I am currently enrolled in Sichuan University “learning” Chinese. Why the quotations? Well, a better word would be attempting. Who ever said English was the hardest language to learn never had to struggle with issues like whether someone is talking about their horse or mother (ma vs. ma people, its all in the tones). But lets back up. What have I exactly been up to since I have fallen off the face of the earth due to crappy VPN’s and Chinese wifi?

It all started with a hangover.

Orientation week flew by. Our schedule had been laid out for us. Every morning we would attend a teaching 101 class, learn some do’s and don’ts, break for lunch, end the day with some culture like Tai Chi or calligraphy. That leaves a lot of time for more…cultural things. Like drinking, lots of drinking. In a country where there is no drinking age, a bunch of drinking games, and a KTV (karaoke) on every corner, it’s easy to indulge. There was a lot of “What Does the Fox Say” to be sung, many nights of drinking games, and hangovers to be felt the next day. I obviously can’t drink because of my age in the states, but let me say orientation felt like the true college experience. And being the youngest surrounded by mostly older Europeans, I struggled to keep up.

It was the last night of orientation and we decided what better way to end it than to have a giant KTV outing with a bottle of whiskey and a bunch of beer? Hence how it all started with a hangover.  

I awoke to a throbbing head in a different dorm room cuddling a bucket. Rose (my soon to be roommate at my school) whose bed I had taken over was telling me that our school was here to pick us up. Thanks a lot Jack Daniels. I rushed, well wobbled, quickly back to my dorm room thanking sensible Kendra that she had packed the day before. I quickly freshened up making myself look presentable (who am I kidding I was a mess) while clinging onto my jug of water to subdue the hangover. I gathered my things, said goodbye to my new amazing friends, and made my way to meet my future boss Jane who I now refer to as my handler. I stumbled out of the door of the dorms when feeling the pain of sunlight in my eyes I had dropped my jug of water and it crashed all over me. Nice to meet you Jane.

After a long car ride of introduction’s and what to expect I had finally arrived at my new school where I was to teach kids who were just a few years younger than me. Oh high school. The school was fantastic, newly built, and did I mention one of the best high schools in Chengdu? No pressure there. It was set up like a boarding school where the kids stayed at for 6 days a week while attending school from 6:30 am until 10:30 pm. But we’ll talk about that later.

With my new adventure laid out before me all I could think was…what have I gotten myself into?

Stepping off the plane after a 14 hour flight and onto China soil, I felt like Alice in Wonderland. I felt as if I had followed the rabbit down the hole and entered a strange world where left was right and right was left… and I loved it. It all started with the taxi ride. As my mother and I got into a van with a man who spoke no english and whose only credential was a sign that said Kendra, we had to wonder if this would be our last moments together. But that wasn’t even the scary part, no the driving was the scary part.

In China all lines, signs, and laws are mere suggestions. Pedestrians having the right of way? Only if they have the guts to play chicken with oncoming traffic. Bus loads of people merging left? Better speed up and cut them off. Can’t make your mind up on which lane you want to drive on? Why not just drive in between both. As someone who seeks excitement and thrills I couldn’t help but laugh as I looked at my mother who showed nothing but fear in her eyes. Every time the taxi driver would almost hit a person, car, or bike (which was pretty much the entire drive) my mom would wince and cringe. All I could do was tell her to look at the scenery we were passing by and don’t look forward.

We had finally arrived at our destination and reached the end of the rabbit hole and into a whole new world. As we exited the van and kissed land, we were greeted by our lovely hosts. They brought us up to the 18th floor to their lobby where we were greeted by a man dressed in traditional garments offering us tea. Did they know that we needed to relieve stress after that taxi ride? After getting settled into our apartment we took to the streets of Chengdu.

We walked around our neighborhood which was surprisingly quiet for a city. We are a 5 minute walk from People’s Park and 10 minutes from Wide and Narrow Alleys. Along the way we stopped for some noodles in a little shop where they only spoke Mandarin, thankfully we had our helpful hosts to translate, otherwise we probably wouldn’t have eaten. The word hot has a whole other meaning in Chengdu when it comes to both food and temperature. The noodles with only a little spice will make you sweat, the temperature when the locals say it’s a cool day will make you sweat. This is coming from someone who lives in humid Florida and enjoys spicy food.

Now I have been bad and haven’t blogged since I have gotten here but I have to say this, I’m kind of big deal in China. Everywhere I go I get stares, I get hello’s, I get hushed whispers, I even get asked to have my picture taken. I’m not even blonde!

I feel like Lindsey Lohan after she got out of rehab and everyone is too afraid to approach her. I am a rockstar in the Chinese culture. But don’t worry, it’s not going to my head.

Feeling like Alice in Wonderland in a strange, new, exciting world I’m not looking for a way out anytime soon. I love Chengdu and look forward to calling this place my home for 6 months.

Packing for a trip that lasts for any amount of time is always a battle. But how do you plan out your wardrobe for half a year when you can’t even decide on what’s for dinner tonight? By throwing out the what if’s and chanting the mantra minimize, minimize, minimize.

What if I take up martial arts? What if I hit the club? What if I get invited to the ball that leads me to my prince charming…then what a perfect excuse to buy a ball gown there. Chances are if you are saying what if then you don’t really need it. And honestly if you do come across something that you just NEED while abroad, then you can most probably find it at your destination.

When packing for long trips it’s best to keep in mind not only the amount of space you will have, but also your weight limit.

For me that was two luggage’s at 45 lbs. each, and a carry on. And I planned on using every square inch of that sucker. Pack things that you love and KNOW that you will wear. That t-shirt in the back of your closet with the tags still on it? Leave it. Your batman shirt with a built-in cape? Leave it. That cute dress that you just had to have but have never worn and you swear to yourself that’s just because you haven’t found the right place to wear it to yet? LEAVE. IT. Remember you will also be doing laundry, and most likely shopping for a more foreign wardrobe. So look at your clothes and minimize.

Below I am listing what clothing you should be packing and that doesn’t include underwear (but be sure to pack enough to last two weeks in case a washing machine is a delicacy). Toiletries, electronics, medication, etc. differs so much from person to person. So know yourself and know what you’ll need to survive abroad. Also for long-term stays things like towels, linens, and other housing needs you can buy at your new home. And always remember, amazon international shipping can save a lot of room in your luggage.

Here’s a list on what are some good items to include in your packing list:

• Comfortable Shoes: I can not stress this enough. There is a 95% chance you are going to be walking for the majority of your trip abroad. And unless you can walk uneven streets blindfolded in high heels without rolling your ankles, leave those behind and grab your sneakers or reasonable sized heels if you must have them. Also another note to the shoe category, if you have big feet and are travelling to an Asian country be sure to pack all the shoes you will need for the duration of your trip. Your feet will be Godzilla sized compared to Asian foot wear sizes making it almost impossible for shoe shopping.
• Layerable Clothing: This is the best advice I can give you for packing for multiple seasons. I am unfortunately faced with the challenge of packing for summer, fall, and winter. Bring the cardigans, bring the tank tops, bring the t-shirts, bring the scarves, if it can be layered then I consider it an ally.
• Sweaters/Hoodies: Hoodies are my best friend, they just seem to get me. Unfortunately there isn’t enough room for all of them. So a couple hoodies and a couple sweaters are great for being worn in fall, winter, and chilly summer nights.
• Rain Jacket: This is more for people who are going to a certain place in China where they had no idea it rained all the time until they were knee-deep in travel preparations *cough*. However, if you are visiting the Atacama Desert of northern Chile where it rarely ever rains, leave it.
• Pajamas: You don’t have to pack a lot as you can recycle them. And if you can wear another piece of clothing that doubles as pajamas, that’s a bonus.
• Jeans/Pants: A lot of blue, a couple black, khakis, maybe a white pair if there’s room.
• Hangin-at-the-house Clothes: If you have half a year to explore a country, you’re going to need some down time. This isn’t a movie where everyday you’ll be meeting another lost soul in the New York Bar recreating your Lost in Translation fantasy, this is life where sometimes you need a break and need to binge watch some Netflix to get yourself together.
• Bathing Suit: I say bring one. In the Sichuan province they have water parks and hot springs. Since this is such a tiny piece of clothing and won’t take up hardly any room, it can be more useful than searching for the right size and style over seas.
• A Warm Heavy Jacket: If faced with a destination that gets really cold, you definitely don’t want to forget this. Now granted a nice thick jacket can take up a lot of room especially when packing for multiple seasons. My advice? Ship it. Your mother would never let you freeze so she can ship your giant jacket that takes up half of your suitcase.
• Socks: Do not forget the socks! I highly suggest bringing “nice pairs” of socks when traveling to Asian countries as you will be taking off your shoes on a regular basis. So toss the toe-hole socks.
• Exercise Clothes: I know how tempting it is to imagine in your mind you on the peak of a mountain with your sun dress blowing in the wind…but what you’re probably leaving out in your day dreams is the part where your sweating and feeling gross climbing up to the mountain peak. A pair or two of some breathable exercise clothes will be a life saver. If they can also double as PJ’s, then you are golden.
• Professional clothing: Check the dress code of where you will be working (if you are working). For me teaching kindergarten I can dress casual. But I also like to make a good impression so I will pack a few “dressy/business” shirts to dress up my pants on days when I’m feeling especially qualified.
•  Shorts: With this keep in mind the culture of your destination. Are they modest? Do they show skin? Is it a beach town where everyone lives in a bathing suit? China is very westernized in the fact that they do dress comfortably and not conservatively at all times. So as long as you’re not being cheeky in your shorts I say everything goes in major cities. Other towns or cities might be a little more conservative so bringing shorts that go to the knee or just above are always a safe bet as well.
• Dresses/Skirts: I saved the best for last for you ladies. If you’re like me you’re searching for some justification to pack your little back dress and your oh so cute mini skirt. And I’ll tell you what, pack it. If you love it and you wear them I’m giving you the go ahead. Now I’m not saying go crazy and pack your entire collection of skirts and dresses even if that is all that you wear, I’m saying be practical. Pack one or two of each for those days when you need to feel pretty.

Now the million dollar question, “How do I fit all of this into my luggage?”. So I leave you my fellow travelers some useful Youtube links on great tips and tricks on packing your luggage:

• The folding method, my number 1 go to.
• The rolling method.
• The folding method on a carry on.
• A little bit of everything with some awesome tips.
• And a perfect example of how not to pack.

Did I miss anything you must absolutely have when traveling abroad? Leave a comment and let me know.

The company I chose to do my internship through informed me that I must finish the 120 hour TEFL course by July 20. They thankfully also sent me a link to a company with whom I could receive this piece of paper from. But, as a curious mind, I decided to do some research on what I was actually getting.

After hours of research all I had come up with were a headache and these acronyms TEFL, TESOL, and CELTA. If you are like me you’re probably thinking to yourself, English please?

Well let me break it down for you, TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) is for teaching English in another country. TESOL (Teaching English for Speakers of Other Languages) is to be taught to students who are immigrants in an English-speaking country. CELTA, which is not an actual acronym, but a qualification that belongs to the University of Cambridge. So now that we know what all of this stands for, what the hell am I to do with this information? The best advice I can give is to check with the country you want to teach in and see what they are looking for.

Well with all of my new knowledge I began my TEFL journey. After forking over my $222.34, which pained me oh so much, I started my 120 hour course. The first few modules presented no real challenge and I had to wonder when I was going to actually learn something. Just when I was getting used to answering the quizzes with my eyes closed, they derailed the easy train and went straight to challenge city. Okay, maybe challenge isn’t the best word, but with no prior teaching skills and only one class in college on teaching under my belt it did prove some difficulty. You do learn the fundamentals of teaching, brush up on your grammar skills, go in-depth on the english language, etc. It also provided some useful tips on lesson planning, types of learners you will teach, games, how to keep your student’s attention instead of daydreaming of recess…and that right there was worth the money to me. It gave me confidence that I could actually be a decent teacher.

By the end of the course I did feel as if I had learned something and gained some useful skills. What I really loved though were the examples it provided through out the lessons. As a visual learner it also showed demonstrations of games, activities, and much more. It really covered the basics of teaching. Of course you can take a TEFL course in person to become certified and I would have honestly preferred that to get some hands on experience on teaching and practice with people, but like I said I only had so much time.

When I was researching about TEFL courses it came to my attention that everyone was claiming it would take over a month to complete. If you didn’t wait until the last second to start this course, you could probably spend a little over a month by doing a lesson a day and really give yourself some breathing room to digest all of the information. Now since I didn’t have that luxury and I decided to procrastinate, shame on me I know, I feel you could easily accomplish this within a week if you are a native English speaker.

So in conclusion if you decide to run away from home at the age of 19 with no experience in teaching and are leaving in two months to China, then YES spend the money, gain some confidence, refresh your mind, and do this course. If you have majored in some sort of education degree, then you can probably save that money and put it towards your college debt instead.

“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a cash advance.” -Unknown

What most movies and books tend to leave out, is the scene where the heroine gently weeps over her bank statement. Who ever gave the facade that you can just pack a suitcase, grab your passport, and go was obviously living in a fictional world or had a hefty bank account. Travel is expensive. Obviously you have the expenses of plane tickets, accommodation, food, but there are so many other things that aren’t so obvious when planning your trip abroad.

Here is a list of what I have encountered so far, and I’m not even in China yet.

1. Passport. Now I didn’t need to get a passport as I had already purchased one for my trip to Japan the previous year, but it’s a requirement and thought it should be included on this list.
2. Visa. Most countries don’t require this, sadly China does. If you are unfortunate enough to live in a state where there is no Chinese embassy, you have to hire an agent and pay that fee on top of whatever the original cost is to obtain the visa.
3. TEFL Course. This might only apply to a few of you travelers out there, but if you are teaching abroad without a college degree it is a must to get you prepared for the classroom.
4. Vaccines. You might be able avoid this cost if you have insurance or are traveling to a country that does not require them.
5. Language books. Learning a new language is hard, finding the right book to teach you the language is even harder.
6. Special cell phone. The phone I had previously owned would not work in China. If you are not moving abroad for a long period of time you can avoid this, but if you are you might want to look into finding out if your cell phone works in the country you will be living in. I opted for a smart phone so when I get lost in translation or lost in general, I can use my apps that will help me in many situations.
7. Special case for the special cell phone. Being the klutz that I am I needed a case that would protect my phone from everything. Seeing as how my smart phone would be my savior in many situations, I feel that it’s a good investment.
8. A sturdy backpack. How else will I tote everything around while hiking up mountains?
9. Sim card for your cell phone. Haven’t had to purchase this yet, but it is in the foreseeable future.
10. Background check. Working abroad most companies will require this.
11. A laptop. Backpacking through rural areas I wasn’t comfortable bringing my $3,000 machine with me. So I bought an affordable one off of eBay.
12. VPN service. Going to a country where I can’t Facebook or watch Netflix? You win VPN service take my money.
13. Adapters. For your cell phone, computer, etc.
14. Enough deodorant and toothpaste to last 6 months. In asian countries deodorant can be rare or expensive. As for the toothpaste, they use a different amount of fluoride which americans may not be use to.
15. Suitcase. Why do they have to be so expensive? Especially if you want some good wheels.
16. Traveller’s insurance. Research the country you are visiting and see if it is necessary. For China it is definitely recommended.
17. Medications/vitamins. Some things you will be available to find abroad, but some luxuries that you have at home and are used to taking are not. For me that means my melatonin and vitamins.

At the end of the day, it is possible to travel cheap and travel smart. Just don’t be surprised if it becomes more costly than you planned. Budget accordingly and be prepared. But in the end can you really put a price tag on the experiences you are sure to gain when traveling abroad? After all, “Travel is the only thing you buy, that makes you richer.”

Chengdu Giant Panda Breeding Research Base 

Cliche I know, but pandas are too stinking cute.

Jiuzhaigou Valley “The Land of Fairy Tale”

This doesn’t even look real.

Leshan Giant Buddha

Eat a Hot Pot

I have no idea what is in this but…yum?

Sichuan Opera

Kang Ding “The Heaven of Photography”

Literally Photoshop in real life.

Play Mahjong

Hopefully patience will be granted upon me while I learn.

Anshun Bridge

That’s a fine looking bridge.

Dinosaur Musuem in Zigong

One of the largest dinosaur museums, it’s a must for this Jurassic Park fan.

Jinli Ancient Street

Drink Starbucks Coffee in Kuanzhai Alley

I need this  architecture in the states.

Visit the Golden Summit of Mount Emei

We won’t tell my mom about this one.

Mount Qingcheng

Since we are on the topic of mountains.

Wenshu Monastery

Tai Chi in People’s Park

All the cool grandma’s are doing it.

Southern Sichuan Bamboo Forest

Avatar the Last Air bender anyone?

Drink Flower Tea

Take  a Cooking Class

When my family asks me to cook dinner, this is what I shall serve. They won’t ask again.

Drink Tea at a Tea House

Lots and lots of tea…

Soak in the Hot Springs at the Hai Luo Glacier

Use a “Squatty Potty”

This is the cleanest picture I have found…

Get a Tailored Qipao

 Shop in A Chinese Walmart

This is a whole other adventure on its own.

Now the one thing that never changes about myself, I love to travel. My worldly experiences are limited to three weeks in Japan and a month in the UK. The thing is I love the euphoric feeling of going to some place completely new, not knowing anybody, discovering new sights, and expanding my little world. I needed to get out of the country, to change my routine, to challenge myself, and to find my ambitions and dreams that I just couldn’t find in my town. I turned to Google, trying to find an answer of how I could possibly do this with so little money. That’s when I found the answer. A paid internship for the Sichuan province in China. It covered my living expenses, utilities, food allowance, and even had 24/7 support. I sent in my application and after an interview (and almost being scammed by another company) I was accepted.

This was it. My ticket out of here to see far off places and the chance to find myself again. But then there was the problem of convincing my parents. Oh great. I am an only child who has never left her mother for more than two weeks. How was I supposed to convince her to let me go the other side of the world where I didn’t speak or read the language, had no one I knew, had blocked internet, and that had toilets in the ground!? Well, I sat her down and told her that this was it. That I was going on a great big adventure to find the answers to life. That I would Skype her everyday, I would look both ways before I crossed the street, I would be responsible, and I wouldn’t drink the contaminated water. And just like that she agreed. Yeah right. After weeks of begging, reassuring, and even bribing, she relentlessly agreed. She’s even coming with me two weeks prior to my internship to the capital of the Sichuan province, Chengdu, to see where my home will be for the next six months. So I booked the plane tickets, started my TEFL course, and am now counting down the days until I start my GRAND ADVENTURE.