I fly to China tomorrow to begin a new chapter of my life. In some ways, it feels like I’m flying to the moon.

I’m going to live in a place where I don’t speak the language and don’t know a single soul. Yet I’m excited by the unknown and invigorated by the possibilities.

Though I’ve traveled extensively around the world, I’ve never lived in another country. I’ve always wanted to immerse myself in another culture, preferably one that’s radically different from the U.S. And China certainly fits the bill.

While the country has made remarkable economic progress in the past 30 years, it remains an authoritarian state that severely limits free speech and political dissent. It’s also a nation where, at least in the major cities, the air is noxious and the water is undrinkable. But there may be no other place on earth that teems with more energy, creativity and hope for the future.

I hope to experience all of that during my year in China. And I plan to share it with everyone who reads my blog.