summer 2009

So basically I deleted all the previous posts and am now starting afresh and anew. I decided to update about the trip I'm taking this summer.

I'm going to rural Taiwan with a missionary organization called VGM (Village Gospel Mission). VGM sends missionaries all over the world to different countries, I happen to be going to Taiwan, an awesome and wonderful country that I love very much. However, the problem is that I'm not going with anyone from California (where I live) but am actually going with a group over in Virginia. There were some issues with the time and meeting arrangements with them, so my dad came up with a brilliant idea that I could tour Japan while waiting for them. Japan's a pretty cool place, so I said yes, naturally, but there are some conditions that I must meet before I can go:

1) Fundraising: I'll have to be able to pay for the trip without too much help from my dad

2) Practice Japanese everyday: I'm already doing that at school, but this includes watching Japanese TV and reading some manga

3) Exercise frequently: yes, most of you do it everyday, but I don't, so I really have to start picking up the pace.

4) Live a disciplined lifestyle: this includes getting up in the morning extra early before school and finishing my homework extra early as well.

5) document the trip: this wasn't actually a condition, but I'm planning to do that through the blog.

One problem I may have is that during the trip I won't necessarily have internet connection, I'll be going for one week to Japan with a travel agency called "super travel and tours" (bestustours.com), and I'll have very little chance to use the internet. During my awesome mission trip I'll probably have once or twice a week, but I'm still planning to keep track of it all through a handwritten journal and a digital camera. So anyway, there's the background of why I restarted this blog.

What I hope to achieve:
1) people can look at my trip pictures and writings and feel part of the experience
2) encourage myself to progress with my goals
3) have maximum fun

ooh I can't wait until summer.