...and tomorrow i'll see the moon from half way across the world.

i was walking out of my house today to run one last minute errand to target (gotta have those headbands), when i came to the realization that tomorrow, well monday night, i will see the moon from a place far away from anderson. but, it will be the same moon. i looked at the moon, took a deep breath, got in my car and started to cry. but it was happy tears. i realized, in a few short hours i will be fulfilling a dream i have had for a long time. i realized, i am proud of myself! i needed to be taking this all in i was told by a friend :).  in 5 months, anxiety is going to look slightly different. in 5 months i will be anxious to come home. this current feeling will be something of the past i can look back on.
i am laying in my bed right now. my macey girl :) is laying next to me. my room looks like it always has, but with an emptier closet. i drove around anderson and thought, all this will be the same when i come back, but i will be different. i will have seen the world and be back with new eyes, thoughts and dreams. i will have stories to tell.
i love my family. i love my friends.
continue to read this blog and share in my experience with me. if i could, i would have ALL of you visit (and please do, seriously).  the next time i blog i will be in shanghai!

in some way or another, all of you have made some impact on my life. thank you. keep in touch.
and please... follow your dreams. i did :)

new hair for my upcoming adventure.

so, whaddya think? i love it. it's new, it's fun, it's short. maybe, but only maybe, will i not stick out like a sore thumb in China. well, that won't happen :), but it's a fresh start to my adventure rapidly approaching. tomorrow makes it ONE day until i leave. can you believe it? i know i can't. it's been such an amazing week though, i would not trade it. i've spent so much time with friends and family, more than i ever have! i think tomorrow i am going to be a wreck. i don't even want to think about sunday morning. it's not that i am not excited about going, but leaving for a long time in general is just a hard thing to do. i am ready for it to be over with. i am ready to be on that plane, taking a deep breath and saying ... "I did it. I am on my way."
:)

can't sleep. picture update.

daddio and i :)

colts training camp - manning.

mom & i at the indiana state fair.

deep fried oreos. amazing!

favorite part of the fair.

american gothic gets big.

my last week in the states for 5 months.

the title of this entry really freaks me out. every time i think of 5 months it seems longer and longer and longer... this is my last week! this is my LAST week! i just keep thinking that in my head about every, i don't know, 5 MINUTES! i am very excited but it's turning into being scared as well. i just keep thinking.... ok, tomorrow is my last monday in America for awhile. then tuesday will be my last tuesday in america for awhile. and so on, and so forth with the days of the week.
but goodness i have so much to be excited about! my orientation schedule and my visa came this week! 
here is a little sneak peak and what my days will look like during my first week in shanghai:

              

Breakfast 07:00 - 08:30 a.m.

Survival Chinese Lessons 09:00 - 10:00 a.m.

Break 10:00 - 10:15 a.m

Simulated Class by Experienced Teacher and Q&A 10:15 a.m.- 12:15 p.m.

Lunch 12:15 - 01:00 p.m

Briefing: Logistics of Living and Working in China 02:00 - 03:00 p.m

By ACS, U.S. Consulate in Shanghai

Excursion: the Bund 03:00 - 05:00 p.m

Dinner at Vegetarian Restaurant, Jujube Tree 05:30 - 07:30 p.m

Acrobatic Show 07:30 p.m. 

 -- and this is my Wednesday to be exact. sweet right? yeah, i thought so.

tonight, a girl who is also going to be teaching at New Jazz, who I have gotten to know through facebook, was talking about how we will all become like family over the next couple months living so close together.

i'm excited to be able to call new friends family. 

this last week is going to be bittersweet, hard, exciting, nervous and most of all... one step closer to a life changing experience and pursuing my dream. my passion. :)

last day of nannying.

spent the entire summer with these kiddos.

& wouldn't have traded it.

11 days.

gonna make them count.

let's celebrate - mexican style!

pictures were all that is really needed for this post. enjoyed a fun dinner at my favorite restaurant in anderson with some of my favorite girls :) oh, and favorite little boy ever! I can't believe I won't be seeing these people for 5 months. it's hard thinking about my life without seeing them or driving to their places just to mess around, gossip, giggle...

but i am officially ready for this adventure to begin! bring it on.

3 weeks. 21 days.

The number keeps getting smaller and smaller. I was actually extremely productive today after I got back from Bloomington. I did a little organizing and cleaning in preparation for China. I got out my suitcase and put a few things in! ohh yeaahh! :) I also looked through my closet and separated some things out that I for sure need to take, and things I can leave behind. Leaving things behind is so hard! I want to take my entire closet!

 I had a great weekend AGAIN with friends. Katie & I had our PF Changs date like the usual. I had a Tsingtao - the finest of all Chinese beers :) Just prepping myself for China ya know. I also did some shopping at The Gap. That store always gets me in trouble. It is my favorite place to shop. I did though finally find a blazer!! I had been looking for one forever. Every one I found was either too tight, too loose, too long, too formal, etc... I also only paid $25 for it!! I had a $50 reward pass from my credit points and then a 25% off coupon (originally $100). It was definitely worth it and i LOVE it. I have been  "playing dress up" in my room, pairing it with different tops, pants, etc. LOOVE! I also went to Bloomington for the annual decathlon. Watched Dusty and John compete in the events and win again! You know when you go to the decathlon - you are ready for a good time with hilarious people! I had so many laughs on Saturday night! I love Bloomington (HATE IU! haha)

winners - Team "Papillion" haha (blurry though)

I also received my Lonely Planet guide book today, and my travel insurance ID card. I looked through the guide for quite awhile and it's going to be super helpful. Maps, prices, hotel numbers, sites, restaurants! It's not like you haven't heard this before but, I am so excited!
I nanny all this week and then 2 days the following week and I am done with my summer job. That leaves me a week and a half with nothing to do, and then... I'm gone. :)

Oh and... Jennifer (one of my old roomies and best fraaaands from college) is about 95% set on coming to visit me in China sometime in October!! AHHH! Yay, a visitor! Can't wait to explore China with her.

3. Weeks.
eeeeek!

ps. took the kiddos (and a friend) bowling on Friday. They all wore green and called themselves "The Green Club" all day. Cute, right?

silly shot