Yes folks, that is correct. I'm going to Western China in June! I first heard about the trip from my Contemporary Media Issues professor, Rob Williams. (He's pretty much the man.) He mentioned a mobile journalism & social media adventure to western China, a part of the country most westerners will never see. I've never had an overwhelming desire to go to China, but after learning more about the west and what the trip entailed, I was on board. Spending a semester in Italy was so indulgent and I want to experience a completely different place. We're going June 1-15 and will be staying in Tibetan monasteries, performing community service, meeting Chinese students to talk social media, and we'll be documenting the entire experience.

Because the trip has a media focus, we (the few Champlain students going) are utilizing our social networking skills like CRAZY to raise money. I've been tweeting, blogging, and even built a website strictly for informational and donation purposes. I'm not as Web 2.0 savvy as I'd like to be, but I think I have a good start and hopefully we can gain some sponsorships because of the work we're doing. Know anyone who would want to donate? (Had to put in a plug, right?)

In other news, I'm busier than I've ever been in my school career. With 6 classes, an internship, community service, student government, involvement on various committees, AND somewhat of a social life, I am almost running on empty. I love staying busy and I work best under pressure, but I think I've taken on one too many commitments. College, Champlain specifically, is one of the best places to learn time management. It's all about finding a balance with classes, activities, and time for relaxing. As exhausting as it can be, I wouldn't want my last semester to be any different. Because of Champlain's size, you can easily feel like a big fish in a small pond and have leadership opportunities that aren't as readily available at larger universities. With that said, I wouldn't change a thing...except maybe tack on an extra hour or two to each day.