Met Mellisa ex MC from Aiesec Canada today. She's here in shanghai for 2 days before going off to International Congress in Germany. It was really an honor for me to meet her, i really look up to her for aiesec advice. She's really a blast to work with! I also said my 'good bye's' to aiesec in jiao tong university. Lavi was the first person i met in China, he really made my trip in china possible. He found a place for me, introduced me to the other aiesecers in china...he was my first connection to china. Unfortunately he was not able to visit Victoria nor was i able to visit his hometown at least i got to meet him. William, i'll miss him too. he showed me many different aspects of china. i'll never forget our conversations about girls. and he's right: Shanghai girls are the most beautiful in China! (don't worry, girls in Beijing are just as beautiful too)
the past few days i've begun to realize that i'm actually going to leave Shanghai! it's been the been my home for the past 6 weeks. at first i had a little trouble adapting to the life style ( u know, being a foreign student and all), but i've overcome many obstacles and grown tremendously in mandarin skill, and as a person. I'm not afraid that afraid to ask someone for help in chinese, or order food or travel by myself. I remember when i first arrived in china, i was so afraid that someone would speak to me, but now i dont care if a person talks to me and i if i can understand or not. Shanghai is still a sprawling metropolous but life here isn't as blury as it seemed when i first arrived here back in May. Holy Smokes! May!! I've been here long, yet i still feel like i should stay here longer. I know i can progress in chinese faster now that i'm beginning to get more comfortable with my surroundings. I still feel somehow connected to this country, but i have a lot to learn about the chinese people.
Of course this country isn't perfect, and no country is. I can go on for a long time of the things i dislike about China, but what's the point; it wouldn't be China without a little dirt. I've come to understand the good and the bad parts of China, and it's important to keep an open mind when encountering the unexpected. I'm sick and tired of talking to foreigners about how they hate china, and how it should be more like [Insert home country here]. Whatever, i didn't come here to talk to foreigners and i couldn't care less if someone isn't adapting well but i'll try my best to help them keep an open mind.
this is turning out to be quite an adventure.