I can't even begin to summarize the last several weeks. There were moments that inspired me, others that tested my limits and many many exhausting nights that I was afraid would never end. I loved it all and am sad that it has all come to an end. I am back in the U.S. and will head of to college in less than a week to begin a much more routine schedule.
This post includes only a few of the fun times my team had with our students.
The last few days of classes were so much fun and the relationships each of us as teachers had invested in began to really blossom. Our students even invited us to spend the Saturday after the camp ended with them at a theme park! That day is most definitely in my top 5 favorite days of all time. I was exhausted as you will see in the pictures, but I had sooo much fun!
Our team spent our last week in Asia visiting the city of Harbin, China. Unfortunately, I don't have any pictures from that trip to share, but it was truly the PERFECT way to end a five week trip in Asia. The city leader from Harbin had arranged for university students to volunteer as tour guides for all of us. We walked all over Harbin and had some of the most delicious food I've ever had in my life. It was awesome!
Ok, I'll stop talking now and get on with some fun pictures. These pictures don't show it all, but I hope they can at least give you a glimpse into the trip that has changed me forever. I have grown and experienced so much grace I can't even begin to describe it all.
I want to apologize for the sporadic posts. Wifi availability was scare and it was frustrating to be so limited in my communication capabilities. I appreciate your patience.
Thank you again for supporting me along this journey. I have left a piece of my heart in Asia with my students and it was because of you that those relationships exist.
Now take a look at the beautiful (and embarrassing) memories you helped to make possible!
This my favorite picture of Hong Kong. I just wanted to show it one more time :)
It rained ALOT. Here is a snap shot of Anna and me after a shopping spree at Mong Kok in the rain.
Our team just chilling and playing some good ol' apples to apples.
(left to right) Chandler, Dani, me, Anna
Our team took us out to "Hot Pot" which is a dinner of raw food and a boiling pot of broth in the middle. Think "The Melting Pot" asian style. Mostly delicious minus the chicken testicle and weird veggies. Surprisingly, duck intestine is quite tasty! Here are a few pictures from that night.
(left to right) Abbe, Nicole, me
Oh Jason...he's not even one of my students, but he had some unspoken feelings he wanted to share at dinner. I was obviously thrilled!
Jackson, Chandler, and Amber being silly with some students
The whole group from dinner. I'm not really sure what I was thinking during this picture, but it wasn't a well executed facial expression on my part.
Ok, this picture is a little better! At least I look slightly more normal this time around.
These two pictures were taken on the last day of class. The picture below on the left shows me with Anna. A very dear and sweet student from my class. She speaks English very well and even showed me her piano playing talents! We definitely shared a special connection during the three weeks I was at her school.
The picture below that is me with Abbe again. Abbe was by far the most outspoken and enthusiastic of my students. Any game we played she HAD to win and we all heard about it when she got out. She brought plenty of laughter into the class room.
Abbe organized a secret poster board gift for me from my class. They made it in the shape of a flower in my favorite color. It included pictures from my facebook page as well as pictures we had taken together during the summer. It was the sweetest gift I have ever received. It includes a note from each one of my students and lots of fun memories. Here Abbe, me, Niko, and Sally show off this AWESOME gift!
Here is my enture class holding their well deserved certificates!
Niko and a few other students on our first roller coaster of the day at Ocean Park on the Saturday following our last week of English camp!
After we spent a day at the Ocean Park theme park our students arranged for a few of us to have an indoor BBQ. After dinner we got crazy and started stacking things on our heads. As you can see I was impressed by my amazing student David's creativity :).
Here is Jackson, Chandler, me, Amber, Dani, and Anna taking a few last minute photos with some of our students before we had to say goodbye.
There are sooo many stories I could share and honestly I feel like I've left the best memories and pictures out, but I couldn't do it all justice. Sadly, so much that happened in Asia will stay there, but the experience has changed me forever.
Thank you for following along on this incredible adventure!
