so the official countdown begins...

yup... five weeks until i haul my rear to jatson chumig... and, yes, ms. anal-retentive is totally behind... ack and a half!

ok... so, my flights are booked... i have my hotels... i even have some friends who i can't wait to finally meet face to face (hi, brian and kathy!!!!) ... what i don't have is my chinese visa (whups!)... i promise, it's on my to-do list for early next week... and, annoyingly enough, what i DO have is a box of stuff to ship out... but even that is woefully lacking in what i actually need... which are appropriate lessons... i mean, it's tough to predict how much these kids have/have not already learned, right? sooooo... my solution? laptop, baby!

after incessant internal debate, i've decided to drag one with me... not only can i keep and print out useful worksheets (as needed), but it'll allow me to annoy the heck out of all of you with daily blog entries and pics... at least that's the intent... (i know... i know... you just can't wait.... ;) ... and, yes, it's HI-larious that a region that seems to have nearly NO elevators offers wi-fi... (ain't irony a kick?)

anyhoo, it's with an ideal blend of anticipation and, well, fear that i face this challenge... i'm excited about the work with these children and new experiences... thrilled with the idea of returning to one of the most beautiful lands and people i've ever had the fortune to come across... and, yes, a little scared... not of anything bad, of course... just about missing those closest to me... about moving out of my comfort zone... yet... i know i've never gone wrong doing so before (kananaskis, baby!)... still, it's been a long time since i truly challenged myself to venture forth...and i've never traveled so far to do something that totally scares the crap out of me... but i made a promise to come back and help... i'm nowhere near perfect (NOWHERE), but there's nothing that would stop me from keeping this particular promise...

and for those who know what i'm talking about, i've come to realize i chose exactly the right gold (yeller.. ha!) challenge... i believe that my understanding and caring of others will increase exponentially with this experience... at base, i'm totally aware that this will be worth the wait .. in fact, it may turn out to be even better than if i'd gone last year, as originally planned... (and, yes, tibet will see a ragger's point... and not just the one on my back :).

i would be brave...