It's a hot sweaty day...

I'm actually extremely bored at home right now. Could have gone watch Hancock with some friends...too bad I already saw it last week. So I've stayed at home for most of the day, not doing very much at all.

This saturday I'm leaving for Sichuan, which has recently become very famous due to the earthquake there. No, that was not an attempt to make a funny out of something that is not. I'm actually going there for some volunteer work.

It seems that a few people have created a small set of 'tent' schools there. Since its summer I'm guessing that its more like a summer camp for the kids. Currently I believe I'm going there just to teach English, however theres probably a lot more that I'll need to do. Most of the children there have experienced intense scaring events, some even losing their parents. Counseling will be a very important step to recovery, I'm happy to be a part of that step.

I don't really have a full plan at the moment, but I do have little guide lines that I want to follow. Teaching the kids through games and songs, helping them accept what has happened or just being there if they want to talk. Its all part of my agenda.

So for a week or so I'm going to be living in a tent with just the basic necessities of life. That means no running water, not heat and no electricity either. All those put together make a very interesting situation, but nevertheless fun. I'm pretty sure I can handle it...however I will most defiantly be getting a nice burger when I get back.

Theres also an element of danger! A recent article from Nature writes about the dangers of aftershocks that occur a long time the main quake. The areas marked on the map they provided are at the highest risk, with the place I'm going...right smack in the middle. I could die in an aftershock!

At least if I do, I was doing something meaningful. I'm pretty nervous.