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Name: Megan
Interests: Chinese students; Kenneth Christian Myers; Cooking/Baking in American kitchens; Watching old movies; Music; Theatre and Drama; Being quiet when the ocassion calls for it; Traveling
Occupation: Education/training
Message: message me
Member Since:
8/26/2005
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| The time has come for me to say "good-bye" to this xanga.
"Good-bye?", you might say, "Why in the world are you saying 'good-bye'? Don't you have more time left in China? Isn't there still work to be done? Aren't you IN China????"
Well, actually. No. I'm not in China anymore. I've come home, back to America. 2 months sooner than planned.
I have mono. The short story is this: I had a fever on the night of April 14 and it stuck around for another 3 weeks. Yes, you heard right. I had a fever for 3 weeks. I had blood work done. Chest x-rays were taken. Swabbing of the throat. More tests. Finally, about 2.5 weeks into this illness, the doctors ran another test for mono and this time it came back positive. We were still deciding whether or not I should just stick it out and heal in China when I was stricken with a secondary infection, finding out later it was a staff infection in my throat. I don't think I've ever been that sick in my entire life. Thankfully, I didn't have to teach during this time as China was celebrating May Holiday, as it would've been impossible for me to do so. My throat has almost swollen shut. It was nearly impossible to swallow, breathe, eat, or even formulate words. It was then that the decision was made by numerous individuals that I needed to come home.
And so, on May 6, I found myself getting on a plane bound for Chicago and wondering what in the world was happening to me. I was leaving and I didn't really get to say good-bye to this country ... no, to this place that I had called "home" for the past 2 years. I was gone. And now, I'm back at my home. Yet, there's a part of me that got left behind in China.
This wasn't my plan. I'd wanted more time. I had more things I'd wanted to do. I wasn't finished yet. But through all this, I know I have a father who loves me and always has my best interest at heart. Always. With that knowledge, I begin to find closure and try to bring perspective and sense to this crazy last 5 weeks of my life. And I move on.
Moving on also means an end to this xanga. I won't be posting here anymore. This is China to me. The end has arrived. I'm moving on to another place in my life. That means, for the meantime, I'll be picking up where I left off on my blogspot address. If you have that, start checking there for my random thoughts on my random life. If you don't have it, email me and I'll make sure you get it.
The end is bittersweet and yet it's a necessity.
China -- I'll never forget you. You have made your mark on my life and I just ask that I have made my mark on yours.
My wonderful team (minus Janna and Nate) ... I love you guys. Thanks for being ... my family ... for the past year and for many of you, the past 2 years.
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| Well, it seems that my access to xanga has been cut off. Or something like that. But, in case you've been wondering where I've been, it's not that I have forgotten about this or you all -- it's just that I can't post. My deepest apologies. I'm going to try a different route and we'll see if this works well or not.
I've been back for about 6 weeks and honestly, I can't believe the time is going by so quickly. We are already preparing for mid-terms!! People are talking about what they want to do over May Holiday, which is our week long break about halfway through our semester. The time has been flying. I remember all through college years that second semester does go by a lot faster. Maybe it's the weather and the anticipation of Spring that speeds it along. Whatever the case, that fact is proving true here in Beijing.
Classes are going well. Somehow, I have one less class this semester which means I have 2 days off a week. It's fabulous!! I have more time to prepare for classes as well as meet with students. It also gives me time to spend hours searching online for wedding things, address invitations, find favors and decorations, etc.! The wedding is also quickly approaching. :) This semester, I get to teach in a brand new building that was completed last year. Even though it's a little bit of a trek from our building, it's still nice to be in an "updated" building -- nice desks for the kids, clean, and [crossing fingers] AC that works! We'll see about that as the Spring turns into Summer in the next month. My debate class is even going well. Perhaps you remember from last year how stressful this class was in my life, but I've changed the content around and it seems to be going much better. Either that or I understand it a little more. However, I just realized that I've given most of the "content" of the class in these past 5 weeks and now it's time to test them over the material. They are going to HATE me and I'll have nothing to test them over come the Final exam. I need to think about this and how to make it work ... I'm teaching my drama class again and this time it's to former students. I love having them again and feel like I relate to them a little differently than my other students. Maybe it's the familiarity I have with them or the fact that they are my "first" students and I'll always view them more special than others I'll have in the future. At any rate, I love teaching a subject that I am knowledgeable in. It's comforting. And reassuring. And a boost to my ego. I gave an example of a monologue in class on Thursday ... and was heartily applauded afterwards. Maybe I still have it in me ... :)
Kc and I are doing great. We are counting down the days until the wedding (only 118!!) and looking forward to this next stage in our lives. Kc has a final interview with an elementary school, located in Dallas, this coming week so we are asking that Father will guide us and make it very clear where He wants us to be this coming year. We have a lot of decisions to make in the coming days and I can tend to stress out so I'm learning to be patient and just trust. A difficult lesson to learn but one I know I need to learn. I'm glad that the weather is starting to perk up and perhaps he and I can get out and start enjoying our short Spring that we'll have. Yesterday, we decided to just start walking, in no general direction, and wandered all over our district -- probably about 2.5 miles or so. It was great. We've also started exercising together -- well, "together" is a relative word. I've tried to hit up my gym more than I have been and Kc's gone with me on several occasions. It's encouraging to me to look over, as I drip sweat on the treadmill, and see him straining under the free weights. We'd like to make this a habit in the Myers family. :)
Today is Easter. We are celebrating as a team with a lasagna lunch (at least that's what the rumor is). On Friday night, Andy led my small team in a Seder dinner. It was great. I had been a part of one when I was younger, but didn't really get a lot out of it. This time, probably 12 years later, it was a lot more special and meaningful. I wish there were Easter lilies in China ... but not so much. I'm looking forward to next year and celebrating this holiday in the States. At the end of the Seder dinner, each person speaks a blessing to all that says, "Next year in Jerusalem". I feel like saying, "Next year ... at home." Although we ended our Seder saying, "Next year in NEW Jerusalem". And I'd have to say, that would be much better.
Love to you all! Sorry for the lapse of posting! | | |
| Oh. My. Word.
Between the incessant explosions of fireworks currently going off and the 21 mph winds that are howling ... I think life as I've known it in Beijing will cease to exist.
I'm pretty sure that either (1) the building will catch on fire due to a stray explosive or (2) it will blow over because of the winds.
I'm not even joking. It's out of control.
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| Can this be?!?!??! Say it isn't so.
I've killed about 5 mosquitoes in my apartment today. Maybe one or two less but still ...
it's just the first of March, for crying out loud!!!!
I love my netting that my mom sent last fall, but I REALLY don't want to crawl underneath it for the next 4 months. I thought surely I'd make it until at least April.
[sigh]
Let's hope that this is a fluke or something like that.
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| I'm back in good ol' Beijing for my final semester of teaching. It seems a little strange to be saying that after having been here for the last 1.5 years. But, I'm here now and it's good to be back.
Other than the nasty, nasty weather we've had since arriving. I haven't seen the sun in 3 days. I think it's out there somewhere, you just couldn't tell because of all the fog and overcast clouds that have been present. Someone said it's because of the non-stop fireworks (and other explosives) that seem to be going off every other minute since the Chinese New Year, which was a week ago. It's wild to be here and I wasn't even here for the actual New Year. Everyone is so happy and pleasant and completely in party-mode. That will be changing soon as life returns to normal and people start heading back to their respective jobs and schools.
Home was fabulous. I greatly enjoyed hanging out with my family and spending time with them, whether it was playing "Take-2" or going to see movies, or taking lots of pictures and videos of my precious niece whenever she came over to visit or staying up really late talking to my sister, or clutching the afghan to my face while watching "24" with my brother or watching the Indianapolis Colts win the Super Bowl, or watching Indianapolis get dumped with 14 inches of snow in one day. Whatever it was, it was fun.
Even the stressful moments of wedding planning were fun. Sorta. We got a lot accomplished over that short period of time. Hopefully it won't be too difficult to do the rest over the internet or phone. We'll see.
Kc was able to spend about 10 days with my family and I got to spend about 6 with his. Both were fabulous times as we hung out and got to know one another better by means of each other's families. It's amazing how much you can learn about the other simply by interacting with their family. It was good and I'm thankful for the opportunity we had to do that.
And now, it's time to kick jetlag in the pants and start preparing for classes. My goal is to completely re-organize my debate class around and start making my drama class even more fun than it was last year! I have one less class to teach this semester, so I should have plenty of time to work on classes as well as get some more sight-seeing in before I have to leave this place.
Oh. And my brother Colin arrives in just 10 days. Woo hoo!
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