The purpose of this blog is to write about and share my experiences of studying abroad in China with whoever happens to be interested and to also occasionally let my parents know that, yes, despite the infrequent phone calls, I’m still alive (although, I swear, this year skype is my best friend).

I’ll be studying in Kunming, Yunnan with SIT for fall semester and then Xi’an with the Alliance for Global Education in the spring. The SIT program is called Chinese Culture and Ethnic Minorities and the Alliance program is called Globalization Then and Now: Xi’an and the Silk Road.

I won’t be in China for another two weeks, which feels like either ten years or ten hours. I’ve done very little in the last few days except laze around the house in Verton, occasionally striking up conversations with other bored residents of the town, but otherwise simply wishing the time away (and reading a few books, like Razor’s Edge by W. Somerset Maugham, which I really liked). I’ve also tried to motivate myself to review my Mandarin notes and have occasionally done so. Now I’m in Paris, waiting for Callie to get here. Mom’s apartment here is a lot bigger than I thought it would be and the view of the Eiffle Tower is…just…





This almost makes me want to stay in Paris. Almost.