The first goodbye.

Well, I had my first unofficial goodbye yesterday. Jelisa (at Starbucks) told me that I was not allowed to say goodbye in person because she wouldn't be able to stop crying. That's fair enough. So I made her a card and gave it to her at work yesterday. I figured that if I gave it to her early (I won't leave Montgomery for another week), she wouldn't cry. Nope. My plan failed.

I don't do well with goodbyes. I am an emotional and expressionate woman. First, I had to leave the amazing friends I made at my community college. Now, I'm having to leave the friends I made at Faulkner and in my three year career at Starbucks. But I guess that's how life works. In one year, I'll have to say goodbye to my students and the friends I make in Xingfan. But my plan is to leave a lasting impact on my students to where I will see them again one day, even if I am not able to fly back to China.

My lifegroup is throwing me a going away party this Sunday! I am super excited. Even though I've only met with them a couple of months, they have been so kind and supportive and have become good friends to me. I enjoyed getting to know the people who live close to me. Now that I am out of college, I really want to be an active part of my community. This lifegroup was a good starting point.

Only three more weeks!

It's crazy to think that in just three weeks, I'll be Professor Simmons in Xiangfan, China! I don't think it will fully hit me until I step foot in China and am asked to take a thousand pictures with the locals. My height and red hair are sure to stand out!

This Thursday, I'm going to a retreat at Lake Martin to spend time with others from Landmark that have already been working in China the past year. I'm looking forward to hearing their stories and getting "expert" advice!

Well, I have no idea how often I'll have time to blog once I begin teaching. But my hope is to keep everyone back in the States updated on my teaching adventures and the on the relationships that I will form with my students.