I'm Going to China!

I promise I will get to posting pictures of the wedding and my vacation to the West, but since I'm short on time I thought I would take it to update the family on my latest news: I've been accepted as a teacher for International Language Programs, and I will be spending this autumn in China as a teacher of the English language to children.

There is still paperwork for me to fill out and I need to send in my passport so that I can get my Chinese Visa (sweet!) but I have been officially accepted and I will fly out mid-August and return mid-December. There are 6 cities in China, with nine schools in total, and when I do my paperwork I will submit my preferences. So, at the moment, I do not know exactly where I will be going but I'll let you know when I am assigned to a school.

A quick review of what I will be doing as an ILP teacher: I will be assigned to a school with other college-age, LDS-standards, English-speaking teachers. Five days a week we will teach children between the ages of 4-14 English through immersion classes; this way, I will not need to speak Mandarin in order to teach. (Whew!)
Every evening and weekend the teachers are free to wander and travel and shop as they like. We get a week long vacation, usually to Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, the Terracotta Warriors, etc. The fee I pay covers flights there and back; Kung Fu classes, Mandarin classes, and cuisine classes; room and food for the entire semester. I will be living with at least one female teacher in a dorm outside the school. I will have access to the internet and Skype, so I'll do my best to keep in contact and post news and photos on the blog.

I'll keep you updated as things progress.

Until then, 再见! (Goodbye!)

New Post on Writing Site

New blog post on my website for all things related to my writing!

www.jilliansuzannnewell.webs.com

Please feel free to check it out, along with all the other cool information on the site.

Thanks!

Superheros aren't the only people to wear capes!

Yesterday, I came down with a nasty case of the flu. It's time like these that I realize how awesome my mom is and how much I take her for granted. My mom and I haven't always been great friends, though recently we've become closer (and more tolerant of each other). However, I am naturally an independent spirit, and it isn't until I truly can't provide for myself that I fully recognize how much I need other people--especially my mom.

My mom is like a shaman, a healer. She has studied natural healing methods and proved them, time and time again. Most families go to doctors and resort to pills, etc., when sickness arises, but she has healed us countless times with her natural remedies.

(Natural, as in using plants and herbs that God intended for healing us; not to be confused with black magic or sorcery. She owns natural teas and uses a lot of Homeopathic medicines and mixes herbs together...I've learned some of her methods but I would like to learn all of them before I move out.)

She is knowledgeable about what foods to eat and what not to eat when one is afflicted with a certain illness. Plus, my mom is Wonder Woman when it comes to the mental courage and the stomach strength to clean up after her children when sickness prevails over them. (I wouldn't want to scrub down the bathroom floor when someone missed the toilet even if it wasn't me who was sick, not to mention when I am the person getting sick all over the place.) Nothing is too gross for my mom: she cares enough for me, and the rest of her 7 children, to wordlessly clean up our messes, wash our soiled clothes, scrub appliances, make cup after cup of tea, and take care of our chores when we are unable to do so.

Now I understand why she's the Relief Society of our Ward. She's one of the most compassionate, helpful, selfless people I know.

Thank you for everything, Mom. I love you.

As posted on Facebook...

Contemplating my life as it is now, I've recognized that it's not what I want it to be. I'm not content with merely living, so as my first step to "spring clean" my life, I'm deleting my Facebook account. This will allow me much more time to achieve what's most important: my dreams. If I ever reopen my Facebook, it will be to announce the completion of OUR CARAMEL SEA, which is a few years overdo. So, au revoir, Facebookers!

P.S. If you'd like to check up on me, there are a few ways to do so:

1. Email! (I'm not giving it out here; refer to #2 to get my address.)

2. Call or text me at 801-897-0826.

3. Visit my beauty blog (for inquiries about model shoots, comment on a post or refer to #2) at http://confidenceb.blogspot.com/

4. Visit my writing website (I need to revamp it, but you can contact me through it and I'll post updates about my books and writing on the blog) at www.jilliansuzannnewell.webs.com

5. Visit my personal blog (which I haven't used for ages but might in the future, especially to post pictures as I would have on Facebook) at http://andchocolatetoo.blogspot.com/

6. Talk to me in person!

Thanks everyone for being my friends! Even though stalking you has set my life offtrack, I still love you. ;)

Talk to you later!

Sean Astin @ IPFW

Sean Astin, aka SAMWISE GAMGEE FROM "THE LORD OF THE RINGS" or RUDY IN "RUDY" or in "THE GOONIES" or "FOREVER STRONG", was a speaker for the IPFW (Indiana Purdue University-Fort Wayne) Omnibus Lecture Series. We were able to acquire tickets for such an event.
Sean Astin is officially my celebrity hero. He was so down to earth and kind and humble, it was almost astonishing. Though, of course, he is always the amiable character in his movies (for the most part) so one would somewhat expect him to be as much.
He spoke on Acting, Leadership, and Other "Very Important" Stuff, including following your dreams, knowing who you are, being a positive influence in the world,a shining standard in society, recognizing disabled people, and appreciating family. He also spoke of his acting career, particularly of his part in "The Lord of the Rings."
It was surreal, hearing him speak, knowing SAM was in the same room as me. Geez. So crazy. LOTR has been my favorite movie(s) ever since they came out. I've seen them all countless times. I never thought I would actually see an actor from it in person.
After, we waited in line for him to sign our DVDs and tickets--waited in line for an hour and a half, until 10:30pm--and we have early morning seminary the next morning. However, we all agreed that this was a once in a lifetime opportunity, and we were willing to risk being exhausted for a day if it meant meeting a big-time Hollywood celebrity. Mmhmm. (We also agreed that if it was Orlando Bloom, we would have waited ALL night. MMHMM.)
Standing feet away from Sean Astin was like standing in a dream; we could hardly believe this was real. He shook my hand, signed my ticket, "Forever Strong" DVD (we were probably the only people in line to do so--outside of Utah/Mormonism, I suppose it's not the most heard-of movie, unfortunately) and our extended edition DVD case of "The Fellowship of the Ring", carried on a conversation with my friend. Nicest guy ever.
Molly commented how she never thought we would actually get a LOTR DVD signed. So cool!

Anyways. Pictures = Proof.

Tin Caps Baseball Game

On Labor Day, my family decided to be traditional Americans and go to a Fort Wayne original Tin Caps baseball game, complete with hot dogs, chips, and a soda. Woo!

(The Mascot is Johnny Appleseed. Tin caps is termed for the apple pickers of long ago, who wore tin caps to protect their heads. Fun fact: Michigan's minor league team (that often plays against the Tin Caps) is the Lug-nuts. I love the Midwest.)

Young Women Campout

The third weekend in August, the young women in my ward had a camp out at Salamonie Reservoir in Andrew, IN. It was a ton of fun and my first time knee-boarding and water skiing--as well as Molly and Allison's first time knee-boarding. We were all able to get up and stay up-at least for a moment, before we plunged head first into the wake (as Molly so gracefully demonstrates). Great fun. =)

(P.S. The picture of the two girls is Molly and her friend, Abby, who had the same swimsuit. They looked identical from behind.)