Mind = Blown

For one minute here I'm taking this blog back from Mike & Jen.

Amazing news, everyone. Of the mind-blowing type.

You know we're trying to move from East Changsha to West Changsha, from one university to another, so Drew can do an MBA? We've been waiting and waiting and waiting on the results of his application for a scholarship. And still don't know.

But we have to move out of this apartment in less than two weeks, so we decided we're just gonna move over to the new university -- Central South Unviersity, CSU --- and begin Drew's three-year program with or without the scholarship. If he doesn't receive it this year he'll reapply next year.

Alright, moving in less than two weeks! But no idea where...so Drew and I spent yesterday and this morning prowling, combing, hunting for an apartment. We must have covered several square miles. I rode side-saddle in my summer skirt on two different motorcycles. Called a dozen phone numbers. Scoured bulletin boards. Toured two potential preschools. Inspected five vastly different apartments. Couldn't find a thing on campus, but we did find a pretty decent place in the adjacent neighborhood. It had two bedrooms, new windows and a breeze flowing through. But the kitchen was slathered with green mold, the bathroom was 3'x4' and the living+dining area together was 10'x10'. But the price was right, $150 per month. We were gonna sign the contract this morning.

But after looking at that place, last stop of the day, we dropped into an apartment complex and asked around. Nice Fellow happened to be standing there -- he had a place for rent. We checked it out but it was a no-go. However, Nice Fellow happened to be a professor in the school of business! He very well could be Drew's prof in the future!

What's more, Prof. Nice Fellow had a colleague with an empty apartment on campus...so he called up his buddy and we made plans to meet the next morning.

This morning we met the potential landlord...who, incredibly, happens to be the director of the business school! He, his wife and 18 year-old son bought a way nicer place off-campus and their faculty housing had just been sitting empty. They weren't actively seeking renters, but were happy to let us live there...

It's an awesome place you guys! 6th floor (walk, no elevator), which means lots of sun and breeeeeeze. Basically clean, furnished. Spacious enough. Three bedrooms. Just perfect. It's their first time to rent out the place, so they're not like shrewd landlords trying to make a profit. We asked about the rent and they said, "uh...well, how much did you pay for your old place?" They didn't even want the standard 'damage' deposit, which is usually $150. Anyway, Drew and I were very happy to settle on $195 per month rent!

If you're still reading this you should get an award...

It's unbelievable that we found a home just off the center of campus. It's gonna make hosting friends and guests so much easier. Ideal. Very quiet, safe and convenient. It's also just a couple hundred meters from 'the best preschool in Hunan province'. I don't know who compiles the rankings for best preschools (oh so ridiculous...), but word on the street is that Titus' new school is the Harvard of preschools. Rollerblades, art room, fish tank, security cameras. Pretty schnazzy.

Here's a link to CSU's Wikipedia page.

And their official website, in English.

Just some basic facts:

- over 50,000 students

- 30+ programs

I though maybe I could get a job teaching at CSU, so I looked at the listings. And laughed at my cute-sy little bachelor's degree.

Seriously, I'm blown away at how this apartment came to us. We're really looking forward to the next three years. Won't it be cool getting to know our landlord/business school director and his family? I'm already thinking about what I want to cook for them.

I've been reading quite a bit in the OT history books recently. Any time the Father provides or comes through in a big way, the Israelites and/or their leader offer sacrifices. It's a major pattern. My mind has been soaking in this...so I caught myself thinking I should slaughter and offer up a few bulls...then I remembered that in the New Covenant we don't do that. haha.

(If you totally don't get that last paragraph just forget it.)

The point is: THANKS! He has done great things!

Well, look forward to some more cohesive posts from my parents in the next couple days. I'm hitting the sack. Please do keep uplifting that scholarship situation.