From Brie Katzianer

I can’t believe it’s here. The end, I mean. Beijing, Chengdu, Chongqing, three cities in three weeks, one incredible experience. The last English Corner was amazing, I talked with at least 10 different students by myself for 2 hours. Hanging out with the Chinese students this last week was so much fun. Staying out late (thanks for lifting the curfew!) with the students was all part of the cultural experience. Just when I started getting comfortable with the city (and the cab rides), we have to leave. I don’t want to. This whole experience has been so eye-opening. We’ve been halfway around the world for almost a month, and it feels like a lifetime. To me anyway. This trip has made me realize how big the world really is and has given me the opportunity to see just a little part of it. It’s also made me realize everything I love about home. The entirety of the culture shock — the language barrier, the mannerisms, the food — really shows how different things are. I’ve loved every single minute I’ve been in China, but I love where I’m from. I’m going home to the states with hundreds of pictures and even more stories. The friends I’ve made here, both from home and from China, will be people I will never forget, and now I can literally say I have friends all over the world. This whole experience has been one huge adventure, and the memories I’ve made here will last a lifetime, as cliché as that sounds. And I can’t even count the regrets I have on one hand because I don’t have a single one. I climbed the Great Wall of China, I saw the panda bears, I SANG for the first time in front of an audience, I walked millions of miles across this campus and I danced to Lady GaGa with Chinese students. I couldn’t have asked for anything more and I just really can’t believe it’s over. I hope everyone had an amazing time, have an awesome summer and I’ll see you in September!