Final Days and Ending Thoughts- Jes

Tibetan Thanksgiving

When I got to China it was the real Thanksgiving. It was wonderful that I got to celebrate Thanksgiving twice. Steve and I went to Jenny's school and talked to her students about Thanksgiving. I got a chance to say goodbye to one of the sweet Chinese women who took us to the beach weeks earlier. After Jenny was off work, we went to have a Tibetan Thanksgiving Feast. Tibetan food was my new favorite food we had in China.

Jenny Teaching Her Students About Thanksgiving

It was really strange not being with Liz anymore. I felt like I was missing my second half as I spent my last two days walking around in China. We managed to get her stuff shipped home really cheap, so everything was coming together for her extended trip. 

Tibetan Show

My last night, Jenny and Steve through an Asian Games Ending Ceremonies party. It was great to meet some more of their friends. I attempted to make brushetta but it didn't turn out like I expected. The fireworks for the Asian games closing ceremony were amazing from Jenny and Steve's balcony, they really have an amazing view. The next day they took me into Hong Kong and to Llama Island where they lived when they first moved to China. It was an adorable little town, full of boutiques and a variety of people. There were a lot of British people living there, and Jenny mentioned that it would be a good place for a writer to go and think.

This morning I hopped on a bus to a plane to Chicago. Now I'm sitting her in the Chicago airport waiting for my connecting flight back to DC. Its a weird feeling. My mom asked me if it felt different to be back in the U.S. Its a weird feeling because I am happy to get my life started (with work and an apartment), but it seems like every time I come home from abroad, a little part of me stays there. It was an amazing trip, I experienced so much and I learned so much. It changed the way I look at the world, and I will always remember my experiences. I hope I'll be back, but until then the pictures, blog entries and post cards will have to remind me.