It begins.

In two days, I will be flying to China.

!

This is the (tentative) itinerary for the next two months of my life:

June 18th: Depart from PDX at 2:20 p.m. Get comfortable.
June 19th: Arrive in Beijing at 10:30 p.m. Find somewhere to sleep.
June 20th: Fly to Xining. Arrive at 10:30 a.m. Seek people whom I have never met to drive me 100 miles to the Tibetan Home of Hope in the Amdo region of Tibet. Greet host family (expect much smiling, some awkwardness, and probably tea).
June 21-July 18th: Volunteer at the Home of Hope. Teach English, build things, and perhaps paint a mural. Strive for productivity, learn from children, minimize showering, and formulate the Tibetan National Ultimate Frisbee Team. (Here's a link to a video about the orphanage.)
July 18th-19th: Return to Xining, and then travel to Lhasa via the Qingzang Railway.
July 20th-31st: Partake in an expedition (with a random student from Singapore) that tours several important monasteries, a lake, and the Everest base camp.
August 1st-8th: Gallivant about China with Lonely Planet and Freedom. Gradually make way (via train) back to Beijing. Have a go at the Great Wall.
August 9th: Fly from Beijing back to good old Oregon at 8:55 a.m.

I am blessed beyond measure, and the least I can do is write about this adventure as it unfolds.

Now I shall think about packing.