Decisions...decisions...

A couple months ago I made a decision to move back to China in January to continue teaching in Shenyang for one year.

Last night I made a decision to forget that decision.

In early November I will return to America after being gone for about ten and a half months. After months of being an outsider in countries where I never truly understand the language (if at all), and never really know the culture, I will return to my own country. My own friends, my own family, and the comfort of knowing exactly what is going on around me at any given moment. This is a luxury we take for granted when in familiar surroundings, but after being on the road for a while, you begin to realize just how hard it can be to be away from everything you have ever known. It is also freeing, and amazing, and I know, after the initial shock and enjoyment of being back in Maryland wears off, it will be something I miss dearly. This "reverse culture shock," as it has come to be known, will probably hit me hard once I get back to the quietness of Pylesville and the extremely orderly life of America.

Being able to cross a road without the constant fear of getting hit by something, or driving to a fully stocked grocery store where I can actually read all the labels and recognize all the items will be a treat at first, but after a while, I know I'll miss the craziness and chaos of the Asia that I have come to know and love.

But, I have also come to realize just how important my family is to me, and just how hard being away from them for such an extended period of time can be. I know that I will not be ready to leave America after just two months of being back. I also know that after a month or so in Pylesville I will start to go crazy. I will feel stuck in a rut and bored with life. So, I have made a very important and exciting decision. I am going to move to New York City and live with my wonderful sister and her awesome roommates in Harlem. I figure it's the closest chaotic city near Maryland where I know I won't get bored. I know if I walk far enough into Chinatown, I can pretend to be in China for a moment, however fleeting it may be. I love Little Italy, and Central Park, and the shopping in New York. It is not an unfamiliar place to me, as I have spent a good bit of time there, but I know that there is much more to be explored, and the idea of living there sends a chill of excitement up my spine. I won't need a car, and I will be close to home, while still far enough away to enjoy the independence I need in my life.

In other news, I have decided that after my days at the orphanage are over (which is on August 26), I am going to go to the city of Pokhara, which is a couple hours bus ride from Kathmandu. It's supposed to be a beautiful city a little smaller and more green than Kathmandu. I've heard it's a nice getaway for a couple days, and I think it will be a relaxing trip right before I fly to Varanasi, India on September 1st.

The next couple months are going to be a very exciting time for me, and I will keep updating as often as possible. I hope everyone is doing well, and I miss you all. Much love.