Today was our last day in Qingdao, and it was hard for all of us to say goodbye to the families who hosted us, the friends we made, and the school that brought us all together. But if the frequency of taking far too many selfies on always-connected phones has taught us anything, it's that we're grateful for modern technology so that we can all remain in touch despite being on opposite sides of the world. We thank our hosts for their unbelievable and selfless hospitality; without them, this trip would not have been as profoundly life-changing as I know it has been for all of us.
As Qingdao Number 58 waved goodbye to us, we started the next part of our journey by flying to Xi'an, the ancient capital of China. There, our tour guide took us to bike on top of the city's 600-year-old defensive wall -- which was beautifully maintained and offered great views of Xi'an -- and then to a hot pot dinner. It's unbelievable to think that at the end of tomorrow we will already be on our way to Beijing, the last stop of our trip!
-Adam
Recently, I was introduced to a line from a Rilke poem which states, "Let everything happen to you.......beauty and terror." Rilke's words have proven wise during this experience in China.
Beauty-China is a stunningly beautiful country with kind, generous and hospitable people. People who are eager to share their lives and who have allowed us the opportunity to do the same. Terror-being here has reminded me how frighteningly far from home we are, how disorienting a foreign culture can be and how a heart can ache from missing those we love.
As our group spends our last few days here, I'm grateful to have shared this experience with such an extraordinary group of young people.
Gabe