I can not believe that I will be back in the states tomorrow, it is somewhat unreal. These past five weeks have seemed to have flown by. I can't even begin to try and put this trip into words. I can only really say that I don't think the entire experience has sunk in yet, and won't for a while. I think it will be a few days or so before I can take a step back and truly reflect on this great opportunity I've had to travel to another country and be submerged in it's culture for five weeks. However, I will soon have to get used to being back in the states and starting/finishing my summer.
In Beijing I turned 21 on May 29th. My first order of business will be to have my American birthday celebration with family and friends. Then the following Monday after we get back I will start my internship with the Department of Juvenile Justice. I'm really hopeful that this internship will help aide me in my future career choices. Aside from my internship my other summer job is serving as a CAPS Leader for the University. I will be in contact with incoming students answering any questions they might have and trying to ease their transition from high school to college. Then, during my "free time" it will be spent preparing for the GRE, my upcoming senior year in college, and hopefully some weekend travels with friends and family.
Again, with it being our last night in China I can not fully explain all of my emotions over the past few weeks. I am excited to return home, amazed that it has already been five weeks, shocked that I have made it this long without Twitter, and beyond grateful for the opportunity to go on a trip like this. As far as the three cities go, I felt the most "at home" in Beijing, had the most fun in Xi'an, and seen the most beautiful buildings in Shanghai! Unfortunately at this point I can't appropriately reflect more on this once-in-alifetime experience than that, so all that I can do right now is look ahead to the future and try to prepare for my upcoming ventures.
-Alex Jenkins