All things must come to an end

It was a rainy, bittersweet day in June when I said goodbye to my last class of students.  We spent our final class time together discussing fun ways to continue learning English, from funny movies to BBC webpages and songs featuring Rihanna.  After giving them my final reminders to be confident about their English and to not be afraid to talk to foreigners we went outside to take group photos.  The mood was quiet and sad.  I gave them my contact email and we finally said goodbye. 

The same went with my Chinese friends who I similarly said goodbye to that night.  “How quickly things come to an end,” I said.  They included my site mate Chris, our Japanese teacher friend Ai and our Chinese colleagues and friends Rachel, Wen Xiaomei, Fisher, Hunter and King (some of whom went by their English names).  I can’t imagine my life without them now.  It will seem strange. 

Saying goodbye to students

My final Peace Corps act was a Close  Of Service (COS) meeting with the leaders of the Peace Corps departments in Chengdu- admin., the program manager and the director.  Then it was over.  A whole two years over in the blink of an eye.  I have to say it went by quickly.  But I had a great time and I learned so much about my students, who God bless them have had more difficulties in their life than I can believe, about myself and about a foreign culture and language.  I think, though, that what I gained most was friends and a plethora of different viewpoints about the world.  How different the world can look from perspectives other than those I grew up with, it always mesmerizes me.

I’m sure I will look back on these experiences with happiness, and easily forget about the frustrations and difficulties of living abroad, of which there were a few.  But that is the same with living anywhere I suppose.

Now I am ready to come back.  It’s certainly time for that.



In front of a church and next to the Nacional Museo del Prada

But first…why not travel a bit more?

I thought so too, so now I am in Madrid, Spain, trying not to lose myself in the culture shock of flamingo dancing, tapas and coffee.  Oh how happy I am to finally see coffee again!!!  And it’s real, too!

When I return at the end of July I will have traveled to the UK as well, to visit friends I made while travelling across China.  If you are sitting back thinking about how much you wish you were here I wouldn’t blame you.  But in my defense I needed this trip to slowly transition back to western life.  And what better way to transition than to enjoy 3pm lunches and 11pm dinners? 

Parque De El Retiro

On a side note, Katie and I will live together in D.C. once we return, very exciting.  She and I will be attending graduate school in the area- she at Univ. of Maryland (most likely) and me at Johns Hopkins.  And although I will be very busy starting in September I hope that I can have time to travel around and see all you friends again. 

Stay tuned for my summary of life/politics and culture in China.  I have so much to say that I left out while still maintaining an apolitical volunteer lifestyle so strictly enforced in Peace Corps, for obvious reasons.  Much needs to be said and so I will divulge that information in the very near future here on my blog.

I miss you all, but will hopefully see you soon!!