From rafting in Hangzhou where Trenia, 3 Latvians, a Kenyan and myself won the competition -
a. Who even knew it was a competition?!
b. Who even knows anything about Latvia?! (Trenia and I do now!)
c. I wish that we had gotten clips of the news in Hangzhou that night; we were all interviewed!
d. Todd Morre rocks for hooking us up with the trip!
To Beijing -
a. If I have ever been a super tourist, Trenia and I were there - Olympic Village, Summer Palace, Tienman Square, Joshan Park, Forbidden City, GREAT WALL...
b. The pollution really is ALL that it is cracked up to be. It was ridiculous.
To last minute gift shopping -
a. PRETTY LADY - Gucci Watch, Sunglass, BAG - Come into my shop!
To dinner with Wendy -
a. I met this woman at an Open Mic - Art Jam at one of the galleries I worked with.
b. She sang - I believe the children are our future (insert Chinese accent, it will put a smile on your face)
c. She treated me to the closest thing to drunken shrimp that I was able to find, JELLYFISH, and many other traditional Shanghainese dishes!
d. She told me how to balance my Yin-Yang! (I don't know if my American lifestyle will support it, but I sure will try!)
e. The dessert soup served after dinner was one of my most favorite things I ate in China!
f. She took me to a Chinese foot massage after dinner.
Given the amount of details with the last event listed, you can probably tell that my favorite part of my time in China was the relationships formed. Even if only for a minute on the metro, through buying food or a mango smoothie, during an interview, or a simple glance while walking down the busy sidewalks - all these exchanges will forever have an effect on me. As my clas5mate Kate Raum said when giving Rebecca Morrison advise on where to travel through Australia: (I'm paraphrasing here) "There is no comparison to experiencing the human spirit." This is so true. I experienced a human spirit - a very old, tough yet kind human spirit - that I hope to experience again.
Blogging has been an amazing part of my experience. I have LOVED all the comments and have appreciated everyone taking this journey with me! And as my new t-shirt says, "I heart CHINA."
After being home for a minute... I think I need to make a t-shirt that says, "I heart USA." It's great to be back. I can't wait to catch up with everyone!
