Ni Hao, y'all!

Looking back at my adventures in Europe got me thinking. I am still relatively young and adventurous (OK..maybe not young...but I definitely enjoy trying new things). My boys are like two hyperactive sponges...wanting to see and do it all. We don't have any commitments that keep us tied to living in Texas...so, what would it take to do it again? I want to see new things...try new foods...meet new people. In early February, I decided to see what options I had for finding overseas work. Turns out that people all over the world (except for here in the US) appreciate an American education. Good timing...because come springtime, a lot of American educators are not feeling very appreciated. Pressured to have our students perform well on state mandated tests, yes. Appreciated, not so much. Through a good friend who I respect immensely for her work in education, I found a company that offered just what I was looking for. Not only would the boys and I have adventures and opportunities unlike the States, but I would get paid to do it! Sign me up! Checking out the locations of their schools was a lesson in geography. I learned more about the "stans" of Central Asia than I thought possible. It wasn't hard to come up with a "hell no" and a "already packing my bags" list. Top of my list, Chengdu, China. I know you are thinking, why China? My answer...why not? True...I speak no Mandarin. True...I don't really like Chinese food (except for General Tso's chicken...which isn't even Chinese). But, if you know me, you know that I do not normally march to the same drum as everyone else. So...for that reason, sometime in August the boys and I will board a plane and take a 14 hour flight to Chengdu...home of the Giant Panda and the setting of our future adventures. On my checklist of things to do while in Chengdu: hugging a panda (duh!), getting a $6 90-minute foot massage, eating a fried bug on a stick (everything is better on a stick), and learning the difference between ma, ma, ma, and ma. Stay tuned! Zaijian