Prologue to China 2012

The year 2011 was one of the best years of my life.  When I’m older and look back on this important year, my heart will feel full to the top. 

It was a year marked by loyal and sincere friendships, consistent people surrounding me when I needed them most.  It was a year of growing closer to my family and getting so much more quality time in with just the five of us.  It was a year of falling head over heals for a guy who still gives me butterflies every time I think of him.  It was a year-long balancing act of keeping both feet on the ground as I juggled the interchangeable feelings of being scared of the unknown future and remaining hopeful for what lay ahead of me. 

And above all, it’s been nothing like what I thought it would be - nothing like what I had planned for.

When I graduated college, I had this silly idea of completion.  I thought that I had everything set, that I would live happily ever after in West Michigan working for the company I started at right after Hope.  I never planned for twists and turns - and I am not saying I enjoyed the ups and downs - but I am definitely thankful for them.  

For all the doors that opened in 2011 and for all the doors that closed, somewhere along the way I found myself going in a new direction entirely.  One thing led to another, and now I am a week away from boarding a plane that will fly me half way around the world to Hong Kong, China.  

Yes, China.  

For six months, I will intern at a global communication consulting firm and get a once in a life time learning experience of living and working in Hong Kong. 

With one week left, I keep flip flopping on which emotion that I’m feelings is the most intense: fear or excitement.  

And I still can’t choose.  

    

But the other day I was humbly reminded about the origins of this blog and how it all started:  do one thing a day that scares you.  I may be able to find two or three things a day while I’m living abroad, but I know from past experience that being scared can only be a good thing.

So here’s to a new year, to the adventure that lays ahead of me and to documenting the whole experience through this blog.