31

Nov. 17, 2016
11:30 pm
Beijing, China

Number 31!

Yep, today’s post is number 31. It has officially been one month since I began this blog. It’s been one month since I saw my family. One month since I boarded a plane from Columbus. One month since I stood on American soil. One month since I spoke the same language as all the people around me. One month since my life completely changed. That’s so crazy! It’s crazy to think that one month ago I was sitting in an airport in Dallas imagining what life was going to be like. It’s weird. I remember that happening. I remember sitting in that chair (I could probably point out exactly where I was sitting). I remember making a call to my bank to tell them I’d be in China so they wouldn’t deny my card. I remember hearing that Chinese family arguing behind me. I remember feeling completely overwhelmed. I remember looking out on that tarmac, waiting for my plane to get in–the plane that would take me to a whole new world, a whole new life. It’s so vivid sometimes that it feels like only yesterday. Yet, at the same time it feels so foreign that it’s almost like I’m remembering a scene in a movie.

Looking back, it’s funny the moments that stuck with me from that day. Obviously, there are the goodbyes–it’s hard to forget those. But the things I remember in detail are small. Like, I remember trying to fit all of the candy and snacks Tim and Kara brought me into my carry on because I’d already checked my bags. Trying to cram everything in there without smashing it and giving Tim a funny look when I pulled out the book he’d given me. I remember my family sitting beside the line for security because Mom wanted to make sure I got through okay. I made faces at the girls as I slowly made my way through the line, and got some weird looks from fellow travelers in the process. I went to get Starbucks after I posted my first blog and the guy there completely forgot about making my order. I stood there for a good while before he realized that I’d ordered more than a coffee. I made friends with a stewardess when I was feeling bad on the plane. She checked in on me a few times to make sure I didn’t need anything. And I remember walking with a whole group of people from my intake group after we got off the plane. We managed to get lost trying to find the baggage claim and then stood in the immigration line for forever!

It’s still kind of funny to think of the difference one month makes. One month ago I met Taylor at the airport. We barely had time to introduce ourselves before she went to grab a coffee and then we immediately boarded the plane. In my first memories of China, Taylor doesn’t particularly stick out. I mean, she’s there for all of it, but she wasn’t who I talked to. Really it wasn’t until we went to ch—ch that first Sunday that she really became someone I was hanging out with all the time. But now she and Brian are who I spend most of my time with. It’s so cool that I can say that we’ve literally been together in this journey since the very beginning.

Writing this particular blog has made me a little homesick, because I’m thinking back to all I’m missing. But I really haven’t had many bouts of homesickness. A lot of it is probably because I’ve done this before. I mean, obviously I haven’t lived overseas before, but you know what I mean. As I said in my first blog, it will probably be a while before this whole things sets in. It’s been a month without my family. Okay, I’ve done that before. College, camp, a month is no big deal. I’ve been on a study abroad, so three months still seems doable. Once I pass that three month threshold, though, I think that may be when the dam really starts to break. We’ll see what happens. Hopefully I’ll be established enough here that it won’t hit me too hard.

Originally, I had a totally different plan for what today’s blog was going to look like. But all of my blog posts are just saved as numbers on my computer. So, when I saw 31 I just had to write something about it. Hopefully you all didn’t get too bored wit’s my reminiscing. I promise to have something a bit more upbeat next time.

Words to Remember: Titus 3:1-11
Challenge: Read this passage and think about what it means to you? What thoughts does it bring up? I believe this is extremely relevant to our current situation. As you go through your day, remember that your calling as Abba’s child is to love. So love. Love no matter the situation or the disagreement. And don’t think, “love the sinner, hate the sin.” Hate should play no part in your life. Don’t let that negative emotion in, even just as a joke. Our job is to love, no strings attached. So remember Abba’s love for you and be that love to others.

Bless,
Kristen