I'm an ILP Head Teacher!

Ni hao, everyone! I hope all is well with you and that the new year is treating you right. For the most part, I've adjusted to living in America, but every day I miss China and especially my dear students. I wish I could see them again!

Well, recently I heard some fantastic news: I have been accepted as a Head Teacher for International Language Programs for the Fall 2012 Semester! My director/boss, Casey Glade, has put me into the Russia/Ukraine pool; I won't know where I have been assigned exactly until sometime in May. However, I do know that I will be going abroad again next autumn and I'm super stoked about that! If I get assigned to Ukraine, I will be in charge of two schools in Kiev. If I get assigned to Russia, I will be over a school in either Moscow, St. Petersburg, or Voronezh.

As a Head Teacher, I will be in charge of the volunteer teachers (what I was last semester, a first timer), which includes training, advising, etc.; act as an ambassador between the ILP program and the host school; write evaluations of the teachers, the students, the school, etc. and do lots of paperwork and other fun stuff.

I can't wait! I absolutely love traveling and I'm excited for a brand new experience. Of course, I will inform y'all when I hear more news and details.

China Fundraiser Update

I recently received an email from the lady who runs the accounts at International Language Programs; she informed me of all the donations that have been made in my name for my trip to China. ILP donations alone (excluding garage sales and personal donations) I've raised $955! My parents and I have split the cost of what we need to raise ($1210 each) and my side has been covered and my parents' side is getting close to being paid off!

Thank you so much to all who have donated to my cause, and anyone who has helped in any way at all. (Thank you to everyone who will help us!) I very much appreciate you and your efforts; you are a huge blessing to my family and me.

If you would like information on how to support my cause, you can call me at 801-897-0826 or email me at breatheonlylove@live.com or comment on this post!

And/or you can send a monetary donation to

International Language Programs
299 East 950 South
Orem, UT 84058

Please make checks payable to ILP and make sure to add: Jillian Newell, China, Fall 2011 somewhere on the envelope or inside the letter. There are official contribution forms that I can give you if you are interested. (I can also send you my official fundraiser letter.)

You can also check out ILP at www.ilp.org or call them at 801-374-8854 or email them at office@ilp.org.

Thank you so much!

My Assignment in China

As an update from my last entry, I have been assigned to a school in China. I will be teaching at the Zhongshan Bond Language Institute, located in Zhongshan City, Guangdong, PRC. It was my second preference, but I am very happy and extremely excited. Zhongshan is in the southern region of China, and is close to Hong Kong. It has tropical weather year-round, as it's near the equator.


Last weekend, my family threw a garage sale that benefited the cause: all of the proceeds will go to my tuition toward China. We made about $300! I will continue to have fundraisers until I leave. I'm also working two jobs: one at Forever 21 in the mall and one at Pizza Hut. I enjoy both.

Dad bought me a Chinese for Dummies book and there is a new young woman in my ward who is willing to teach me the basics of Mandarin--or there's always Google Translator. Either way, I have my work cut out for me this summer!