Alright the time is really coming to an end now. Only 1 full day left!! I can't believe it. Time didn't exist at all these past four months. I never knew what day or time of the day it was because I was so caught up in everything around me. I can't figure out if I am sad or happy about leaving. 6 people have already left this morning at around 6 am. It isnt' the same without everyone around. I can't walk down the hallway anymore and knock on my friends doors to see if they want to go eat lunch. I have truely lived the dorm life these past months and I have grown to like it. It is an experience every college student needs to experience! Community college is nice because I live so close to the school and I can still live for a little cheaper when I am with my parents, but it is nothing like living on campus. I will miss it. My Chinese friends have been spending the last days with us to make sure we get all the time in together that we can. I can't even imagine at this point how it will feel to not have them so close, but rather oceans apart. Tips for the future students of the CLC Study Abroad Program...dont waist your time sitting in your dorms all the time because you will regret it towards the end of the trip. Go out there and make friends, cuz a chinese friend is probably the most kind-hearted and dedicated friend you will ever have.
Our finals ended last week and it feels great. You know that end-of-semester satisfaction that you get once you realize how much you have accomplished. I am looking forward to the next semester at CLC.
Well, America you better be ready to take me back...I've been gone for too long. See you in a couple of days!
Monday, December 22, 2008
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Time is running out.
Alright well there is exactly 2 weeks left until we go back home. I have been so busy doing things that I have forgot to write a lot of things down. I think I have learned that it is important to keep track of everything you have been doing when you go on a trip, otherwise you wont remember later. So tips for all of you new travelers..carry around a journal to record all of your thoughts and activities that you do.
Here is a list of a few of the things that I will miss when I leave China:
-Being able to walk down the hall and knock on all my friends' doors to see what they are doing.
-Hanging out with my chinese friends everyday
-Being forced to use a second language all of the time (it's good practice)
-Not worrying about anything except for school work. Life is so relaxing here. It's in their culture and I have definately adapted to that.
-Being able to take a bus around the city to places I have never seen
-Walking down the street and seeing an ancient relic in the middle of a cluster of new built apartments
-Eating healthy delicious chinese food (thats really cheap)
-Buying tons of gifts for really cheap
-Feeling like a celebrity when walking down the street cuz everyone is staring at you
-Everyday is an adventure in China
-Meeting new people from all over the world living in China
-Going to local shows to see Chinese bands playing
-Watching HBO cuz its the only channel that is in English..o wait who can forget CNN to keep me contacted to the outside world
-Asking my Chinese friends to teach me a new chinese word
-Walking around in a T-shirt in December when it is snowing in Chicago
-Any so many things that I just cant think of right now
China has made me appreciate the outside world even more than I did before I left. Walking on the Great Wall and climbing on beautiful mountains have made me found my peace with nature. I have seen things that I will never see in America. For example, when riding on a city bus the second an elder walks on the bus EVERYONE is willing to give up their seat without questioning it. The younger generations have respect for their elders. They were raised in that environment and I really wish that more people were like this at home. I want to thank my amazing school (CLC) for setting up such a great program. Although it has been stressful at times because we are the first group of students to come out here, the two schools have worked well together to make everything comfortable for us. Our rooms are amazing and the service they provide in the rooms has been very helpful. XAIU has done a lot to make our stay the best. They provided us with a thanksgiving dinner to make us feel more like home. A week after that everyone on the floor got together to have our own thanksgiving dinner. Each one of us made a dish as close to a thanksgiving meal as possible. We all shared laughs, thanks and lots of food..leaving with a traditional full stomach that we regretted the next day. But hey thats what makes thanksgiving.
I miss my family and friends a lot and am finally ready to go home to live my less adventurous life again, but I am ok with that. I know that the second we lift of the ground that I will be missing all of my chinese friends. I know it wont be the same without them. It is going to be sad leaving them but I guess I should have expected that when I said I wanted to meet new friends in a new country. This just gives me a better reason to come back.
Many of the preconceptions that I had about China before I came have changed. Everyone, who gets the chance, should come here and live for awhile. It is an amazing culture to immerge yourself into. Please come visit China!
Here is a list of a few of the things that I will miss when I leave China:
-Being able to walk down the hall and knock on all my friends' doors to see what they are doing.
-Hanging out with my chinese friends everyday
-Being forced to use a second language all of the time (it's good practice)
-Not worrying about anything except for school work. Life is so relaxing here. It's in their culture and I have definately adapted to that.
-Being able to take a bus around the city to places I have never seen
-Walking down the street and seeing an ancient relic in the middle of a cluster of new built apartments
-Eating healthy delicious chinese food (thats really cheap)
-Buying tons of gifts for really cheap
-Feeling like a celebrity when walking down the street cuz everyone is staring at you
-Everyday is an adventure in China
-Meeting new people from all over the world living in China
-Going to local shows to see Chinese bands playing
-Watching HBO cuz its the only channel that is in English..o wait who can forget CNN to keep me contacted to the outside world
-Asking my Chinese friends to teach me a new chinese word
-Walking around in a T-shirt in December when it is snowing in Chicago
-Any so many things that I just cant think of right now
China has made me appreciate the outside world even more than I did before I left. Walking on the Great Wall and climbing on beautiful mountains have made me found my peace with nature. I have seen things that I will never see in America. For example, when riding on a city bus the second an elder walks on the bus EVERYONE is willing to give up their seat without questioning it. The younger generations have respect for their elders. They were raised in that environment and I really wish that more people were like this at home. I want to thank my amazing school (CLC) for setting up such a great program. Although it has been stressful at times because we are the first group of students to come out here, the two schools have worked well together to make everything comfortable for us. Our rooms are amazing and the service they provide in the rooms has been very helpful. XAIU has done a lot to make our stay the best. They provided us with a thanksgiving dinner to make us feel more like home. A week after that everyone on the floor got together to have our own thanksgiving dinner. Each one of us made a dish as close to a thanksgiving meal as possible. We all shared laughs, thanks and lots of food..leaving with a traditional full stomach that we regretted the next day. But hey thats what makes thanksgiving.
I miss my family and friends a lot and am finally ready to go home to live my less adventurous life again, but I am ok with that. I know that the second we lift of the ground that I will be missing all of my chinese friends. I know it wont be the same without them. It is going to be sad leaving them but I guess I should have expected that when I said I wanted to meet new friends in a new country. This just gives me a better reason to come back.
Many of the preconceptions that I had about China before I came have changed. Everyone, who gets the chance, should come here and live for awhile. It is an amazing culture to immerge yourself into. Please come visit China!
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