OMG one more day!!!!

HOLY CRAP!! Tomorrow will be my last full day in Utah until I head to Asia!!! I’ve never experienced being out of the country before, or dealing with layovers, or traveling on my own, or being half-way around the world from everyone I know before so this will definitely be quite the adventure!! I’m so extremely excited, but I’ve been getting pretty nervous the closer it gets. This is definitely going to be so completely different from anything I’ve ever experienced, but while I know I’m going to have some hard times over there, I know it will help me learn and grow and be able to rely on myself more. I’m ready!!!!

Me and my family will be going to SLC tomorrow to stay the night at a hotel because my flight leaves really early Wednesday morning. I’ll have a 1-hour flight from SLC to L.A., have a 3-hour layover, and then a 12+ hour flight from L.A. to Tokyo, have a 4-hour layover there, then a 3-hour flight from Tokyo to Okinawa. I’ll be up for at least 24 hours traveling to Okinawa, where I’ll be staying for two weeks with one of my best friends, Nicole! Some gathered facts I’ve learned about Okinawa: Okinawa is one of the most popular and gorgeous Japanese islands just south of mainland Japan. It holds some U.S. military bases, which is why Nicole’s husband Jaron is stationed there right now. Also, apparently there are oversized spiders and beetles and poisonous jellyfish over there and Nicole has some pet piranhas in the guest room where I’ll be staying…this is something I’m NOT looking forward to haha!
Me and Nicole have both been planning stuff to do while I’m over there! This list includes: Snorkeling, Whale-watching, attending the Cherry Blossom festival, visiting some temples and castle ruins, haunted tours (apparently Okinawa is like SUPER haunted haha), lots of sushi, go to the huge aquarium, Okinawa World, dragon boat races, and more! YAY!

February 4 ill be leaving Okinawa and will fly to Xi’an, China where I’ll be staying for the next two months. I’ll be living at a volunteer house with other volunteers and I’ll be working at an orphanage over there. Some facts about Xi’an: It’s one of the most ancient cities in the world, not as modernized as Beijing or Shanghai, and its home of the Terracotta Warriors. The organization I’m going through gets really good discounts on in-country travel so I’m planning on spending one of my weekends in Beijing and going to see Tiananamen Square, the Forbidden City, the Olympic sites, Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace, Ming Tombs, Panda House, Hutongs, and the Beijing Opera. Oh, and of course the Great Wall of China!

I’ve got a huge list of things I wanna do while I’m there. I’ll try to keep my blog updated and share my pictures and experiences with everyone. Wish me luck!!