From Maine to China....3 months later!

My first year in college I was first exposed to Maine at a wonderful lake house near Augusta I believe...Maine has always been to referred to as this magical place...After my visit I started to see why...last year I returned to Maine for the summer and after spending the summer driving around through the mountains and watching countless sunsets and shooting stars I could feel myself starting to change....I wanted something more....I wanted a new adventure...being in the magical mountains of    

Maine brought me back to someone I hadn't been in years...I remember sitting on a boat on a night ride with a friend discussing the fact that I needed to make a change...I needed an adventure...I wanted something more...She gave me a lot of support and really encouraged me to pursue something more...I left Maine a changed person...wanting to do what I use to do so well...be independent....I wanted to travel I wanted to see more than just Florida...I came back to Florida searching for more...applying everywhere and really exploring ideas for my future.

After months of frustrating events closed doors and disappointing results...I received news that one door had opened up...The door to really do everything I wanted....an adventure...a chance to be independent...a chance to start over....a chance to really get to know myself.

 3 months ago I set out on the scariest yet most exciting trek of my life...I set off to China...I have been here for three months now and it has been the most magical months of my life...Here I have  met some of the most amazing accepting people...people that like me are looking for more in life...looking for adventure...looking to see what else is out there...

Here I have experienced the most frustrating moments...trying to communicate in a place where no speaks your language....  Sometimes trying to find food in a place that seems so confusing and empty..However the past three months I have laugh the loudest...and laughed the hardest...to the point of tears more times then I think I have laughed in my life...whether it be over one of my clutsy moments where I fall out of no where or being stuck in a Typhoon where no taxi’s…or watching someone walk into a pole because the umbrella was blocking his view…Laughing has happened a lot….

I am also enjoying a lot of the culture like matching couples… couples here often like to buy matching outfits and proudly sport these outfits all around town.  Some cultural differences are more shocking than others…children going to the bathroom where ever they please…like the corner of a mall or in a trashcan…or split pants that children where with no underwear or diapers… Or hacking and spitting when and where ever you please….

Regardless of experiences good or bad…I am pleased to be experiencing something different…something that puts me out of my comfort zone everyday…something that challenges me as a person….and makes me stronger every day I am here. 

Happy 3 months of China…so excited for what is to come!