4 days left...

First of all, I would like to thank everyone who is reading this, be you someone who donated, or simply a friend interested in my trip. I doubt I would have been able to go on this trip without all your support, and for that I thank you all!

It's hard to believe that the trip I have planned for since last year is about to begin. What started as a small sense of duty to help other people has now evolved into this month long trip that will take me to the other side of the planet and put me into new, unknown scenarios. I would be lying if I said that I wasn't worried: rather, every instant I get closer to the departure date fills me with an uneasy mixture of excitement, fear, and nervousness. Doing all the things I need to prepare, from buying clothes and other necessities to organizing lesson plans for the children I'll be teaching, has helped ease the tension, but I'm still plenty nervous. Still, I'm determined to follow through with this trip regardless, and I'm very excited for all of the people I'm going to meet, all the experiences I will have, and all the new places I'll see.

As the clock ticks down to the moment I leave, I have begun to rethink what exactly has driven me to do this program. It has been more than a year since I started researching possible volunteer programs, and I worry that somehow I may have lost my original way, my true reason for participating in this. I soon found myself rereading a book that holds a special place in my heart: Cosmos, by Carl Sagan. This is a book that deals with a great many topics and is vast in its imagery, and delves into many aspects of the universe: from ancient Greek philosophers to the modern day threat of nuclear armageddon, the origins of life on Earth to the possibilities of alien civilizations. The scope of the book has always astounded and fascinated me, but somehow I never felt lost or overwhelmed by this sudden flurry of archeology, astronomy, philosophy and anthropology. This is because, at its core, the book merely revolves around the primary goal of Cosmology: to find the place humanity has in the Cosmos, and the duty our species has to each other and the Cosmos. This is what has defined my drive to go on this trip: I'm not doing this for school, for CAS, for my college applications, or any of that. I merely wish to fulfill the responsibility I have towards the rest of my species, to promote the betterment of humanity. My actions may be small on the larger scale, maybe even inconsequential. However, I know that, right now, I have the power to help those in need, to bring a bit more light into this world, and give  more people that powerful emotion that defines humans: hope. I am fortunate to have the resources to follow this goal, and to be surrounded by so many caring people who are willing to aid me in my goal. It is because of this that I must go on the trip, and use my resources and skills to help others.

But of course, I can't be all grim and serious all the time. I can't be worrying about the fate of humanity each instant of my life, and I'll be sure to enjoy this trip to the fullest!

I do not know how often I'll be able to update while I am in China, but feel free to comment, and I'll try to answer any and all questions you ask.

Once again, thank you all!