Looking Back to the Future

Ok, so I stole part of that title from a slightly famous film… but it's for a good reason.

Yesterday was the 4 year anniversary of my first week living in China. 4 years… wow. It's amazing how things can change — and other things stay the same — in 4 years time.

Living overseas for an extended period has this effect of making one feel like they've run away from certain things back home. I certainly had that feeling to a degree, even though I knew with all my heart that going to China was the right choice. Now that I'm back, I'm having to deal with some of those things I ran away from — the American race for success, living paycheck to paycheck, and others. While all of these things exist for millions of Chinese too, they are completely devoid from the life of an ex-pat teaching English.

Now that I have a wife to support and more additions to our family (hopefully) at some point, the pressure is rising. It is in these moments of uncertainty that I tend to isolate myself and my heart and turn away from God. It is in these moments that I feel like I must figure this all out myself — since it's my mess to begin with. Pray with me that I would not turn in on myself, but instead open my heart to his control and plan. I can't thwart his plan for my life, but I can certainly — much like Samson — miss out on all the joy and excitement that comes with following in God's steps.

Thanks for listening.

Our First Christmas (and bunches of other stuff)

I'm sort of past apologizing for my extremely irregular updates, let's face it, I stink at blogging regularly. Either way, here's the latest scoop:

Obviously Michelle and I are back in America now. We've been here for about 7 weeks now and it's been 100% awesome. It's so wonderful to actually live with my wife. It's been really exciting to experience the holidays in America with her (it's my first holidays in America since 2007). We had my parents, grandma, brother and sister-in-law, uncle and friend up to our apartment to eat and celebrate Christmas. The apartment is a whole other story and basically sums up to this: we are incredibly blessed and fortunate to be where we are. We're in a basement apartment and the owners upstairs are incredible friends and have made living there truly special.

I finished my fall semester of classes a couple of weeks ago and have a few weeks off (finally) until I start up again in February. I'm on track to finish my B.A. next December - which is really exciting. 

Michelle now has her green card, a social security number, and... her learner's permit! She's already had her first parking lot lesson courtesy of a great friend who probably has infinate more patience than I. She'll be taking Driver's Education classes soon and should get her license easily after the 9-month minimum for holding a learner's. Pretty cool.

Well, there's more, but it'll have to wait. ;)

Almost There

I've been in China now for about 10 days. It's been a fantastic trip — one that I didn't think I would get to make so soon; I really thought it was going to be much longer before I had a chance to visit, so it's been a pleasant surprise. I've been able to see my old students — can you say "shock and awe"? That's the look that was on their faces when I popped my head into their classrooms.

I've been working also, seeing our teachers do their thing in the classroom — I'm the official photographer/videographer, which I love. We met with a potential new school, as expanding ELT Edge is a big goal. But the highlight of the trip has been being with my wife. Michelle is truly amazing and it's just plain enjoyable to be around her everyday — I know that's normal for you married folks out there, but we're still getting used to it. :)

We're leaving Qinhuangdao today and heading to Beijing for the weekend. Our flight leaves on Monday and if you'd like to come greet Michelle at the airport we arrive on Monday at BWI, 9:55pm, from Chicago.

Can't wait to see all of you State-side readers soon!

Back in My Second Home

Well, I'm here. But where is here you might ask? China, of course. I've come back to my stomping grounds of 3 1/2 years for a couple of reasons:

#1: Work. I'm the coordinator of networking and recruiting for ELT Edge and part of my job will be, along with the help of a board member who's here with me - the fearless flying Dane - to find some new schools to send teachers to. Expansion is on the horizon!

#2: Food. Real Chinese food is the best. Don't be fooled by cheap American imitators.

#3: Wife. That's right, I am actually married; although for 4 months now, I haven't been living like it. But now that her visa is approved it's time to lasso her, throw her over my shoulder, hop on a plane, and traverse the globe. We'll arrive back in Baltimore at BWI on November 7th at around 10pm. If anyone wants to come out and welcome my lovely wife to America, that would be truly amazing.

Well, it's late, I'll pop in a few more times while here. Until then, smile, life is grand.

Back From the Blogging Dead

Well, it's been a long time - a really long time. Let me give you the short and skinny of it all.

When I last left you, Michelle's visa had just been approved, check it out for yourselves:

I'm still super ecstatic about this (obviously), but there's even more news to be had.

I now work for ELT Edge. They are the organization that sent me to China in the first place. But "sent" is not what they did - they trained, supported, encouraged, and made the experience of living in another country truly amazing.

I'm now the Coordinator of Networking & Recruiting, which is a fancy way of saying that it's my job to spread the word about ELT Edge and work towards our goal of expanding to some new schools in China.

One of my first tasks is to travel to China with one of our board members to give our teachers some in-person love. I'm really excited about this trip and I leave next week. Which means… I get to see my wife!

I'll be in China for two weeks and then I'll come back on November 7th with my beautiful bride along side of me! The timing of all of this has been divine and we are both so excited to finally have her here (me most of all)!

So, get your "meet-Michelle-face" on and mark November 7th on your calendars. It's gonna be a wild ride. More to come soon.