A little over two weeks to go before I head back to the States. It's kind of hard to believe that I've been here for over five years ... it really doesn't seem like it's been that long. I've still got a bunch of stuff to get done to prepare for my departure, some people I need to say goodbye to, and stuff like that. Fortunately, I got an early start on shipping boxes home (which my parents have told me have already started arriving) and getting stuff taken care of for my cats. I still have a bunch of stuff to pitch, though, and the final steps for taking the cats home and "officially" graduating.

Other than books, some clothes, my cats, and some things I've collected, I'm not taking all that much back. So I'll really be starting over, in a sense. It's exciting, but also a little intimidating ... OK, a lot intimidating, actually. I'll be in a state of limbo for a while, and I'm NOT looking forward to having to stay at my parents' house for an undetermined amount of time. Hopefully it wouldn't be longer than a few months. My parents aren't bad people, and they're usually very supportive of me, but our personalities tend to clash quite a bit when we actually have to live under the same roof. I've been on my own for 10 years now, so going back to the house where I grew up is going to feel weird. And all of my friends from high school have moved away, so I'll be bored out of my mind.

I'm glad that I've gotten involved in the GA community, though, because that will hopefully provide me with some sense of familiarity and stability when I get back, and I can continue writing and all that stuff while I'm looking for a job and making the transition. I've only been back to the States once over the past five years, and then only for about 10 days, so I'm bound to go through some reverse culture shock.

Anyway, Chapter 20 has been posted, and, as expected, drew quite an emotional response. I was originally planning on posting the first chapter of "When I See You Again" after Chapter 21, but I think I'm gonna finish SOOTB entirely before I start posting the new stuff. I've just started on Chapter 22, though, and since the next couple of weeks will be a little busy because of the impending move, there may be a slight delay between Chapter 21 and Chapter 22 ... we'll just have to wait and see how it goes. I hope everyone can be a little understanding over the next few weeks as I make the transition back to life in America. It was strange going back after spending half a year in China, and I was going back to my own home, not my parents' home ... I've been here for over five years, and won't have a place to call my own for who knows how long. So, yeah, please be patient with me. And for those of you who I talk to online, I apologize in advance if I'm a little moody or grumpy. I'll really need you guys' support!