DADDY! I'm in China! Okay. . . Not quite yet. I'm actually in the Taiwan airport, but pretty close. I pretty much skipped a day while in the air. I left on the 17th of August at 9:30 P.M. and it is now the 19th in Taiwan, approximately 5:30 A.M. My twelve hour plane ride from San Francisco ended up not being too bad. I ate like a queen for breakfast!!! I don't even eat like that at home. Scrambled eggs with a hashbrown and sausage link, fruit, a roll and classic OJ. Pretty sure that's the last 'American' breakfast I'll have for the following three months.

Dad, I'm so excited. My 'separation anxiety' from everyone has subsided. . . for now. I'm just ready to start my adventure!! I'm bound and determined to hold a panda bear. I opened my chinese teaching aid on my iPod and started practicing words. Yeah, it was pretty much a joke and a half! Cross your fingers I won't make a fool of myself.

I love you, Daddy. Tell mommy I love her and give Jesse, Bart, Paige, and Grace a big hug. I can't really see you giving Matt a hug, so a friendly pat on the back will do. Love love.

leaving home

Hi daddy. I just got done packing for China! It still hasn't set in. Crazy! I was trying so hard to make 57 pounds into 50. Definitely didn't happen. I had to give up a few things, but mom says she might send them to me once I'm there. I have quite a few dresses and skirts packed that I didn't want to give up because they'll be really easy to squat in and I don't want it to be easy for people to just check me out either. As much as I'm scared and nervous, I think I'm more excited. I can't wait to meet the little kids I'm teaching. Dad. Do you think I'll be a good teacher? Do you think I'll be able to do all that I want to do? Sometimes I feel so overwhelmed with all that I know I have to fit in to four months. Can you help me? Thank you, daddy.

Oh! I had my friends over last night and it was so nice to see all of them and to know how many good friends I have. I know you were there too. Probably back in your room with the Golf channel on, but still. I still can't believe I'm old enough to go live in another country!! I still feel like your little girl. The one you had your arm wrapped around at graduation and the one you'd carry on your shoulders. Mom went all out. She got me a box of leis and hula skirt decorations. The whole shabang! I had Kneader's make me some mini fruit tarts, peach tarts and eclairs. Talk about yummy yummy in my tummy. Mom was bad. She had. . . three or so. She would cut them in half telling herself that she was only going to have the one half. She did that to one of each kind I think. I love her and need her. She makes me smile.

I love you, daddy. I'm so excited to do this and go on a grown up adventure! Maybe I'll finally feel like I'm two decades old. Hope you're having fun where you are. Talk to you later.

Your baby girl