, and for a job. I stayed in Connecticut for one year and decided I missed the south far too much. This led to teaching interviews in North Carolina. Why North Carolina you ask. Well, first I love to be on the coast and the west coast is way too far. PA was still too far north, MD born and raised and wanted to be somewhere else, VA was still too close to home, FL has too many hurricanes nor would I feel comfortable in a bathing suit year round, and GA I never heard much about. So between SC and NC, I thought NC was “pretty”! (Yes , I am going to teach conversational English hopefully not writing!!) I got a job in NC teaching Kindergarten my first year and this past year taught the little “adults” of third grade. Anyway back to how this happened…
After hearing a good friend of mine, Jennifer, speak of the work she had done in Afghanistan, I was once again convicted to do work overseas. I contacted my brother Glenn, and asked if he had any suggestions where I should begin. He recommended I getin touch with some of my professors from college. (I know what you’re thinking – geez Sarah which college – Rochester College, ACU, or Harding?) I contacted one I knew from the women’s study class I had attended at Harding my last year. She put me in touch with another set of men to help me. I emailed imploring for advice or and “leads”. I was given an offer to complete and internship in Brazil for a few months over the summer but was unable to accept do to have to resign my teaching position early. I could not do that to my students especially with this being their gateway testing year. After that a few summer trips came available but nothing seemed right. Then the option for teaching English in China was presented. At first I was thinking nope but thanks for asking. I had my mind made up that overseas meant Africa somewhere. I decided to call about China just to say that I had followed through and it didn’t work. When I called, all the information sounded too good to be true. After speaking with many different people (family and friends) and a higher power there were no reasons given to say no to this opportunity. So I accepted the offer within one week of learning it was out there. I don’t think I have made this large of a decision so quickly in my life before! So that is how this whole thing came about.
Now some more details about now and the coming months. I am in NC teaching summer school, putting things into storage, and spending time with friends until Matt and Amy’s wedding on August 11th. I will then be driving home to MD with stuff I am taking to China and other stuff I am storing at dad and mom’s house. For (almost) two weeks I will be visiting family and friends in Maryland and hopefully getting a visitor as well!!
On August 24th I will depart BWI at 2:45 to head to Denver, CO. In Denver I will have a short stopover and will be joined by Rusty and Brittany. The three of us will then head to LA, CA. At 11:50pm (still on Friday evening) a group of 55+ will fly from LAX to Guangzhou, CN. We arrive in Guangzhou, Sunday morning at 6:20am (a 15 hour time jump ahead from LA). Our final destination is Wuhan. We all jump on another plane at 9:20am China time from Guangzhou to Wuhan. We FINALLY arrive in Wuhan to be greeted by our various Universities at 10:40 am Sunday morning. After arriving we will stay in Wuhan for a day or two to get some basic necessities that we will not find in our smaller city, Danjiangkou.
As of now that is all I have!! Feel free to contact me before I leave or ask questions if you have any. Four things are always accepted prayers, notes, questions and financial support (see bottom of blog page!)