Before I write this post, I want to mention that I actually wrote for more than an hour a really nice, long post before this. I thought it was a great ending to my time in China. I sent it, and somehow it didn't send. I'm so upset because it took me such a long time to write it, and there was so much content in it. I also forgot to copy and paste it onto my notes app on my iphone, so now I will attempt to write as much as I can remember from the original.
I just finished taking a shower, and now it is basically the last night for me in Hangzhou. Everyone is meeting at 9:30 AM at the school tomorrow in order to leave on a bus to the Shanghai airport together. In the morning, I had a graduation ceremony at my school. There were performances from the host siblings, various speeches, a slideshow of our stay in China, and others, like handing out certificates. Every American student received a Chinese dictionary as a gift. It was the last time I saw my two teachers, and so I teared up. They're the best teachers...I love them so much. There were lots of pictures taken, and I realized that this will be the last time all the host families will be together. Afterwards, we went to eat lunch with the host families at a hotel right across from the school. During the day, I spent my time packing, and it was difficult. There were so many things to organize, but I finished everything quickly with the help of my host sister, cousin, and grandma. My family took me out to dinner at a very famous hotpot restaurant in Hangzhou called Hai Di Lao. The workers there are very hospitable because everytime you get up, they say, "Ni hao," smile, or attempt to help with anything. They also came every few minutes to check on us while we were having our dinner. In the bathroom, there's always one person handing out out towels for people to use after washing hands. If you want, a worker can even paint your nails while you wait for your food. There are new toothbrushes and toothpaste on the shelf, lotion for moisturizing, and some facial care products along with the lotion. The atmosphere would make anyone love the restaurant even if the food was bad, and trust me, the food was DELICIOUS. At night my host sister and I met with Alex and her host sister for a bit to have some mango shaved ice together. We've been to the shaved ice place so many times already that we just have conversations with the workers. My host sister even walked into the kitchen to check on our order because it was taking a while to come. While I walked around my neighborhood, I thought, I'm really going to miss being able to go out and see lots of people walking at 9-10 PM. I also love how convenient it is living here; you have literally everything once you walk out of my host family's complex. I tried my best today to not take anything for granted and/or notice things I haven't before. When I was walking up the six flights of stairs with my host sister at night to my host family's home, I knew that that would have probably been my last time climbing up all those stairs and then feeling exhausted when I reached the top. It's tiresome to walk so many flights of stairs, but I'm really going to miss that. I also gave my host family a photo album with about 50 pictures I printed at a KODAK shop in it. They appreciated it very much, and I'm glad they like it because I wasn't sure if just one gift for them would be enough. As I'm laying on my bed, I'm thinking, I had my last dinner with my host family, my last time being in the classroom with my teachers and friends, my last time going out to walk around my neighborhood, my last night in Hangzhou. This will also be my last time sleeping in my mosquito-netted bed in my host family's house.
What I'll miss:
-Coming home from school and seeing my grandma prepare a kind of snack for me
-Watching news with my grandma
-The food at my host family's house
-Being able to walk around my neighborhood and seeing lots of people having fun hanging out/strolling
-Going to a plaza or garden and seeing people roller skate, dance, practicing tai chi, etc.
-Studying in a room with my host sister and host cousin.
-Buying boba drinks for $1.
-The convenience of traveling in Hangzhou.
-Laying in bed in my room while my grandma either watches a drama, plays majiang, or watches a dance tutorial on the computer next to me.
-Night markets
-The sceneries in Hangzhou
-My grandma's special tofu dessert.
-Watching The Voice of China (中 國 好 聲 音) with all of my host family members every Friday.
-Having street food
-How cheap everything is (at least the clothes and food).
...and the list continues (basically everything I've done and experienced
on this trip).
These past six weeks flew by, but all my memories will never be forgotten. I'm so thankful for this "once-in-a-lifetime" opportunity (but literally). I love my host family, friends, teachers, the city, and all aspects of this journey. I really couldn't have asked for more. I'm looking forward for another trip back to Hangzhou, and I can't wait for other opportunities like this!
(the rest of the pictures will be posted tomorrow)
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