GETTING READY
When I first started to talk to people about the idea of moving to China I would frequently get a response of "why?" I would simply reply "why not." I have been blessed to have seen and experience many things in my life that many have not had the opportunity. There is still so much to experience and so little time. This truly is a wonderful world we live in and there is a famous quote that goes: 'Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did. So throw off the bowlines, Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover. ' When I thought about eating a sandwich on the Great Wall, I knew I could not pass up this opportunity. There are many things I have not done and never will be able to, but just sitting in front of a television or reading a book about something is only living and not life. This is something that I can share with my family in life and help culture and cultivate my children in believing in more than just what is right outside our door. It will not all be easy but at times it will seem like a dream. We love our family and friends and wish you all the best and will try to stay in touch as much as possible.
Since we have found out that we are starting our journey by going to a part of China that is very cold, we have been purchasing winter gear for the whole family. With the recent Artic blast the U.S. is going through, it hasn't been easy to find some things in stock, but we will be fully prepared by the time we leave. Destiny has a new hat and mittens. Suzanne and Debora have new thermal underwear. Spot has some booties on the way. We all have new jackets, gloves and boots. We have a virtual private network account so we can stay in touch through the Chinese internet firewall. We have a Skype account, username: Kitchens-Family. We have international health insurance.
In order to get the dog to China we will rent a SUV on Sunday, Feruary 14th and drive to Houston on Monday staying in a hotel at the airport to catch our flight Tuesday morning going through Newark, NJ with a two hour layover and then going to Beijing for a 19 hour layover and another hotel stay before finally flying to Jiamusi on the 18th, a 40 hour trip. The job has provided us with an apartment big enough for all of us.
