As I stepped off the plane, it was hard to come to the realization that I was in China. It was a weird feeling. I just couldn’t grasp it. My first few days in Beijing were overwhelming. I was fascinated with how big everything was and how different it was from back home in Tennessee. Throughout the trip I enjoyed seeing famous historical structures, museums, temples, buildings, stadiums and artifacts. I also will miss bargaining with the venders on the street. I just got a thrill out of it, I don’t know why. When I arrived back in the states, I caught myself starting to barg
ain at this small little store in the airport. I came to the realization that I was no longer in China when the woman in the store looked at me and said there was no haggling.
I truly enjoyed both of my home stays. My urban home stay family made me feel like I was apart of their family. They took me to a wedding and included me in all the festivities. The wedding wasn’t like anything I had ever seen before. I am so glad I was able to attend it. At my rural home stay, They were so grateful to have us in their village. They treated us like celebrities. One thing both families had in common was that they went out of their way to make sure you felt comfortable. I can’t express in words how great of a feeling that was.
One of the best things that I think I will cherish with me forever are the friendships which I have made. I have made such good friendships with my urban home stay family as well as some of the students at the CC English School. I hope to remain good friends with them for a long time. Leaving the Chinese Students was very difficult for all of us. The night before we departed at the farewell dinner, it was like an hour long crying session. Just within those short two weeks, Everyone had become so close with one another. I really don’t think that I have ever been face
d with a more sad goodbye. Along with making Chinese friends I have also made very good friends with the people in my group. The only thing more sad then leaving the Chinese students was departing from the rest of the group at the end of the experiment. I still get a little emotion when I look back at all the fun times we had and all of our magnificent photos. It was an experience of a lifetime that I will never forget. This trip not only made me step outside my comfort zone, but also made me more understanding and diverse as a person. When I arrived back in the states, I was a changed person. It seems as if I took a piece of China and put it in my pocket. I enjoy listening to the same music they listen to, eating some of the same foods they eat,playing fun games they play, and even eating my American food with chopsticks. It seems as if I am combining my culture with the Chinese culture. If I would have never gone to China, I’m pretty sure I probably wouldn’t be listening to the music they listen to or eating some of the interesting foods they enjoy. The experience was unbelievable. Every time I think about it, I just wish it could have been longer or just continued for an eternity. This has definitely been the best summer I have ever had, and I think it will most definitely be hard to top.
Shénjīng bìng, a Chinese Card
game where you write on
people's faces
At the Waterfall
Chinese Wedding
Temple
Shanghai
was a bit rusty, but after the first week I was speaking easily and I had already developed good relationships with my family and a few of the other youths of the community. The community itself had only around 8O inhabitants in about 20 small, very rustic houses, a small pulperia that sold everything from basic food needs to cheap sunglasses, a tiny, windowless catholic church, and a two-room elementary school that had one teacher, 20 students, and no glass in the windows. The main road through the community was gravel and the only other road was not navigable because it had eroded 
