Hello from the other side of the world!

I’ve now been in China for a little while, and I have to tell you that I love it!

There are always things that are just different enough to be a bit frustrating, but that is to be expected in any new culture.  The sounds – it is LOUD in China. Probably one of the loudest places I have been. The smells – some of them, well let’s just say they are not all that pleasant… but it is what it is. The tastes – OH MY GOSH, guys the food is amazing! I may not be saying that after my 425707084752nd Chinese meal, but it has so far been really good food. There are things I don’t like, like tofu, eggplant, or really really spicy things... but other than that everything has been pretty awesome. My chopsticks skills are improving, which is good. Cause without them I really couldn’t eat a whole lot.

The language is a barrier – a big one. I really am hoping to be able to learn enough to have some basic communication skills, cause Chinese is just so different from and language that I recognize that it’s hard to be able to communicate anything.

I have heard these first weeks talked about as the “honeymoon” phase – where everything is new and you just love it all. And while that may be part of why I love it so much here, that isn’t all of it. I do not believe that I would feel as comfortable and “at home” here if I was not supposed to be here. I am definitely not completely accustomed to this place – I still get really nervous crossing the street with a car coming at me, but I am getting better. I walked into the Wu Mart (a grocery store around the corner) today, and it just really felt normal. Normal is probably not a word that most people would describe a place like this, after coming from the West, but it is a word I have heard used several times by several different people within this group I am with. It is amazing how well we have all adjusted.

My team is awesome! I am truly blessed to have these wonderful ladies to spend this next year with. I will have to do a post on them sometime, but for now – just know they are all amazing and we have all bonded very well so far. 

My team - plus Joy and minus Alyssa and the kids

China is an adventure every day! A group of us went to find the forbidden city (not the word ‘find’)… because of the directions we were given on where to go in the city, it took us about 2.5 hrs just to find the place, then we got there and they told us that gate was closed we had to take the bus to the other side of the city so we could go in there… It was still a fun day, just a really long one – but, hey it’s a good story. 

The Forbidden City! We made it!

Most of the group - right before we left the City.

Today, Sarah and I (one of my teammates) went to the Silk market… don’t be fooled. It is NO market… it is a mall, a big mall. It was a bit overwhelming, but I got what a cam for – a purse – so it was at least a success. Then we went to Tian’anmen square and saw that. It was pretty crazy, there were people everywhere. Who knows what tomorrow holds….

Tian'anmen Square

I ask that you keep me in your thoughts, you are all in mine.

Hailey

Random thoughts and Reunion

These past few weeks have been crazy. I have been so busy, but I have also been thinking about a lot of different things - so, forgive that this post is going to be really ADD and all over the place.

First - I have 2 weeks (well 16 days) until I leave!!!! That is pretty crazy to me, I have been counting down for a long time and it is finally here.
We won't talk about my lack of packing ....

I've been thinking a lot about how cultures are different and how I will have to adapt to a new one. I am so excited about it! I told someone the other day, I am so ready to just go and love China and all its differences. I know that at times I will be really uncomfortable or confused, but that is all part of the process. I think if we can't be flexible enough or willing enough to give up our "American comforts" to try something totally different, then I don't think we can be truly happy living in another culture.
Life is going to be different, yes. But different is not necessarily bad. I'm excited to learn as much of a new language as I can. I'm excited to learn how to use chopsticks. I'm excited for so much, this is gonna be awesome!!

This past week was my family reunion. For those of you that know me, you know about this. If you don't know about my reunion, let me tell you about it.

We started this tradition somewhere between 43 and 45 years ago (there were some different opinions on this when I asked around) - we meet from Wed. to Sun. one week in July. Sometimes we have upwards of 100 people, sometimes just around 70 or so. We have the best time. We swim, some fish, we talk, we EAT (and you are not allowed to stop the whole time, basically), some play volleyball, we have an auction, we sleep, we eat some more, we fry fish, we cook BBQ, some play golf, we talk, we laugh, we love, we have SO much fun.

I wish that I could let everyone come spend a day and just experience this. But since I can't, I am going to put some pictures of this past week in here for you.

This family (and actually both sides of my family in general) are such a blessing to me. I can't even tell you. I just wish that everyone could have a family like mine, but since mine is pretty much one of a kind - I don't think that is very possible. :D

28:19

Mt. 28:19. What a statement to give me/us purpose. Why am I going to China? This is one of many reasons. As I was looking for a name for this blog, on which you hopefully will be able to get updates from me while I am in China, a friend mentioned this name because of what it is in reference to. It was obviously an idea I liked enough to use, since I wasn't coming up with anything else. But after thinking about it - it is really one of the, if not the, main reason I am going to China.

I know many of you have either talked to me or read that first newsletter, and so you know part of my story. I have wanted to go to Asia and teach for a while, but things like student loans, any kind of financial stability, and myself stood in my way. I have looked at different countries and organizations, but never really taken any kind of step towards really 'doing this'. When I found the group I am going with, I immediately filled out the registration form and got called that night! (She said it usually wasn't that fast, but it had just happened that way) Since then, it really has been a nonstop, exciting journey to now... 2 months from leaving - I am really DOING THIS! I have not really had my freak out moment yet, but I can assure you it will probably happen soon. I'm not really nervous about it, I know it will be ok - He is in control. Ask me if I am still not nervous about it when I board that plane....

Life is about to change A LOT. I found out where I am going to be living and teaching and adventuring and experiencing life in for the next year. It is a city in Northeast China called Taiyuan (tie-you-in), it is in the province of Shanxi (which is next to the province Shaanxi - don't get them confused...). I will be about 2.5 hours from Beijing by fast train, and about 3 hrs north of the most polluted city in the world, Taiyuan is also pretty polluted (4th or so in China) itself. I will teaching elementary at a private K-12 boarding school there, it is one of the top schools. I have read that they have an extremely high college acceptance rate (it is at about 20% in other places - theirs is at nearly 100%). I don't know all the details yet - like what grade I will be teaching, or exactly where I will be living (though I am pretty sure it will be on campus). I do know who I will be going with though.

My team is a group of 5 girls, and 2 team leaders with their 2 small children. 3 of the 5 girls and team leaders and kids are all from TN!! I'm really excited to get to know these people as they become my family for the next year. So no fear, I will be with other people - I know I have been asked several times how I will be by myself there, but I will not be alone (and I wouldn't be alone even if I didn't have my team).

I'm so excited about this new adventure in my life. I am thankful for the opportunity He has given me. I would like to ask you to continue thinking about me. Here are a few thought requests - that I would continue to get the stuff done that I have to get done before I leave, that my support raising won't slack off (I am a little over half way there!), that when my freak out moment does come that I would be ok and will rest in Him (not myself), and my students - they are becoming real to me now, keep them in your thoughts as well. And my really crazy busy summer that is getting ready to happen...
Here is a brief overview - so if you want to see me, have a party for me :), or whatever - you can know when I am going to be in town or busy or free.

June 3-7 - kids camp
June 16-18 - Chattanooga (kids camp)
June 21-22 - camping trip
July 4-8/9 - Nashville/ Dollywood
July 10-14 - Reunion
July 17 - my birthday
July 26 - LEAVING THE TRI-CITIES (I will be going to Nashville, and won't be back til 2014)
July 30 - Boarding plane to LAX
July 31- (super early in the morning) - Boarding plane to China!

Those of you on my mailing list should be receiving my 2nd newsletter in the next few weeks - those of you that would like to receive it and are not on my mailing list - please facebook message me or email me or text me and I will add you to that.. also, if you would like to be on an email list (should I be able to get that started) please send me your emails as well. I will be trying to update this as much as possible. (I will also figure out how to use it an post pictures and such)

If you would like to give (right now!) you can by clicking on this link: www.tinyurl.com/Support-Hailey-Williams

61 days!!!