Yes it's that absolutely, mind-blowing time when I have less than a day left in Shanghai. Currently my three roommates are finishing packing, gossiping, and listening to jams. I couldn't be happier even though it will be one of the last times I get to do this.
Since the last time I checked in, I've taken five exams, celebrated one birthday, and had multiple long-nights making memories that I will never forget. Rhett took me to M on the Bund and Char Bar for my birthday, both with breathtakingly beautiful views of this city. I'm going to cling to these last few days when I go back but I cannot deny that I am ready to see beautiful Malibu and all of my wonderful friends.
In one of my first blog posts on KPK I wondered about how the world would shape us all. Thankfully, nearly nine months later, I am still in contact with all of them and can already see the maturity this year has formed. Even more exciting are the days, months, and years to come. I have no doubt that all of our experiences will enrich our lives in this time to come.
So thank you to everyone who has kept up with me. I have been a world away but I have never felt alone or forgotten. I wouldn't trade this experience for anything and everyone who has invested in me during this time has been an integral part of this. So, until I get to thank you all in person...
love,
kpk
Saturday, April 18, 2015
Wednesday, April 8, 2015
Beijing
Our last travel weekend was such a beautiful way to end our time in China. We saw some of the most iconic symbols of this country and reminisced what a difference 8 months can make! We officially have 10 days left before we fly back to the states and I honestly can't wrap my mind around it. The end of an era but a wonderful learning experience. From this blog to driving around on my moped, I have been stretched very far out of my comfort zone but I am beginning to feel the pride that has come with these experiences. Though I will never be able to fully articulate what this time has meant to me or how thankful I am, but I hope to be an ambassador for our program and for China when we get back.
A big thank you to my parents for making this time possible and for the program directors for being such wonderful hosts in Shanghai! I promise to write again before the end of our 10 days, but I am already feeling a little weepy about leaving so I wanted to start my goodbyes now! Enough sappiness - here are the pictures from Beijing!
love,
kpk
The Birds Nest
- Beijing Olympics Summer 2008 -
The Temple of Heaven
- Used by emperors in Ancient China to pray for good harvest and to spare the people from natural disaster -
Close-Up of the Temple
- Beautiful even on an typical, overcast Beijing day -
Tiananmen Square
- City square in the centre of Beijing, named after the Tiananmen gate (Gate of Heavenly Peace), separating it from the Forbidden City -
Inside the Forbidden City
- Young girls dressed up in traditional outfits posing for pictures -
Forbidden City (and Rammie!)
- In the entrance gate recently restored for the 2008 Olympics -
Chinese Patriotism on the Great Wall
- Entered from Jinshanling, approximately two hours outside of downtown Beijing -
Beverages on the Great Wall
- It was a beautiful day for our hour and a half hike along the wall -
Summer Palace
- Built when the capital was moved to Beijing in the 1100's -
Da Dong Duck
- The most famous restaurant for Peking Duck, it was cooked in the center of the restaurant and carved beside your table!-
Lama Temple
- A unique stop that is famous monastery for Tibetan Buddhism -
Hutong Lake
- A beautiful lake surrounded by restaurants hidden behind alleys of the old Beijing hutongs -
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798 Art District
- An area devoted to fun artwork and shops, we spent a couple hours roaming around galleries -
Wednesday, April 1, 2015
Guilt
There are many types of guilt and right now I am feeling a lot of them.
First off, Blog guilt: it has been a month!!! Where has the time gone!? You have a better guess than me. I practically blinked and all the fun events I was anticipating just soared by. My parents stopped in, I went on a field trip to Vietnam, and then here I am. In so many ways I am thankful for this, but I also wonder when the clock is ever going to slow down a little. It is hard to believe that I will be putting the final chapter on my second year of college when I still feel like I should anxiously be awaiting acceptance letters in the mail. I have grown in so many ways these past two years and I cannot even begin to share the overwhelming joy that that fact brings me. Two years ago I would have laughed in the face of anyone who said this is what my life would be like. But it is. And I am in utter bliss.
Second, Vietnam guilt. As many of you know, we just returned from our Educational Field trip to Vietnam. This five day trip was fully of laughs, new experiences, and fun, but also was sobering when we became more familiar with the war we fought there. Because this conflict has distinctly shaped the current culture of Vietnam, it was unavoidable and frankly, extremely important for us as Americans to grasp the amount of damage each side imposed on one another. It was more than hard to sit through but I am very thankful for the opportunity to understand a little bit more about it. I needed a little extra reading material since I didn't take AP US History, and perhaps some of you do, too. So here is a good link to give you some background on the "American War" as the Vietnamese call it: http://www.historynet.com/vietnam-war, http://www.history.com/topics/vietnam-war.
Third, health guilt. For the first time this semester I have actually gotten sick. Yes, the laying in bed all day, not wanting solid food sick and it SUCKS. But silver lining? This is my body's way of telling me to tap the breaks. I have 19 days left in Shanghai. That terrifies me and I have been pushing that fact to the back of my mind. I feel renewed over these past few days as my health has been gradually improving, than I am capable of starting out a new adventure next year. It may seem simple to plop back on a beach in Malibu and take classes but in reality it is so much more than that. I hope that the same sense of pride and community is still there, and though I am confident it is, I look forward into seeing how abroad has shaped my spot in this community. But for now, I'm just cherishing my 19 days.
These are my "confessions" for now. Blessings to everyone celebrating the Easter season!
love,
kpk
PS. Happy Birthday to the most beautiful Mother! On April 2nd, the world became a better place because of you! I love you to the moon and back a million times!
First off, Blog guilt: it has been a month!!! Where has the time gone!? You have a better guess than me. I practically blinked and all the fun events I was anticipating just soared by. My parents stopped in, I went on a field trip to Vietnam, and then here I am. In so many ways I am thankful for this, but I also wonder when the clock is ever going to slow down a little. It is hard to believe that I will be putting the final chapter on my second year of college when I still feel like I should anxiously be awaiting acceptance letters in the mail. I have grown in so many ways these past two years and I cannot even begin to share the overwhelming joy that that fact brings me. Two years ago I would have laughed in the face of anyone who said this is what my life would be like. But it is. And I am in utter bliss.
Second, Vietnam guilt. As many of you know, we just returned from our Educational Field trip to Vietnam. This five day trip was fully of laughs, new experiences, and fun, but also was sobering when we became more familiar with the war we fought there. Because this conflict has distinctly shaped the current culture of Vietnam, it was unavoidable and frankly, extremely important for us as Americans to grasp the amount of damage each side imposed on one another. It was more than hard to sit through but I am very thankful for the opportunity to understand a little bit more about it. I needed a little extra reading material since I didn't take AP US History, and perhaps some of you do, too. So here is a good link to give you some background on the "American War" as the Vietnamese call it: http://www.historynet.com/vietnam-war, http://www.history.com/topics/vietnam-war.
Third, health guilt. For the first time this semester I have actually gotten sick. Yes, the laying in bed all day, not wanting solid food sick and it SUCKS. But silver lining? This is my body's way of telling me to tap the breaks. I have 19 days left in Shanghai. That terrifies me and I have been pushing that fact to the back of my mind. I feel renewed over these past few days as my health has been gradually improving, than I am capable of starting out a new adventure next year. It may seem simple to plop back on a beach in Malibu and take classes but in reality it is so much more than that. I hope that the same sense of pride and community is still there, and though I am confident it is, I look forward into seeing how abroad has shaped my spot in this community. But for now, I'm just cherishing my 19 days.
These are my "confessions" for now. Blessings to everyone celebrating the Easter season!
love,
kpk
PS. Happy Birthday to the most beautiful Mother! On April 2nd, the world became a better place because of you! I love you to the moon and back a million times!
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