This summer, I'm going to China for a few weeks. I've been given an incredible opportunity to travel to the other side of the world with a personal tour guide and experience another culture like I never have before.

Having never stepped foot out of the states, no

t even to Canada, this is quite a big first step out of my comfort zone. I'm terrified of flying, I don't speak Chinese, and I'll be submerged in a culture completely different from my own.

But I couldn't be more excited about it.

We're still planning the schedule for the trip, but so far we have our main destinations decided. Of course we'll be going to Dalian, Xuechen's hometown. I want to meet his family and see where he grew up.

He's told me so much about it already, and I can't wait to actually see it in person. It sounds beautiful. We're also planning on seeing the big tourist spots, especially in Beijing. The Great Wall, The Forbidden City, The Bird's Nest from the 2008 Olympic Games.

We've decided to go to Shanghai as well. A lot of his friends are from there, so I'm sure we'll get to see them when we visit. I'm excited to see the city because I've heard there's just something special about it that you have to experience.

I can't wait for this trip. As of now, it's about 2 months away. That seems so far away yet so close!

Update: Unfortunately, because I just had wishful thinking and I actually am not rich, I had to scrap Shanghai from the list of destinations. I just didn't have the money or time to afford that in my plans. But we're still set on Dalian and Beijing, so I still feel incredibly lucky and blessed to have parents willing to put up with me for asking for so much from them.

I'm so grateful to them. Love you, mom and dad. xoxo