Hey everyone!

So this is my third attempt at actually getting a first blog post written! I wrote a post this morning, was absolutely excellent and what do I go and do? Accidentally delete it. Anyways, I'm finally getting my blog set up....the night before I leave for China :/

Okay so I am currently sitting in my partner, Gina's room watching her "panking" a.k.a panic packing (yes it is a made up word and yes I will ensure my students learn it :p). Today I said my final goodbyes to my family and my beloved pet dogs, not an easy thing to do at 5am! After leaving my Dad at the Easyjet terminal in Glasgow Airport, I sat on a plane for an hour and tried to keep my crying very subtle which was relatively easy to do due to the screaming children sitting behind me! But no matter, I made it to London Luton in one piece!

Having read a few of the other volunteer's blogs, I thought I would mention a bit about my training course in this first post. So the China training course took place from the 25-29th June and was the first of the 2014/15 vols training courses. Training gave us an opportunity not only to bond with the rest of the China vols but also a chance to bond with the Chile and Cambodia volunteers as well as they were on the same training course. It was an intense few days that consisted of lots of laughs, a cheeky wee swim in the North Sea and endless cups of tea...as well as the important stuff :P I am already excited for debriefing next year so that we can catch up with the rest of the vols and hear all about their adventures as well as telling them about all of the amazing things we are about to do!

As I have been writing this blog post, Gina has progressed from "panking" to weighing carrier bags? I think there is a reason for it I am just not sure what the reason is...

I am going to try and keep this blog updated regularly so I will try to write another post when we actually get to Beijing and begin our orientation!!

Woo! First blog post...DONE!