Visa documents arrive!

Well it's about damn time! My work visa documents have finally made their way to my doorstep. I should have been in China 2 weeks ago but I have been able to maintain my patience. I have been taking this overflow of time to mentally prepare myself for this life change. Today it really hit home for me, I have been working this lawn mowing gig (extra cash never hurt) and today while I was wackin some weeds I received a text message saying that my documents had arrived. I froze for a second, this is really happening. I'm really going to leave the country and dive into a culture that I am pretty damn ignorant of. Sure, I've looked at maps and perused some coffee table books about the country but that's pretty much it! I'm goin in blind baby! I think that is the part that excites/scares me the most, I wont be able to understand them and they wont be able to understand me, but somehow we need to communicate. At least I'll have my best friend by my side, as always. His name is Cooper and he is my 3 year old Australian Shepherd. He and I have already been through some amazing times together, some of them great, some of them terrible, but he has been by my side through it all and there is no way in hell that I'm taking this step without him. Yes I've heard the "aren't you afraid they are going to eat him?" jokes, and they are starting to get annoying. No one is going to eat my dog people!! So drop it!
I have also been wondering if people really are happy for me that I'm doing this. They say that they are but the comments are so obviously contrived that Helen Keller could tell that they weren't sincere. Oh well, it doesn't matter. All is well.......All is well.

Still in West Virginia

Well here begins the blog that I've promised. I am still in West Virginia at the moment, waiting on my Z-visa (work visa) paperwork to arrive from the Chinese government. Its been nice hanging out in Vienna, kinda boring at times, but nice. I enjoy spending time with my mom and close friends that have been separated from me for years.
Right now when I think about moving to China I get overwhelmed with fear with a side order of doubt. I know that when I first arrive I will question my decision and beat myself up a little but after some time and I establish myself there it will mellow out. I have heard nothing but good things from people who have traveled this road before me, so I need to remember to keep a PMA (positive mental attitude) and good things will happen. If you go into a situation thinking that you aren't going to survive, you won't. I'm actually very happy that I am terrified, if I wasn't then clearly im too arrogant and need to find some humility before I could be any benefit to anyone, including myself. Well, here I sit, waiting, enjoying the calm company of my loved ones, mentally preparing myself for what lies ahead.