Month 2 - prework

We are now well into month 2 of our pre-work.  I now have my flights booked and have submitted all the paperwork for my Visa.  Just crossing my fingers that that it all goes smoothly and I get the Visa back next week.  Besides our regular jobs we are attending weekly calls, preparing our assignments and getting to know our fellow participants.  They are seem like a very energetic group of people and I am excited to meet them.  In my spare time I am trying to learn about Qingdao and a little Mandarin.  This is really a challenge as right now all the words sound so similar.  I can only make our a few words when I hear the lessons.  Then there are all the Chinese Symbols!! I think I will be lucky if I can count to 10.