Update

I arrived in China early September, and everything is going really well. Being in China I have a lot of time think. One thing I have a lot to think about is this really abstract idea that I call my “pot of gold”. This amazing treasure is not a fortune, but rather an understanding of world and oneself that I have been looking for ever since my first study abroad experience in China my senior year of high school. Weirdly, recently I have been treating the idea of “the pot gold” as if it were a tangible pot of gold, and I have traveling around for it. A couple of weeks ago I went of a three day hike with a couple of friends in the Hebei province. We climbed to the top, it was beautiful. Sadly, it started to rain, then hail, then snow. We all almost froze to death. Though this experience was amazing, sadly I did not find what I was looking for.

Next I went on a series of camping trips some in the forest and some in the city (literally in the city , my friends and would pitch a tent in a park or next to the river the surrounds city that I live in). Again sadly, I was not able to find the understanding I was searching for. I feel this is a powerful time in life, I am communicating with many new people and doing good things for my new community (like teach English at Orphanage and visiting senior citizens in the city ( a small tangent: the seniors citizens love me and they find it amazing that I can speak Chinese)). Everyday is a new cultural experience and my courses are engaging (and hard because I am studying literature, ancient Chinese, linguistics all in Chinese).

Well this ends my short update. I am overwhelmed with gratitude for the profound impact that One WorldNow! has had my search for my “pot of gold”. I will definitely stay in touch.

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