Coming Home: Shortest 14 Hours

Today is the day everyone goes back home. Today is the day all 36 participants, teachers, and supporting faculty go back to the United States. The ride starts off with a light layer of sadness. I know that when I wake up tomorrow I won't see signs in Chinese or the amazing people that I've grown to love. With every second, another drop of sadness falls onto the heart. Within minutes, hearts are heavy; some people begin to cry. I refuse to cry because (just as I said when I left my host family) this is just a transition period. Its hard because we will all miss this unbelievable experience and all the relationships we've made along the way, however, we should accept the experience for what it is: unforgettable.

Jane, Nancy, and Carol :P

This group has laughed together, learned together, discussed conspiracy, religion, and all other questions of the world together;parting ways, we even cried together. The beauty lies in the funny memories that I share with my friends such as when we decide to flaunt our rich and famous ego by wearing our hotel robes (both inside and outside) for everyone to see or when we all had to leave our host families (which was super sad).

I have done things that I never would have dreamed of like jumping in front of the Olympics Birds Nest (or on the Great Wall ) or dancing in a show with my friends. These individuals and I have experienced so much together and that's a bond that will never be broken. 

From an objective view, 45 days is a long time to spend with the same group of people and 14 hours is a long time for a plane ride. In actuality, these past 45 days and 14 hours have been the shortest of my life. I can be happy going home knowing I accomplished everything I set out to accomplish and more. I have improved my Chinese language skills primarily in reading and writing. More importantly, I made so many new friends and shared so many memories with these amazing people. Such an experience is something I'll never forget.

Shanghai Bund

Shanghai in 3 Days

Meeting Wang Bin

Day 4: The group watches a movie called Fearless starring Bruce Lee. Afterwards we ask question to the movie's screenwriter, Wang Bin.
We quickly complete our Q/A session, grab some McDonalds and board the train to Shanghai. Of the bat, Shanghai is beautiful and modem. There's this amazing pulsating energy that rests over the city and I love it. I know I will like it here.

Day 5:
Today we go to the oldest city in Shanghai and Nanjing Road. The oldest city is very interesting and primarily focused on the life of one man. That man later became to founder of the republic of China.

Nanjing Road

Nanjing Road is interesting just because there are so many people and shops and everything is very close together and hustle bustle type of vibe. I really want a ring so I walk into a nice looking store and spoke the the saleswoman only in Chinese. I tell her what I wanted and ask her if bargaining is allowed. It turns out that bargaining is not allowed and this store has a ring that I really want. I realize that I don't have enough money for it and apologize to the woman. She asks her boss if I can still purchase the ring even though I'm short about ¥20. Her boss looks at me and says let her have it. I am so pleased with my ring and my shopping experience.

Some of my adoring fans lol

China is beautiful and anything but homogeneous. Even in the nicest places, the ugly effects of poverty seeps through the cracks. For instance, my friends stop walking for 3 minutes and a mutilated man walks up to them-bumping then each with his limb-asking for money. A few seconds later, another man asks us whether my friend am I would like to purchase "a massage or sex". I'm not even insulted by this offer, I more putty the man. This man is so desperate to make money that he is trying to sell his body to strangers. 怎么办？

As always, people stopped to take pictures with me and would practice their English by saying "hello" and calling out to me saying "you are very beautiful". Even more reason for me to come back to live in Shanghai.

Shanghai: Pearl Tower (Day 6)

On top of the world

Today we go to the pearl tower. There are several long lines and elevator rides to reach this amazing  view. One can see a 360 degree view of the Shanghai skyline. It is so amazing and so surreal that I could be standing inside of an iconic building that I see on Google. It's so surreal that I can converse with locals who want to take pictures
with me.

At around 7pm, we go to the Shanghai Acrobatic Show. It's amazing. The people are so talented and beautiful and fearless. They are everything I strive to be and I enjoyed watching them.

It's unbelievable that this NSLIY experience is almost over. A week like this goes by so quickly; the movement becomes a memory.

Beijing: Forbidden City and Silk Road (Day 3)

Meeting my new friends <3

Today we make our way to the Forbidden City. It's humongous and well built; it's the equivalent of steeping into an AP World History book. My favorite part is the people I see there. As previously mentioned, I draw a lot of attention and it is because of this that I've learned how to understand the importance of body language.  For instance, it is so sunny and I am wearing my sunglasses. I can see everyone else, but no one knows where I'm looking. I realize that me shielding my eyes makes some of the locals uncomfortable so I remove them and smile. It helps the locals recognize that I am friendly and approachable. I take pictures with so many people-a woman and her baby, some teenagers, and an old woman. It's so amazing to have others display appreciation for my appearance. My favorite were a group of little kids and their chaperones. One little girl was looking at me with friendly curiosity so I smile and wave at her. She walks away from her parent and stands right in front of me. She holds my hand and her mom starts smiling asking to take a picture. We take soooo many pictures that my director asks them to move faster. There's just such a purity and curiosity in little kids and it's something I truly appreciate.

Inside the Forbidden City

Afterwards, we go to "Silk Street" which is actually just an indoor mall where bargaining is allowed. I personally don't like bargaining very much. It feels good when you get a good deal, but I'd rather not get a good deal on the back of another person. My heart is really big and I don't have it in me to low ball someone. I buy some tshirt a for my family and then I see a pair of headphones I like. The lady starts off at ¥880. I tell her ¥100. She tells me ¥680. I tell her ¥130. She says ¥600. I tell her I can look at other headphones. She pleads for me to buy the "newest headphones" at ¥300. I tell her it's still too high and that I can return after I visit other stores. She says fine at ¥130 and asks me what color I want. She also tells me I am beautiful, modest, and noble for bargaining with her in Chinese. She probably wants to get me to buy more stuff, but I appreciate the compliment.

P.S. Thank you so much for reading, sharing, and commenting on all of my posts. I've recently received my first message from an international reader from Suriname and it makes me so happy to see how far my blog extends and to what extent it helps people. Thank you so much <3

Beijing: The Great Wall (Day 2)

Today we go to the Great Wall of China. See, one can't simply start climbing the Great Wall. One has to walk a little ways, ride a bus, and then climb (or ride up) several flights of stairs until reaching an entry point. The stair climb to the Great Wall made me appreciate the wall that much more. Just imagine how many people had to carry heavy materials up the mountain without a staircase to make this world wonder all those years ago. The view from the wall is amazing. All the problems of the world seem to melt away when standing up there. I realize that for me, the greatness didn't lie within the wall; the greatness lied in the journey it took for me to reach the wall and in all the relationships I've made along the way.

Beijing : Day 1

My host parents

At around 4 am our parents and siblings stand with us until the bus comes to take us to the airport. It's a sort of emotional morning because we are sad to leave our host families, but happy to be seeing another part of China. My sister looks like she's going to cry so I give her a hug before I go. In all honesty, I want to cry too. The bus pulls off and my family watches me wave to them from the window. It's a hard feeling, but I know there's so much more to come; no need to be sad about the transition.

The flight lands in Beijing at around 11 am. This is definitely the most diversity that I have seen in 6 weeks. This flight is full of people from different walks of life-Europe, Portugal/Brazil, India, China, etc. I know the lack of diversity has made me become more diversity sensitive. The joyous sensation I feel when seeing other foreigners is really something beyond compare. The minute I step outside the airplane, I  immediately notice the heavy smog. It's thick so I can't really see through it, but I can definitely feel it burning my chest every time I try to inhale. I miss Xiamen already. We go to eat lunch and the food was sooo good. I start to like Beijing a little more.

Inside the Bird's Nest

 We go to the Olympic Park and go inside the "Bird's Nest". It was humongous and so surreal to be standing, sitting, and running in the same facility of that of legendary athletes. We also go to the "Water Cube" and get to see where Michael Phelps officially became the fastest swimmer in the world. It is the greatest feeling when all the history books and former current event assignments suddenly come to life.

The people of Beijing don't stare at me as intensely as the people of Xiamen, but that's because Beijing is used to foreigners. It's no longer shocking or attention worthy, however, I did snap a few pictures with some diversity fans.

Beijing is different. It's faster pace and more business-y than Xiamen. It's a new place with great food...I think I'm going to like it here ^_^

P.S. My friend's sister told my friend that she enjoyed watching me dance because I showed her that people don't have to be skinny to dance. She said that she liked my piece because it was unique and special<3

First Time 妈妈Gave Me a Hug

At home, 妈妈 mama walks in on me writing and she asks me if I've finished my homework. I tell her I've finished my homework but I haven't finished decorating the thank you note I wrote for her. She starts laughing and tells me there's no need to thank her. She says when I get older, I'll buy her stuff too so that makes it fair. And I told her that I appreciate everything and  she gave me a hug. She gave me a real hug and it means a lot because Chinese people don't like to hug. The will hug the people closest to them and to everyone else-maybe a handshake. The first time 妈妈 ever gave me a real hug. I'm sooo happy to finally feel like her real 女儿 daughter. I'm just sooo happy :)

Me and 妈妈

Host Family: Day 6

Hi everyone!!!

Soldier's tag is white. 

I wake up, eat breakfast, and my 妈妈mama tells me to clean my room because the housekeeper is coming. I assume I misunderstood what she said but I clean my room anyway because that's what she instructs me to do. Afterwards, 爸爸Baba drives me to school  and we talk all the way. I say obvious things like 我们在隧道里面 "we're in a tunnel"。He points out a vehicle with a special military licenses plate saying "巨人的车“ solider's car. I ask him what he liked to do when he was little. He says he likes to play baseball. I tell him that I've never played baseball, but that I play volleyball. We start talking about my sisters 姐姐和妹妹。He says that my youngest sister plays sports at school and that my other sister doesn't play sports at all. I asked him why she's always sweating when she comes home and he says its because she exercises with her personal trainer. When I ask him if he exercises, he says of course. At night I drink beers. He does his lifting motion for me and I start laughing. I tell him his muscles must be big. He laughs and before we know it we've reached our destination.

On the drive home conversation is feeling more forced because we're both tired. I ask if he has any Beatles music. He taught me how to "you got all of my love". 你得到我最好的爱。

Pre-dinner dumplings

I walk home to see the housekeeper cleaning my room and my newly cleaned pairs of converse. They have been had washed, dried, and re-stringed with new strings. I am extremely grateful, but my mother doesn't take too many thanks. She just says  不用谢 which literally translates to "I don't use thanks" (aka the Chinese "you're welcome).  妈妈 的朋友 My mother's friend makes spicy food for me because they know I like it.

There's a special kind of enthusiasm is Chinese hospitality that goes above and beyond that of  American (including southern) hospitality. My favorite part of the day was recognizing the irony of my family cleaning the house before the housekeeper cleans the house. It's as if they are trying to lighten her load or impress her with their cleanliness. Its...different; let's just call it a culture shock ^_^

Africans in China ^_^

Hi everyone!

Today we left campus and went to a museum in Quanzhou. When we pulled up to the Maritime Museum, I saw 3 black women and I was both excited and curious to know why there were so many black people in one place. As I walk through the doors of the museum, I see even more black people in traditional African clothing. These aren't African-Americans; these are Africans!! I am feeling so excited to see all of these people who look like me in one place. They are staring and smiling at me. They actually stand on the indoor balcony and smile down at me.  It was so sweet. I look at them and they invite me to come talk to them. They are so sweet and loving and they treat me like family. They give me a hug before they even ask for my name. I ask them when they are from and they say Zimbabwe, Kenya, and Antigua. I'm so elated I forgot to tell them my name and where I'm from. Eventually they figure out that I am from the United States and I am here to study Chinese. They ask me where my parents are from and I have to explain that I am black because I'm
Haitian and African American. They are still just as loving as they were before.  They had to leave quickly after our encounter, but not before snapping a few pictures.

It is so nice to be able to find comfort in strangers. It wasn't because they were black, but more because they were smiling and so welcoming. Their friendliness was just so contagious and comforting. It really helped soothe my homesickness. Just seeing people that I share a similar origin with in a foreign country is an experience beyond compare and is something that I'll never forget.