So Begins the Start

And so our story begins...
    The time to start blogging has come again~ The reason? I'm going to China.
As of February of this year, I decided to go study abroad in the ancient capital of Nanjing China.
It's quite the undertaking and its taking every single cent I have (plus a lot), but it'll be worth it!
As most of you know, I served my mission in Taiwan speaking Mandarin Chinese. My future career involves work where I will use my language skills, or at least I hope to.
Great Grandma Hill originally offered funds to help me purchase a vehicle for myself. I later asked if I could use those funds for a study abroad opportunity. If I don't take this opportunity, I won't be able to have another chance at getting to China for a long while. I need experience in the country, and this is it!!
This blog will be a record of my preparations for China and throughout my time while I'm there. So, as this being the opening post, I'll post my itinerary first:

August 6: Leave for California to the Guads.

August 11: I leave LAX at 4:30 for Taiwan.

August 30: Arrive in Nanjing China.

September 3: Start classes

December 13: Last day of classes/farewell banquet/overnight train to Hong Kong

December 16: Arrive in Kuala Lumpur then on to Singapore

December 22: Arrive in LA

December 24: Home to SLC

Dates are subject to change, but that's the plan!!!
I can't wait, and I'm scraping the bottom of the boat for every penny I can find, but it's the kind of opportunity that's once-in-a-lifetime.
Stay posted~

ps~ If you don't know already, I am dating Phina Tsai, a beautiful Taiwanese Princess straight from the south end of the island. She speaks Mandarin Chinese, Taiwanese, and English. We've been dating for three months. When I return to Taiwan to visit my mission and to see my Taiwanese family, I will spend most of the time with Phina in her home country. We will then spend four months apart while I'm in China and she, at BYU studying English at the ELC. We will reunite in December and go from there. :D