Shell in China

Thursday, June 29, 2006

Leaving on a jet plane

This is just a quick note to check in with everyone and say we made it to SF without any major problems. For all of you wondering, yes, I did make it under my 80 pound limit (by a good 2 pounds no less!). I did have to move my make-up bag (3 pounds worth!) from my suitcase to backpack, but otherwise it was great. I did buy a pair of flipflops here in SF, but that should still make me okay.

We are headed out to China tomorrow and I don't really know what my Internet status will be like there, but I will check in as soon as I can.

Thad posted our address for the next few months on his blog, so be sure to check that out and send a letter or two.

I'm excited and nervous and ready to go. I love you all at home and already miss you.

Michelle, 7:23 PM | link | 2 comments |

Tuesday, June 20, 2006

What time is dinner?

Sit on the floor much lately? It has become my new favorite chair since we have moved a lot of stuff out of our apartment. I write this sitting on the floor of my dining room with a laptop cradled on my knees since our desktop computer is packed and stored, as is our table, chairs, most of our kitchen, etc. We have some food, but apparently have decided against going to the grocery store in the next week, so we’ve been bumming off of friends and family. If you show up at a family member’s house at just the right time (i.e. lunch or dinner) you can just belly on up to the table with everyone else and get a free meal! We are getting pretty good at the timing thing!

Overall, packing the house is going all right. We are moving the majority of our stuff into my sister’s basement, which is just across town, so we go back and forth a couple of times a day. We are almost done with everything that can be taken until the very end. I may sit on the floor to type, but I’m not so keen on sleeping on it just yet!

Now, if we want to talk about packing bags, that is a different story. I packed my huge suitcase, just to see how much it would really fit. I got a lot in it; the problem is, I can barely get it off the bed! I think it might be an issue when my luggage weighs more than I do! Hmmm…I’m still working on that issue. Also, I packed several pairs of slacks, a couple skirts, some multi-purpose shirts, a LBD (little black dress), but what about shoes? How does one pack just a couple pairs of shoes to match all of those outfits? Sadly, this has been the dilemma of the week. I have black and brown boots to go with slacks, but I can’t wear those with the skirts. I need to find a pair of black dress shoes that are super comfortable to wear with most of my skirts, but I looked all over Nampa and Boise and couldn’t find anything I liked and it is too late to order on the Internet. I’m working on it…

That is the scoop from here. We’re just a lot of packing and hanging out with friends and family while we get ready to go.

7 days and counting…

Michelle, 4:02 PM | link | 2 comments |

Monday, June 05, 2006

Doctor, Doctor

So, I got a surprise email from Peace Corps last week. Just when we thought we had everything squared away and ready to go to China, PC emailed looking for blood work and other medical tests that were due at the end of May. It seems that they sent the packet of Chinese medical forms to our old house instead of the apartment. I thought I had changed our address with them, but it must not have made it all the way through the bureaucracy of the Peace Corps headquarters! Anyway, so I got a rather urgent email wanting a whole lot of tests and information a week ago! I called the family doctor’s office and scheduled the soonest appointment I could get and then begged for a rush to be put on the blood work, but I am guessing that most people taking HIV tests want them to hurry back with the results, so I am not sure my pleading got me very far.

HIV I and HIV II, syphilis, chest x-rays and an EKG…that was my afternoon! It wasn’t the most fun, but at least I got to keep my shirt on for the X-ray! Apparently the chest plate was rather cold on bare skin! I did have to have Greg, the blood-drawing guru, come and take my vials of blood. Something to do with microscopic veins that no nurse in her right mind is willing to tackle…so after a very tight rubber band on my upper arm, a lot of slapping and poking he came away with just enough blood to fill his vampiric needs and I got a GIANT lime green arm wrap! Luckily for me, I was wearing green today, so I got to play the part of a fashionista with difficult veins!

Now, we are just waiting for the results to come back and then I will overnight them to Washington DC. We are to send the lab reports of the X-rays, but keep the actual films so that we can carry them with us into China. Seems odd and they are gigantic, so I guess my carry-on will be one personal item and a massive envelope with chest X-rays enclosed!

Michelle, 9:13 PM | link | 0 comments |

Blog of a Peace Corps China volunteer serving as a TEFL teacher in Cheng Xian, Gansu, China.

: Name: Michelle Ross; Location: Chengxian, Gansu, CN

In America, I teach 8th grade English and reading and really enjoy spending time with middle school students. Some people think I am crazy for it, but Marsing has a great group of kids and I love being a part of their lives as they grow up! Right now I live in China and teach English and teaching methods to students who want to be teachers. I am here through Peace Corps, which I think is a fabulous experience and something that more people should look into doing! The application process can be a bit of a pain, but it is well worth the time and effort. Check out Peace Corps and give something back to the world that has given you so much!! Teaching runs in the family, as just about everyone is involved in education in one way or another. My dad is retired, but he was a teacher, counselor and principal for 30+ years, my mom is an elementary counselor, my sister and husband are both teachers and my brother will finish his teaching degree this next spring! "Those who can, do; those who can do magic, teach!"

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