How it all Began

China eh? Most of the people i have told " I am going to teach English in China" usually respond with a blank stare, look of doubt, then ask "seriously??" I'm not quite sure if i should be offended but that but i more often than not get quite a kick out of it! 

how did this all start? well, i was born. I have always had this weird curiosity inside of me that tends to get me wondering how i can get involved in something that not many people do. Yeah, i can go volunteer at a local animal shelter and that would be a good story but i mean something DIFFERENT but also, something rewarding to myself and others around me. 

This past summer 2012 I was going to school full time and working at the pool and pretty busy with my whole routine. As i realized i would be graduating December of that year. I was only 19! I don't want to grow up yet, i don't want to start my career just yet! I had had my wheels turning for awhile contemplating many study abroad programs.The problem was, i not only wanted to GO somewhere, but i wanted to DO something and HELP people. and more often than not, those study abroad programs offered credit hours and education but was lacking in service and total cultural immersion. I did however come across the International Learning Program (aka ILP )who offered everything I was looking for! so one day, on my way home from the dentist i decided, I needed to either decide i am going or forget about this and figure out what i should do instead. So, I called them up, set up an interview time and printed out passport papers and started on my way! 

for my 19th birthday, i got a brand new luggage set. a really cute one i might add. so when I did eventually let my parents know that their 19 year old daughter was going to be going to china in a few months, you can say they might have been surprised but new that they eventually would have this coming to them. 

Exactly 1 year and 1 week after receiving my luggage, 363 days after sending off my handsome missionary, 6 months after signing on with ILP, 3 months after purchasing my first SLR, 2 months after earning my associates and cosmetology license, I Dellany Olsen am headed off to teach English in China! 

I am not an Experienced Blogger and in fact, i really have no idea what i am doing but i figured why not give it a try and invite you along to share my journey through my new and humble blog! I hope you enjoy!