ILP and Weihai

A little background information:

I'm going to China through a program called International Language Programs (ILP). They have been sending students across the world to teach English for 19 years! They have schools in Russia, Ukraine, China, Mexico, Thailand, and Taiwan. I applied for the program back in January, and after countless paperwork, interviews and doctors notes, I was accepted! I started filling out travel documents, studying the culture and preparing for training.

Why China?
I get asked that question a lot! Well, I wasn't born with this desire to travel to China before I die. But I was born with a desire to travel. I knew that in order to do that, I would have to find a program that would  be a good fit financially and educationally. I did some research, and ILP seemed to be the perfect fit. The thing I love most about this program is that it is not called a study abroad, but rather, a service abroad. We are not paid to go teach; we do not spend five months traveling and sight seeing every day. We give up our time and put our energy into teaching children. And I love the idea of that. After I decided that I wanted to travel through ILP, I looked at the places I could go. Russia and Ukraine are way too cold, my mother would die before she let me go to Mexico and Thailand/Taiwan sound amazing, but they are brand new schools to the program and I wanted to go somewhere where the program had been in practice for a while. So, that left me with China. And I was okay with that.

Where in China?
ILP has 10 schools in China, all scattered about the country. I just received my city assignment of Weihai! It looks beautiful, it is right on the coast of the Yellow Sea, right between Beijing and Shanghai.

From my research, I have learned that Weihai is a medium-sized Chinese city with a total population of 2.48 million, of which the urban area occupies 50.8 km² and the population is 420,000. It is a major seaport and used to be owned by Great Britain between 1898 and 1930 and was called Port Edward. It has some beautiful beaches and is a huge tourist spot for Koreans. 

Looks beautiful, no?

The Story of Chelsie and English

When I was little, I wanted to be a vet. The idea of making sick animals better made me feel like I was going to change the world. When I was 12, we had to put down Madison, our dog. And I realized I would never be able to handle the heartbreak of putting down a sick animal on a general basis. So then, I wanted to become a marine biologist. In 8th grade, I had to job shadow someone in that field and the biologist I spent a day with was so confusing and talked about water temperatures for so long I dreamt of them that night. So that went out the window as well. 

And then I got sick my sophomore year and my world turned upside down. Everything changed in one moment, in one word. Cancer. And my life wasn't about futures anymore. It was about surviving to see the next day. It was about fighting to keep both of my legs. It was about simply trying to stay alive.

Thankfully, I had books. And on the days that I was awake enough to read more then a sentence, I had the opportunity to escape the nightmare I was living in. I could live in worlds that weren't mine; where people were not touched by the world of cancer and their lives continued on in wonderful circles of words and images and places and adventures. 

Thankfully, I had writing. And on the days that I was feeling well enough to take lighter doses of anti-nausea meds, I would update my carepage blog and write about how I was feeling, what I was facing and figure out how to cope with the huge task of staying alive. On my worst days, I would write it all out and once it was out, I felt better. 

Reading. Writing. These things saved me from losing my mind, helped me cope with heavy things such as losing full functionality of my left leg, losing fellow friends on my floor, losing friends at school because they didn't understand what I was going through. And when I finally reached the other end of my fight and came out a survivor, and started dreaming again and making plans for a future I once thought I'd never have, I knew one thing. I wanted to study English. 

I'm now an official five year survivor and trying to take advantage of every opportunity of living life that I can. My life is a miracle and I want to give back to others as much as I can with my second change at life.  I recently went through my third knee surgery this last April and after a total knee replacement that has given me most of my life back, I am now in a position to go abroad and teach English in China. I'm so excited for this incredible opportunity to see the world, to teach little kids English and most importantly, to serve and to give as much as possible. 

To those who have encouraged me and supported me on my goal to recover from my surgery and to make this dream come true (parents, siblings, extended family, Symone & Jillise, and of course, Dustin) words will never be able to describe how thankful I am to you. There was a time when I thought I would never have the functionality or strength to be far away from Boston. A slip on ice would put me in the ER without any questions asked. But, with words of constant encouragement and with constant love, I was able to fight through my knee replacement and get my life back. I know now that I can do anything I put my mind to. I can beat cancer. I can travel the world. I can teach English in China.

I hope to keep this blog updated frequently as my adventures unfold and take you all on this incredible journey that awaits me.

  

Cancer was one chapter in my life. I finally feel like I can close it and look forward without having to glance over my shoulder at it. I am ready for the next chapter:

Chelsie in China