I just finished up China and am now safely home and a little jet-lagged from the trip. We were really busy the last two weeks with Arina’s arrival, planning out her work, introducing her, and saying goodbye to some wonderful friends we’ve made! I always underestimate the time it’s going to take to say my farewells. I plan for a simple 10 minute goodbye and forget that it’s actually multiple dinners, coffee dates, and pictures!
The keepers who were such a wonderful help to our study!
Good bye baby pandas! When I see you next you will be adult size.
Our last dinner with Mr. Tang and Mr. Zhou, the two managers who have been essential to the smooth running of my project.
The owners of our local Hot-pot restaurant. Their son was one of Dee’s favorite friends in China and they gave us hot-pot to bring back home!
We took Arina to the Giant Buddha in Leshan for our last couple of days in Sichuan. Internships and work in China can’t be all work and no play!
Things I’ll miss about China:
Hot-pot. I’d gotten used to a hot-pot meal every other night downstairs below our apartment.
No need for a car; transportation was super convenient and everything we needed was within walking distance.
Early morning observations of pandas as the fog was lifting and with a slight chill in the air. The bears would breath out while eating or walking around and their breath would cause these large billows of heated air. Everything was so quiet and serene during the morning.
The rhythm of the pandas chewing their bamboo stems and then breaking them off with a few snuffs in between.
Heating up with multiples cups of tea in my office when I was freezing. There’s nothing quite like nursing a cup of hot tea in between your hands while reading emails.
My 20 minute morning walk to the bus station that woke me up and got me ready for the day.
My friends and co-workers. The friendliness of the Chinese and the free babysitting at restaurants!
I don’t have to get all teary-eyed yet at my goodbyes as I get to see everyone again next year and the year after! But I won’t lie, it was a little difficult saying good-bye to China. Even though I have our PDXSeafood project to start as soon as I get home, seafood just isn’t as cute as pandas.
-Meg
