Upward and onward

One year ago my mom and Andrea were visiting me in China--helping me teach, going on crazy adventures, hanging out with dear friends and students, and eating good food. Now we're all about to be reunited again, this time for baby Andrea's college graduation! It's hard to believe that she is 22 and has just finished college.

I officially finished up all my exams and papers this past Thursday. I was working constantly the past couple of weeks on all that work, pretty much from the early morning to late night. Thanks so much for your thoughts! Everything is completed, and my grades were a lot better than I expected; so I certainly get to keep my scholarship next year, which is a huge blessing. So the first year of grad school is done...

I managed to push back my start date for my internship by one week, which means I'll get to attend Andrea's graduation. That has given me a bit more breathing room, so I officially get two weeks of a break for the entire summer, instead of just one. :)

I flew to the hubbub of Orlando yesterday to stay with Andrea in Daytona Beach, which is the total opposite of Mayberry. First I had to take an hour and a half long shuttle van ride from Orlando to Daytona Beach with several other passengers from all over the world--one was a British woman who practices hypnosis for a living. Another was a Mexican woman and her very elderly mother, who was singing in Spanish while the driver played Rolling Stones on the radio. Everyone was very friendly, but interesting.

I was sitting in the third row back, but the driver was looking at me nearly the whole time. I tried to pretend I was sleeping. He and the other passengers were asking me questions about everything, and the driver decided I could be dropped off first in Daytona Beach, because I was cute. Then he turned down the radio and declared that I "resembled Meg Ryan." I didn't understand him the first time, so he had to repeat it. I looked at him like he was crazy, because the only thing Meg Ryan and I have in common is that we both happen to be female. By the time I was dropped off at Andrea's school, I practically leaped out, because I was so ready to get out of there.

So this part of Florida is filled with so many interesting people of all different shapes, sizes, colors, and socio-economic statuses. It is hot, hazy, colorful, and loud. People wear and say crazy things, which doesn't happen so much when I stay in quaint little Midwestern towns.

The rest our family will be coming in a couple days... Hooray!