Final Week (39)

As I reach my last couple of days in Shanghai, I could not possibly hope to describe in any number of words how unbelievably life-changing this entire experience has been for me. I will thus finish this record of my time in China by saying although I am very excited to come back to the States and start the next phase of my life, I will dearly treasure and miss so many aspects of this place and this experience. However, I know I will always carry it in my heart and brain wherever I go, forever and ever. 

Now I will leave you with the classic cliché of "a picture is worth a thousand words" in describing this week of goodbyes. I am so absolutely grateful to have met and become so close to all of these beautiful humans.

My last time eating my favorite dish in all of China: vegetable fried rice with all kinds of magical spice:

With the lovely owners of this delicious Northwest noodle joint!

Giving my graduation speech (my Japanese friend Koki who will be attending college in China next year also gave a wonderful one):

Language Class 2 (Reo, Paris, Yas, Keiondre, Brady, Carmen, Saori, Maike, Me, Sun Lao Shi and Ge Lao shi) 

Two of the best teachers in the world! 孙老师和葛老师 (Sun and Ge)

After our graduation ceremony, class 2 went with Sun and Ge to a Sichuan restaurant. It was one of the most authentic and deliciously spicy that I have had outside of Chengdu and it was one of the most fun restaurant experiences I have had all year! We played a bunch of games, one of which was that we couldn't use the Chinese versions of "me/I", "you" and "he/she" or else we have to choose "truth or dare". I ended up having to ask a waiter if I could hug a waiter (he said he wasn't allowed). Such a wonderful last dinner here!

With Reo, Saori and the top of Yas's head

With Eriko

With Chihiro 

With Johanna 

With Eirik

38

Our favorite Xin Jiang noodle place is back and even better! We think all our previous visits helped them pay for the remodeling, which makes me very happy. I'll miss them so much when I leave! 

On Sunday night we went to the acrobatic circus! It was one of the coolest things I've ever seen and I was dangerously close to running away and joining their troupe. There was everything from traditional Chinese Vase juggling, to gangsta hoop-jumpers, silk dancers, motorcyclists riding around in a metal globe and oh so much more. Unfortunately we weren't able to take photos, but I highly recommend a visit if ever you are in Shanghai. 

Wednesday morning, we filmed "A Day in the Life of a Student at Jiao Zhong", which will be used to remember this wonderful year as well as recruit others to the international student program in the future.  

In the early afternoon, we learned how to wrap 粽子 (zong zi or sticky rice + meat/dates in leaves) for the Dragon Boat Festival, which is this weekend. This holiday food comes from the legend of Qu Yuan, a patriotic poet in the Warring States period who jumped into a river because he'd rather die than see his state overrun. His countrymen loved him so much that they rowed dragon boats down the river to save his body and give him a proper burial. They threw zong zi into the river so that the fish would eat those rather than Qu Yuan's body. 

In the late afternoon, we all presented our research projects. Everyone did a wonderful job! Again, my topic was Contemporary Shanghainese perspectives on and uses of Chinese medicine. Maike studied Chinese sign language and deaf culture; Tilden looked at Chinese beauty ideals; Sara, the history and culture of dumplings and steamed buns; Brady, Chinese young people's practical life skills; Paris, Shanghai's public transportation system; Carmen, the history of the Bund; Megan, child-raising in China; and Keiondre, the Chinese Hu Kou migration system. 

Thursday, our school organized some outside activities for us. We were supposed to travel to Suzhou this week, but for a couple reasons (some violent acts outside of Shanghai, the international meeting last week, etc.), no high school students are allowed to travel outside of Shanghai. 

The activities ended up being very fun anyway though! We went for a picnic at a park, where we also got to ride some awesome tandem bikes, and went to see the new X-Men movie (which was great but apparently different in some ways than the version showing in the States... Let's just say there was a lot less Hugh Jackman nudity in our Chinese version haha). After that we went all together to eat dinner at "Grandma's Kitchen".

It was lovely to spend some time with everyone in the international department before we leave and it was all-in-all a really excellent day! 

Saturday morning my host mom taught me how to make soy milk from scratch! 

I'm really looking forward to culinary projects this summer and I'll definitely have to try her awesomely simple recipe when I get home! 

Saturday afternoon, I had lunch with Duoduo (my yoga teacher friend). This year would not have been anywhere near as amazing without Duoduo and I am so grateful to call such a kind, intelligent and funny person my good friend. 

Sunday, we celebrated my Estonian friend Johanna's birthday! I'll miss her so so much, but visiting her is definitely on the top of my European travels list!