"I had as many doubts as anyone else. Standing on the starting line, we're all cowards"

Nerves are starting to set in.... ok I've had them forever China is just coming next week. I got all my shots last week and the nurse told me everything I have to be afraid of, so I'm pretty set. I figured it was time for me to update this a little more with what exactly we're doing (this changes day to day and no one is real sure).

We leave from Chicago on July 1st at 12:43 pm......I swear my dad made that time up- what plane really departs at 12:43???? We get into Beijing at 3pm July 2nd. (3am July 2nd here I guess if you're on the east coast, lovely Ohio time) Crazy really- 13 hours on a plane sounds like my kind of day!

We will be getting back August 28. We leave China at 4:10 pm and get to Chi-town at 4:04- thats even a better deal than gaining an hour every time I come back to school. From there we fly to St. Louis and are bused back to lovely Columbia.

When we're in Beijing we will be staying at Renmin University. I will be rooming with the lovely Allison Bennett, which I'm sure will be an adventure for both of us. It'll be ok my mom bought me a book with a great map in it and the lovely Miss Bennett put together a great first aid kit.

As far as what we're doing when we are there.....your guess is as good as mine. What I do know is that I'm working for the Olympic News Service and that I'm at the National Stadium where all the track and field events are held. This I'm pretty excited about, they told us we will be assigned a sport and will interview the athletes after every event. Once we have the interview we'll enter it into a computer so members of the press can use our quotes in their stories. I don't know for sure if I'll be doing that because I got assigned that national stadium and not a specific sport, but I'll find out very shortly.

The most exciting part is the fact that we get uniforms to wear. They're pretty hot! I'll make sure to bring them back and wear them to all the bars in Columbia next fall! I'll try to post a picture and everyone can start calling dibs on what they want: hat, fanny pack, zip off pants.....it'll be fun to wear everyday!

I am slowly packing up everything and my parents get here Friday to help me organize and move. It's just so surreal that it's finally here. I fell like I've been talking and thinking about going since September and now that it's here- yes, I'm nervous but at the same time I don't think it has hit me yet. It probably won't until I've been there a week.

As far as getting ahold of me you can leave comments on here or email me at:
wcw5y2@mizzou.edu or
whitneycwright@gmail.com
They are giving us Chinese cell phones when we get over there and I will be figuring out as fast as possible how much they cost and if I can send texts. I'll be sure to update you all as soon as I know something else

I will take lots of pictures and post them as soon as I get a chance. Hopefully I'll be able to update this blog once a day or every few days. Emails are ALWAYS welcome. Thats all for now! The countdown is at less than a week now!

And it begins

I figured with the countdown at 3 weeks I should probably set up this blog. I've been thinking about this trip for so long and it's now quickly approaching! I know this because of the lovely phone calls and lists from my mom of things that need to get done.

I had to blog for a class once, and absolutely hated it- so hang in there I'll try my hardest to update as much as possible once I get over to China. I figured this would be the easiest way to keep in touch with everyone- emails are still very much welcome. I will try to update this blog a few times before I leave July 1st with as much information as I have at the moment- which isn't a whole lot! Thats it for now I will update soon!