Nischayadartham

Here are some pictures from our Nischayadartham (Engagement Ceremony) this past Memorial Day weekend. I want to thank everyone who contributed or helped out with the event. It went so well. And I felt so great about our families coming together to celebrate. I can't wait for the wedding!

http://www.thefamilylearninghouse.com

This is the URL for the school I will be at next year in Beijing.

Check it out!

Breaking the News

Now my whole world (that's Casa Montessori families and yoga peeps) have found out about my big move. I was at Desiree Rumbaugh's workshop this weekend and now all my yoga friends know I'm going to be leaving in the next few months. It's tough at a time that I'm finally starting to connect with the Austin Yoga Kula. Eh, well, as Christina says, maybe I'll be the Anusara minion for China. For those of you who aren't familiar, Anusara is the style of yoga that I'm currently studying. Check out... www.anusara.com. 

So for the most part the response has been positive and people are open to this change. I have received very few "eeh, why are you moving there??!" kind of comments. Actually only two! So that's good because all I need to hear right now is positive positive positive. Casa parents have been kind and I know it's hard for them to let go and entrust a whole new adult in their children's lives. But I trust in Martha and Charlene to find the right person who embodies what Casa is all about. I will soon be a thing of their past and maybe in a few years will be a Casa parent myself when and if I move back to Austin to start a family. 

Speaking of that, it's entirely possible that I stay in China for the rest of my life. Who knows. I always wanted to have my children grow up in a different part of the world and learn a different language/culture! Or on the other hand I will come crawling back to the US in one year. (Highly unlikely). 

Going back to the workshop... I had the best time. I came in with a slight right foot injury. Yoga was just the medicine. I listened to my body and worked with my limitations. But I can safely say that yoga is something that can be done even through injuries. Yippee for the world's best self-chiropractic workout. Now, just my left knee needs that MRI. Anyways, Desiree did a lot of shoulders up, kidney loop, side body long talk. Kind of the opposite of what you get in Christina's class. But I definitely felt a difference in handstand kicking up slowly, kourmasana, bhujangasana (the most... i literally felt like i was flying), and a few other poses. I also enjoyed the potluck dinner. Chase said that my yoga friends and I talk like how climbers talk about their climbing projects. Yes, it's true I am glad I'm addicted to yoga. 

My Very First Blog Post Ever

Well, here you have it. I finally worked up the nerve to enter the world of internet blogging. I am so excited to share with everyone what I am going through. Especially since this last month has been a whirlwind of change and making huge life decisions.
It all started this Spring Break when Chase and I started thinking about what we wanted to do next year. We tossed around the idea of going to China several years ago when I graduated from my Montessori training and both of us will tell you that it was the other who convinced us from not doing it then. So we revisited the topic casually. This time, several people close to us like my Dad and Chase's brother urged us to move there. After spending my entire break talking and debating, we made the decision. We aren't sure yet where exactly, Beijing, Hong Kong, or Shanghai... so keep reading to find out. I am currently job searching and Chase is finalizing his plans too. We'll know at the end of the month.
This new plan pushed the limits of what our relationship is and what it will be and so we began discussing that as well. And last week Chase proposed to me! We had gone ring shopping several months ago but moving to China certainly played a part in accelerating the process. I am so happy with the ring, the move, and the whole process thus far.
We are planning an engagement party Memorial Day weekend. It will be done in the traditional custom of Hindus where there is a formal introduction of the families and reciting of sacred mantras to bless the two families. There is a gift exchange for the bride and groom as well. And then we are going to have dinner. Currently there is a slight competition to see which side will have more attendees but we haven't even made the real guest list.
Other than that, we went to visit Chase's MiMa in Houson. More on that later. It needs it's own post.

So there, I'm moving to China and this will become my Great Wall of Blogging. ZaiJian!