"It"

We've been thinking about it, dreaming about it, talking about it, and tossing it around for a long time. Years actually. Should we? Should we not? Yes? No? Maybe? But what if it's too hard? What if we're no good at it? It will change our life. Ah, okay, let's do it! And what exactly is "it"? Well, "it" is teaching abroad in some exotic location, of course!

Where? Anywhere! The world is big and there are kids everywhere! There is SO much to see, and like any traveler will tell you, the more you see, the more you want to see. So truly, although there are places we really want to go, we'll go anywhere! We've had a long hand written, pencil scratch list on our office wall since July 28, 2008 of places we want to go.

There is the obvious; Italy, Spain, France, Costa Rica, Bali, an African safari, .... And as we've gone to some of these places we've diligently and pridefully crossed them off; almost ceremonially, like we just won the school spelling bee. But what always happens next, makes our advance to the world championship nearly impossible. The pencil goes back up to the ratty little list and adds more places. It's not because we add them for fun or for the challenge. We add them because inevitably someone we've met along the way has convinced us, beyond measure, that where they just came from is the most amazing place on earth. The people, the food, the scuba diving, the natural beauty, or a chance combination of more than one of these qualities is the best on the entire planet. So we must go. We must not miss the amazing, the incredible, the awe inspiring, or the breathtaking. So the list grows, and just as we check one place off, we add three more.

You see, traveling... it's an addiction. I'm not the first, nor the last to make this claim. One of my most favorite exclamations of this came from my sister Tiffany on her blog , and it's true. It's something that you sometimes think might go away, and maybe it subsides for a day or two right after you get home from an exhausting 36 hour flight that included an 8 hour night rest on a cold airport floor, but it always comes right back. It's the thrill of researching locations, committing to going, spending countless hours scrounging for the best deal and dirt cheapest flight (even though after that 36 hour flight you swore that you would spend the extra $100 to get a decent flight next time- you never do). It's the excitement of the ability to change a dream destination into a reality with the single click of your mouse. Adam and I usually put our fingers on the mouse together and count down like it's a NASA rocket launch. Then we high five, do a little jiggy near the computer, and I scream like a 8 year old girl and say "I can't believe we're going to _____!!!" Then comes the anticipation and count down to the trip itself. The packing, the checklists of what to bring. The purchase of travel books. The late nights spent researching what we've learned from our friends at Lonely Planet, while comparing it to the travel comrades we only know through their blogs and travels as well. Have you ever been on travelblog.org ? Don't blame me if you stay up a little later than normal tonight.

So, yes, we're addicted to traveling. And more than anything, we are drawn into it because it's different. The people, food, landscape, language, culture, way of living. Everything. That's why it's attractive and why we want to stay somewhere so different for so long. We want to be surrounded by culture that's not our own. To live and be in a country not just as a traveler wearing rose colored glasses, but as residents who are living and working there. Will we be homesick at some point? Yes. Will I break down crying and ask Adam what the heck we were thinking when I have to hang dry my clothes in 100% humidity? Definitely. Will I be devastated when no one understands my Cantonese when we arrive because my voice gets high and pitchy and I have all the tones wrong? I'm sure. Will Adam be calm, cool, and collected. Totally. Thank God!

So as we've been dreaming about "it" and talking about "it" we have been going to school to pursue our dream of becoming teachers. When we entered college five years ago, we were told that teachers were in demand! There were too many jobs and not enough teachers! Oh my! Yes, go to school and become a teacher because there will definitely be plenty of jobs waiting for you! Does this sound familiar now? I didn't think so either. Not in California and not in most of the other states around the country. But guess, what??? There are jobs! Abroad! Lots of jobs! We were told in an interview that there are too many international teaching jobs to fill! So our, "Should we? Should we not? Yes? No? Maybe?" were answered. And we said whatever the plan is for our lives will happen and "it" did!

So, we move to Macau, China on August 1, 2012 to start a new exciting chapter in our lives that will include a 3 year teaching contract in South East Asia, Adam teaching high school history and me teaching Kindergarten. Will we be traveling all the time? No. Will it be a vacation? Nope. Will we be working hard? Harder than ever at our new careers. Will we check places off our list? You bet! Will it be rewarding and challenging at the same time. Absolutely.

And more importantly, do you have a place to stay in China??? Heck yes you do! And all you have do is click your mouse a couple times.