Hello.

 

Hi, I'm Annie.

Mother of 3,
spouse to G,
writer of things,
former batgirl,
sister,
daughter,
lucky friend,
and American
living in Australia.

Basic Joy = my attempt to document all of this life stuff, stubbornly looking for the joy in dailiness. 

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Mama, Ph.D.: Women Write About Motherhood and Academic LifeMountains Beyond Mountains: The Quest of Dr. Paul Farmer, a Man Who Would Cure the WorldThe Sweetness at the Bottom of the PieThe Island: A NovelThe PassageSecret Spaces of Childhood

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Wednesday
Apr152009

My Little China Girl

Tomorrow this girl leaves for China.  For 12 days.


Last May when she asked if she could write an essay to be selected for the school China trip* we thought "eh...why not?"

One year later she is packing her bags(!)

She has taken Chinese classes.
Co-produced the show that her group will put on for the students there (This Land is My Land, anyone?)
Practiced eating new things (thank you, China trip!)
Downloaded music for the lonnnnng flights.

Am I excited for her?  Absolutely.
Am I aware that my own travel love and wanderlust may have contributed to this? Why, yes.
Is it easy to wave goodbye? No, not at all.  I have anxiety and a wild imagination.

I have just one request....

Chesley B Sullenberger, could you please make sure you're assigned to the New York-Beijing flight tomorrow morning? (And back, too, please.)  Okay, thanks.

Oh, and Maddy...take your red shoes.  Just in case you need to click them three times.

*her school takes a small group of 7th graders each spring to China then, in the fall, we host a group of Chinese students here. There are plenty of teacher chaperones.  They start in Beijing for a few days, take the train to Xian, where they attend middle school for a few days.  Then they end their trip in Shanghai and fly home.

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Reader Comments (11)

Oh my! I am excited and scared. China? You have some serious $$$ in your town girlfriend! Wow! How exciting for her-this will be something she will never forget! I can't wait to hear all about it!

04.15.2009 | Unregistered Commentercalibosmom

I know! My seventh grade trip was to the state capitol. Or the zoo. Sending her to China *in theory* has been much easier than sending her in actuality :)

04.15.2009 | Unregistered CommenterAnnie

Wow! What a lucky girl. What an amazing adventure.
(And you're a brave mommy.)
Best to both of you.
:)

04.15.2009 | Unregistered Commenterseven smiles

That's a great picture of M. Did you take it? So excited for her adventures!

04.15.2009 | Unregistered CommenterMatt

maybe you should chaperone, just to keep your own wanderlust alive and well.

i feel proud of her, and she's only my blog child. excellent.

That is really exciting! I went to China 10 years ago and it was amazing!! Tell her to take a lot of photos!!

04.16.2009 | Unregistered Commenterellen

Wow. Good for her.

04.16.2009 | Unregistered Commentermartha corinna

That is so awesome. I just read your tweet too and was wondering what this trip was all about. What a great memory for her and a life changing experience no doubt.

04.16.2009 | Unregistered CommenterBridget

I have sympathy butterflies in my stomach just thinking about it! She is darling...and I can now say that from personal experience. I'm sure she'll be just fine. Sure beats my seventh grade field-trip to Lagoon!

04.16.2009 | Unregistered Commentergab

Oh wow, oh wow, oh wow! How fabulous, and a little scary...but much more fabulous! Such an amazing experience...it will change the way she looks at life, at other children, at the world! and it will definitely inspire wanderlust! wonderful!

04.16.2009 | Unregistered CommenterMarla

What a gorgeous picture of her. All grown up and off to China? Wowza.

Seriously. Gotta love the education dollars in MA. Wish we had them here.

04.17.2009 | Unregistered CommenterChristie

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