Sisterhood of the Traveling Ao Dai

I know what you're thinking, I based my traveling blog on my favorite movie. But it draws unusual parallels. Ling, Jenn, and I were known as the Pink Army during the VSA fashion show. Besides placing us in the same modeling group, we all decided to travel to China this summer and study abroad in the fall. Jenn is in Beijing, Ling is in Harbin, and I am going to Hangzhou on June 28th.

After speaking to Young from the MKTG IT Department, he told me that the major cultural shock will be the homogenity of cultural groups. Every store, newspaper, and written work will also be in Chinese. My temperature of my province will be on average 93 degrees. My fresh blood from America will attract alot of mosquitoes, so I haven't decided whether to invest in insect repellent or just take it like a man. The insect repellent will prevent the possible contraction of malaria. I have gotten two shots in the past week, Typhoid Fever and Hepatitis A. I think I am well vaccinated, but the medication does not come cheap.

I know when I get there I have to sign a language pledge stating that I will only use mandarin. This blog may morph into a blog filled with chinese characters depending on how strictly I adhere to guidelines. On the condition that I do follow it, I will translate my entries when I get back.

I am excited, enthralled, and I have no regrets. I may be missing out on events in America, but China is a once in a lifetime opportunity to further my mandarin studies, which has been a long-running priority in my life. Besides, you can always ship me Harry Potter Book 7 at this address right?

Debbie Trinh
CET Programs
Mailbox #1026
Zhejiang University of TechnologyNumber 6, Zhaohui District
Hangzhou, China 310032 PRC

Zai jian!