May 13th, 2019 (Sunday/Monday)

Today was (hopefully) the most exhausting day of the trip. Starting at 4AM, we traveled from St.
Louis, MO to Seattle, WA. Once we arrived in Seattle, we immediately began adventuring into the city.
For such a short trip into the new area, we were able to see a lot of new things. We began by taking an
Uber to the Pike’s Place Market. From there we checked out all of the food and booths offered at the
market, one thing that stuck out the most was the beautiful arrays of flowers that everyone had,
presumably for Mother’s Day. We walked around for a few hours, looked at art work and took many
pictures. We stopped by several stores in the area, as we made our way to the Space Needle. During one
stop, we asked for recommendations on places to eat.

We decided to stop at this restaurant called “Biscuit Bitch”. Every other word out of an
employee’s mouth, every name of an item, and every sign read “bitch”. It was very interesting to see, but
the taste of the food was phenomenal. There was a bit of a wait, but it was worth it. We then finished our
walk to the Space Needle, took a few pictures in front of it, and walked back to the Market with time to
meet the group. For the duration of each flight, I managed to sleep most, if not all, the way through. Once
we arrived in Lanzhou, the bus ride to the hotel was most draining. I felt exhausted, yet awake, and
intrigued by the things we saw. One thing I noticed was how the buildings are completely black in the
night. When I asked about it, we were told that China is big on solar powered energy. I am most excited
to go out and adventure in the area tomorrow, and truly see how the culture is here.

May 14th, 2019 (Tuesday)

After getting about 6 hours of sleep, I still felt quite tired and sluggish. First thing this morning
we began taking pictures outside, everything is so green and lively. The architecture is beautiful
everywhere you look. We then met with our two tour guides, Emma and Jeff. They are both extremely
kind and helpful, even from the moment we met them. Immediately we began walking to the first
destination. We all know that one issue China faces is overpopulation, however I never really imagined
just how many people would populate an area. Immediately after leaving the hotel the streets were lined
up with people walking and in various modes of transportation including cars, public transportation,
bikes, and motorcycles. We walked with Emma from the hotel to the restaurant we would have lunch at,
and all the while seeing people, smelling new smells, and listening to all of the sounds.

Our first stop was a restaurant with the most delicious smelling food. I had the beef noodles, with
medium noodles. I did not know that you could choose your noodles based on various shapes, sizes, and
textures. Back home there are very slim options, such as lo mien or rice. But here there are a plethora of
options, and even when ordering the same item as someone else they look very different. The taste was
very fresh, and sweet but spicy. It was much different from any of the Chinese cuisine back home.

Once we left the restaurant we each hopped into a cab and went to the next destination. This time,
we went to a shopping center / market. It was very interesting to see all of the different items they had, as
well as the items that were similar to ours back home but with different packaging. It was also very
interesting to see how the shops are set up, with multiple miniature shops leading the entrance to the
market. The market is also set up very similarly to ours back home, with similar items to a Shop n’ Save
or Walmart. Only much smaller. Also, while we were at the market we used the restroom. This was my
first adventure with a squatty potty. It was a very interesting, and difficult, and would not recommend.

On our way out of the market, we began walking back to the campus. On our walk, I asked Jeff if
he could explain why a majority of the population wear masks across their faces. He said that a few days
prior to our arrival there was a bad sand storm, and that they happen during the spring time. There are also
other reasons they wear them, such as if they want to avoid being spoken to, if their breath stinks, or when
they are ill. We arrived on the college campus, we began the tour. We got to see the campus clinic and
police station, as well as some other beautiful views. We saw a beautiful garden of purple iris’, many
beautiful statues, as well as a group of college graduates that all wanted a picture with us. We took a
picture with the group, then went to the museum on campus.

In the museum were many amazing artifacts. There were symbols sketched into bone, which were
meant to be prayers to God that would be burnt in hopes to reach God, asking for answers and seeking the
future. There were also very old, decorated pots that were meant for cooking. Jeff informed me that the
largest pot was used to cook humans - yikes! There were bells that would make different sounds, based on
their shape and size. They were meant to be used in good fortune, so when making a good comment or
when something happy happens. Finally, there were pieces of Dunhuang scripture from the tang dynasty,
that was very interesting to look at.

We finally made it back to the hotel, where I gained a very bad migraine and stayed in for the
evening.
May 15th, 2019 (Wednesday)

First thing this morning I woke up feeling very refreshed and energized. I was able to get up and
get ready quickly, and was excited to start my day. We met in the lobby around 8 AM, and immediately
got on the bus to leave for the day. We began the morning with a walk to the new college campus, where
Emma and Jeff gave us a brief tour, which included some beautiful scenery and interesting people. It was
very interesting to see how the people of that town took interest in us as we walked by. Our destination
was the building for the school of special education. We went directly to the room in which our days
activities would take place. Once settled, we were given coffee and water as beverages. Personally, I was
not a fan of the coffee they provided. But it was a very kind gesture. We then began our first of three
presentations. I feel as though I took so much away from all three presentations, and with each was also
intrigued by the new thoughts and questions that arose.

The first presentation given was by Daniel, who works for the Department of Special Education. I
took a lot of notes, to which I will provide at the end of my journal, but I also took away a few key points.
One of which is that in China they do not specifically call it special needs, but rather the school for the

The second presentation was over the development of Elementary Education. As well, the notes will be
below, but as for now here are a few key points I took away from this presentation.

After the second presentation, we went to get lunch at the old college campus’ cafeteria. There
were many people there, all staring as we got our lunch. I felt very awkward and out of place, until Jeff
informed us while we were eating, that because of the prolonged closed borders and the very limited
amount of tourism in China, it is rare to see an American walking the streets or in their buildings. This is
fascinating, as it is completely opposite of back in America.

We gathered our lunch to which I decided to venture out and try several new things - only one of
which I knew what it was. I tried all of the items and I strongly disliked duck, as well as a red paste meant
to go on top of white rice. All of the other dished I had, I thoroughly enjoyed. When we went to throw
away our trays, the woman working the counter stopped Tyler as he was tossing his food and did it for
him. While this was happening, several people surrounded and recorded videos / took pictures on their
phones. I now understand why they did it, but it still stands to bother me - if this were to happen in
America, how would they react? Also, what is the proper reaction in a situation like this? I smiled, and
moved on as we left the building.

As we were making our way back to the hotel, we came across the track where there was
currently a Track and Field meet happening. We began watching in awe as the students were fast-pace
walking and running the track. At the same time there were, again, many people stopping to take our
picture as we walked through. We watched for a little while, then made it back to the hotel with enough
time to take a quick rest.

At 2:00 PM we met again with Jeff and Emma, as we boarded the bus to go back to the main
college campus. Once there, we went directly to the same room as before. When we got off the elevator,
there were about 10 students sitting in the lobby who all seemed very kind. Once we were seated in the
room, the students that were in the hall joined us for the third and final presentation.

The third presentation was about the Chinese culture within the school. This presentation was
very interesting, as it answered a lot of questions that I had about the culture, without even having to ask.
I think the part of the presentation that I enjoyed the most, was once it was over where we had about 30-
40 minutes to talk with the college students sitting with us. The two that I got to speak with were Joy and
Hope (I believe). They were so kind, so full of information, and extremely interested in our culture. We
shared stories and pictures of our hometown, as well as taught each other how to say a word in our native
language. When asked what school we attend, we told her how to pronounce it. She then looked up our
school, and taught us how to say it in Chinese. I found this very interesting, as I learned something about
the language that I did not already know; each syllable is broken down into a character. So for the name
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, is broken down to about 10-15 different characters. Therefore,
when pronouncing the Chinese name, it takes a lot longer to say. Another thing I found interesting, was
when showing the girls a few pictures of mine, there was one pictures where I was using my hands to
make a triangle (Delta), as my sorority hand sign. One of the girls asked why I was doing that, so I
explained to her what a sorority is, and what we do for the community, and how there are a large amount
of girls together for a common goal. I also shared pictures and other information with them about the
sorority, and they were very thrilled to learn about such an activity.

Once the meeting was over, and we said bye to our new friends, we decided to try a new place for
dinner. It was a bit of a drive to the restaurant, but once we arrived the food smelled delicious and we
were seated in a back room. Jeff and Emma ordered for us, to which we had a variety of cooked
vegetables, cool noodles, and lamb. All of the food was delicious, but I feel as though all of the new,
different food, as well as the changes we’ve been experiencing, my body is not as accustomed to the food
as I wish it would be. Once we finished eating, we decided to walk to the market and take a look around. I
purchased a few things, recommended by Emma, to take home to my family and friends to try. I also
purchased a few more snacks for myself, that looked very similar to snacks we have back at home.

Our final adventure of the evening consisted of the cab ride home. Jeff and Emma gave the cab
driver the information to the hotel, and we hopped in ready to go. Driving in this town is absolutely
insane, and I thought walking was scary enough. Once we arrived, the driver told us we were at our
destination. We were very concerned, because the entrance he dropped us off at was not one that we were
familiar with. I attempted to use my translator app on my phone to let him know we weren’t at the correct
stop, as well as Tyler gave the man the business card to the hotel. The driver then hopped out of the
vehicle and gave the card to two women standing on the corner, asking for verification if this was the
right destination. We were so lucky that Jeff was in the cab directly behind us, because he stopped his cab
and helped us get to where we need to be.

May 16th, 2019 (Thursday)

Today was very knowledgeable for us, and I felt like I learned so much in such a short period of
time. First thing this morning we got on the bus to travel to the special education school in the Baiyin
district. Once we arrived we were immediately met by personnel from the school, and began
introductions. We began with a tour, starting with the outside gate that leads onto the school premises.
There was a wall full of awards, as well as scholars students. They then gave us a tour of the cafeteria,
which was very similar to our cafeterias back home, aside from the cameras that allow you to view how
your food is made. I found that very interesting, for students who are curious about culinary skills. They
then took us into the main building, where we began our tour on the first floor.

The first room we viewed was the student dormitory. The rooms were built for 6-8 students to
live in at a time, some being for the visually impaired and some for the hearing impaired. This was very
interesting - in the wall of the first room is a buzzer, when pushed the office is alarmed with a sound
notifying them that a student in that room needs assistance. There is also an alarm on the outside of the
door, that when pushed makes a very loud noise as well as a noticeable vibration on the beds to wake
students up for the day. This is extremely interesting to witness, as I never really thought about how alarm
clocks would not work for the hearing or visually impaired.

We also had the opportunity to sit in on multiple classes taking place during our visit. One was a
classroom of third grade students who were practicing Chinese by reading Braille. I had seen braille in
person before, but the books they used were so much different, and seemed to be extremely old and worn.
We also visited two libraries - one of which was similar to what we have in our public schools where
students may check out books to read at their leisure, and another was their Braille library.

They also had several other interesting rooms that were not in use when we arrived. One of which
was a music room, which included a grand piano, many different types of drums, several smaller pianos
for student use, and a stage. One thing I found interesting, was that the hallways are lined with drawings
and paintings that look professional - come to find that they were all made by students from that school.
This lead us to the next room, which was where all of the creativity conspired. The art room had
everything from props used to recreate drawings, cameras, paintings, canvases, and so much more. All of
the art was extremely beautiful, and looked like what you would buy in a store. It is amazing how much
creativity comes from the minds of these students. There was also a room dedicated to the hearing
impaired to test their hearing. In the middle of the room sat a chair, surrounded by many speakers making
ominous noises - beeping and animal variations. This is used to test the children’s hearing once they
arrive at the school.

We also got to see students practicing massages on each other. The students who are visually
impaired have classes where they focus on touching and sensing touch, so these students both practicing
giving the massages as well as receive, in order to know how it should feel. We then visited another art
room, filled with different creations made by students who are visually impaired. I found this extremely
interesting and fascinating - the students who cannot see or have difficulty seeing well, can touch and
object and get a sense of how it is shaped and its texture and recreate it with clay or different materials. I
found this astounding, and even more so sad, because these students will not get to see just how
wonderful their creations turned out. One of my favorites was a clay art of a fish - where I was told the
meaning of the fish is to bring good fortune.

The final room we visited was where the students were practicing the art of fan dancing. As we
were told, the students are practicing for an upcoming show this weekend. We were so fortunate enough
to arrive when we did, as they were able to show us their entire performance. It was unfathomable. I
cannot put into words just how incredible this was - and the fact that we were able to see it close up and
personal, and for free is amazing. If we wanted to see a show like this anywhere else, we would have to
pay top dollar for how amazing it was. It honestly left me speechless.

Once our tour was over, we proceeded to a meeting room where they discussed their school,
development, and overall abilities with us. They also allowed a portion of time for us to ask questions. I
took notes of some of the things I found interesting. I noted that this school has a 0 refuse policy for any
student in Lanzhou, they will allow students so long as resources allow, and that there are students
ranging from 8-25 years of age at that school. They currently have developing IEP’s, to which we have
learned that they are far different from American IEP’s. In America, we have documentation and criteria
that must be met before a child can be placed in a special education classroom. In China, students are
immediately moved to the proper placement, and then the teacher will come up with an individualized
plan for that student. I found this so interesting, as when I hear the term IEP, I assumed it meant the same
thing everywhere.

The next exciting event was having dinner with the professors from NWNU. They were all so
kind and hospitable, and made us feel so welcomed. The food we had was incredible, although I ate so
much during the appetizers that I didn’t save room for the full meal. One thing I found incredible was the
tea they served prior to the meal. They taught us proper etiquette for drinking the tea, with the oddly
shaped cup and saucer. Something I found entertaining was that they had multiple toasts, and by multiple
I mean approximately 10. It was incredible how thankful they were, how happy they were that we were
able to do something like this, and how excited they were to have an opportunity such as this - and we
were the same. I felt very comfortable, and even gave my own piece to the group as I shared our gratitude
on behalf of SIUE students. This evening was so fun and eventful, but also exhausting and draining. I
cannot wait to see what the rest of the week has in store.

May 17th, 2019 (Friday)

First thing this morning, we left for the junior high school that we would be visiting that day. As
soon as we arrived, we were taken to a board room where we would talk with some of the leaders of the
school, prior to our tour. When walking down the halls, the students in each classroom were in awe and
very excited to see us as we passed.
 The first classroom we visited was a seventh grade classroom - I am unsure of which subject. We
walked in the classroom as the students were taking a short break. During this break, they practice a
technique that is meant to relax or rest their eyes. Students were rubbing underneath their eyes / on their
cheek bones, their temples, and the bridge of their nose. We took a little bit of time and they taught us one
of the techniques. I have to say, that this is very smart to do in the classroom. When students are staring at
books or screens for hours a day, it is important to give their heads and eyes a rest periodically to avoid
strain and possible headaches. This is definitely a technique I would like to introduce to my students in
my future classroom.

After we said goodbye, we moved to our second classroom. This was a seventh grade math class.
We sat in the back for a period of time, watching and observing the teachers and students. I noticed the
books they were using to complete problems seemed extremely old and worn. The lesson being taught
that day was about angles and triangles. I think one of the most important things I noticed was that when
the teacher was talking and teaching, the students were paying complete attention. This means all of their
books were put away, and no one was writing or taking notes. This is extremely different from most
classrooms in America. In our schools, when the teacher is talking, you write notes. As well as if the
teacher is working out a problem, typically you are also working out the same problem along with her. I
also noticed in this classroom that there was a wooden chair with a red scarf sitting in the back. I asked
Jeff what the scarf would be for. My first assumption was that the chair would be used for students who
misbehaved, however I was unsure of what the scarves purpose would be in that situation. Jeff informed
me that the red scarf actually has significance to students. It is a representation of the government - that
students who exceed in their studies are the ones who wear the scarves. After he told me this, I noticed
that a lot of students in the class actually had on a red scarf.

The second class we visited was the eight grade English class. This class was extremely fun, and
the teacher was very interested and excited for us to be visiting. Personally, I still get very nervous when I
have to teach a subject without having proper planning - I am very type A and need to have preparation if
possible. However, today was very much a whimsical day. Jeff told us at first that we would be helping
the students with their pronunciation of basic words - using the subject of shopping. This concept was
much more difficult that anticipated. It would have been nice to watch how the teacher lead the class and
what she wanted from the activity, so that we could reciprocate. Instead, we attempted to go through
words that are commonly used in situations like that. We were then told to work on full sentences with
them, mind you, Jessica and I were in front of the entire class attempting to work with the students
without any prior knowledge to what is needed. Finally, we asked Jeff if it would be at all possible to
have the teacher demonstrate what she wanted.
 We split up into pairs and worked with students on what kind of things we say when shopping in
America, proper word usage, and pronunciation. The students then all performed short skits in their
groups, showing that they know how to speak English properly and can form complete and proper
sentences. This was so interesting to watch how the students interacted with each other, and allowed them
to use their imagination with creating story lines for their skit.

Once we finished in the classroom, we followed the students outside where they participated in
PE. Their PE is much different from ours, as it seemed there were several different classes and different
grade levels all out on the field, and each class was doing a different activity. Some were dancing, some
were stretching, running, and working on karate.

We then washed up, and went to dinner with Jeff, his family, and Emma. The dinner was very
beautiful, and consisted of a lot of good and new food. We tried so many new things, as well as had many
things that we enjoyed from home, such as Pepsi, fruit, and lobster. We watched as Jeff ate the brains of
the chicken, his family gave several beautiful toasts, and we as well toasted to his family for the invitation
and hospitality. After a wonderful evening of dinner and talking, his family booked us a booth at a nearby
jazz club. We went to the club, listened to music, and had a fantastic time with some of his family and
friends, as well as continued to grow a closer bond with each other.

May 18th, 2019 (Saturday)

Today was a very early morning. First thing this morning we tried to do what the locals do, and
had beef noodle for breakfast. I love the taste of beef noodle, but I am not a huge fan of that much spice
so early in the morning. I did, however, love that there was a stray cat wandering around the restaurant
while we ate. We then started our four hour bus ride to the mountains. The bus ride didn’t feel like four
hours, though. We laughed, braided each other’s hair, and had a good time during the ride. While going
up the mountain we pointed out different sights and animals along the way, and took a lot of pictures of
the scenery (which was absolutely beautiful and breath taking).

Our first stop was a Tibetan school. We had previously been told that they typically do not allow
visitors to tour the school, let alone Americans. But that they made a special exception for us, due to
SIUE’s partnership with NWNU. We got to tour a few different classrooms, including a few science labs,
the library, a production room, and a calligraphy / art room. It was very interesting, when walking outside,
to see the reaction of the students. We had been told that most, if not all, of the students have never seen
an American in person before. It was very interesting to them, and to us. I believe my favorite part may
have been when one student introduced herself to us, and had a short conversation with us - where she
welcomed us to her school. It was so incredibly brave of her to do that, especially when she was still
learning English.

After we left the school, we went to eat at a nice restaurant. The food we had was great, and
included a lot of things we’ve had before as well as simple stuff we enjoy. During our lunch, a very nice
woman came over and introduced herself. She was from France, and had recently retired and was
traveling as much as she could. She was very interested in what 9 Americans were doing in this area. We
then learned that she was also a teacher, and taught mathematics for most of her career. Its very
interesting when you have the opportunity to learn about other people’s lives and culture in a setting such
as this.

We then arrived in the village which held the temple we would be visiting. The views were
amazing, and there were people everywhere. We received many strange looks, as well as had many
people follow and take pictures of us. We found a small shop that was selling jewelry, and picked up a
few new souvenirs. It took us a while to figure out what we were doing, and where we needed to be. But
in the meantime, we explored the village, as well as took pictures with a Yak sleeping on the sidewalk
and drank yogurt out of a cup instead of eating it with a spoon (which actually tasted quite good).

Finally, we started our adventure in the temple. We were met by a monk prior to entering, and
was told there were certain things we could photograph and certain things that we could not. We walked
around each temple and learned about the specifics of their religion. This was not at all what I expected,
as I assumed a temple would be a place for the people to pray and worship only. Instead, there were many
books, smells, and statues placed in each designated space. I learned that their religion focuses a lot on
philosophy, learning, and teaching. When talking with the guide, he asked a lot of questions that (to
someone like me) could have various answers, however the answers they were looking for were the only
correct ones in their eyes. They did, however, make a lot of valid points that make sense, such as the
difference between My and I and the idea that truth is the biggest factor of life. I have to say, while there
are still so many things about this religion and their ideology that I do not understand and have questions
about, I feel as though I took so much away from my day here in their village.

May 19th, 2019 (Sunday)

 Today was a beautiful day for an outing in Lanzhou. Our first stop was a nice, long hike up the
White Pagoda Mountain. It was a lot of stairs and took a while to get to the top, but once we were up
there it was all beautiful views. We took so many pictures along the way, as well as stopped at a very
pretty waterfall that we were able to walk behind. At the top, there were a few little shops that we were
able to purchase some souvenirs from, as well as a man and his wife selling homemade crafts. From the
top of the mountain, the river reminded me a lot of the mighty, muddy, Mississippi. However the
surrounding views were much more incredible than back home. There was a temple atop the mountain as
well, that is much more what I expected to see than what we saw the day before.

We then made our way back down the mountain, and started walking around the city. We crossed
the bridge, where there were several people lined up selling crafts, hats, and toys on the bridge. We
started walking to our next destination, and were stopped by a group of kids selling knick knacks. We
finally made it to our next stop, which was another temple in Lanzhou. This was much different from the
other two we’ve seen, as when you entered, there seemed to be a whole community inside. There were
trees, buildings, and many people praying. One tree was lined with red ribbon, consisting of people’s
names - we were told that people write their names on the ribbon and hang them for good luck. There was
also a place that served a free lunch to those who were visiting - which reminded me a lot of churches
back home.

We went to lunch and continued shopping and looking around for souvenirs. We went to many
different and new places during this time. Once we were done shopping, Jeff and Emma took us to Jeff’s
favorite book store. We hung out there, took some pictures, and relaxed for a while. We grabbed a quick
bite to eat, consisting of dumplings, and left soon after to go to the show. The show itself was very
different from what was expected. Some of the acts were very interesting and lively, some where very
dull and were unable to be understood. The last act of the show was the group of students that we came to
see, and they were even more fantastic than what was expected. It was so interesting to see them in full
costume and the performance was absolutely amazing. It took us a while to get a cab post-show, but once
we finally got back to the hotel I could feel the exhaustion setting in.

May 20th, 2019 (Monday)

 I was out of commission all day today, due to sudden illness. I have high hopes to be back out
with my group tomorrow.

May 21st, 2019 (Tuesday)

Today was quite an emotional day. It started off rough, as I was starting to feel a little better from
being ill but was still quite exhausted and in some pain. We started off the day with a trip to the school for
children with Autism and other neurological and physical disorders. We got to tour the school and visit
multiple rooms with various purposes.

My favorite room we visited was the sensory room. It is extremely different from anything I have
ever seen before. There were many different objects that could be used for the students including music
makers, string lights, and a large ball pit. The large ball pit also had a large touch screen tv attached to it
to which the students can play games, practice colors, and so much more just by throwing the balls at the
screen. We got to play a game on it and experience it for ourselves and I have to say, it was so interesting
and definitely something I wish I saw more of back home.

We also had the opportunity to sit in and watch a class. We sat with a young group of boys who
had autism. They were very interested and excited that we were there, so in an attempt to steer the
attention away from us we sat in the back of the classroom and observed. It was very interesting to watch
the children interact with each other and the teacher, however I think what I most enjoyed observing was
how Emma interacted with the children. There is an obvious difference between one person interacting
with a child with special needs, a teacher interacting with a child with special needs, and Emma who
desires so much to be a special education teacher interacting with students with special needs. It really
reminded me why we do what we do, and what kind of selfless person it takes to do a job such as this.
Watching the students interact with each other, and with the teacher was an amazing experience. The
students were learning the word for clothes hanger, and had multiple clothes hangers as objects to
reference. They worked and worked for about thirty minutes, and the expressions of excitement and
enthusiasm these children had when they finally got the word down was heart-melting.

We had the opportunity to sit with faculty members from the school and ask questions, and learn
about their school. This school consists of 145 students and 39 faculty members. The school itself focuses
on education and rehabilitation for students with disabilities, and take great pride in their art and their
accomplishments in the Special Olympics. This school helps the students focus on their abilities, such as
helping them learn to cook, make art, dance, and more. There are 11 classes - 1 preschool, 1 autism, and 9
regular 1st through 9th grade classes. And I think my favorite thing I’ve learned is that the parents are
very involved, and come sit in the classes with the students during the day. At home, there are aids that
are with the students throughout the day. I feel that getting the parents involved is very helpful for both
the student’s education and the parent’s interaction with the students.

We also got to watch and be involved with the student’s morning exercises. It was so fun getting
to watch the students interact with each other between their classes. They seem to really enjoy the group
dance with the pom-poms, and it was really fun watching my classmates interact and do the dance with
them.

We went back to the hotel to finish packing for our flight to Beijing, and for our final dinner with
Jeff and Emma. We had an amazing dinner with the whole team, Jeff, Emma, and Jeff’s mother. It was
nice getting to share our memories, thoughts, and well-wishes with them one last time. I truly believe that
they made this experience everything that it was, and without them this trip would have been completely
different. I may not have been as emotionally attached as some others in the group were, but I do have a
longing feeling that I will miss them tremendously. I feel as though we are closing a very short chapter of
our lives by leaving Lanzhou, and I truly am glad for the experience here, as well as am ecstatic to begin
the next adventure in Beijing.

May 22nd, 2019 (Wednesday)

Today started off rather rough, with a lot of personal and physical issues impairing a good mood.
After a rather short flight, and a lot of aggravation between, we finally arrived in Beijing. Once we
arrived, we found our newest tour guide - Linda. She first took us to the Pearl Market - a six story flea
market. The views of Beijing on our way to this first destination were absolutely breath taking. There is
an obvious difference between Lanzhou and Beijing. Once we arrived at the market, we immediately
found a pizzeria. We were very excited to try it out and see if it tasted anything like what we had back
home. To our pleasant surprise, it was very delicious and was exactly what we needed - carbs.

Dr. Krim, Jessica, and I walked around the market for a little bit picking up some odds and ends
things. We then decided that instead of spending money on items we didn’t necessarily need, we would
treat ourselves to a little pedicure / foot massage. It was honestly extremely nice to sit down, relax, and
have a nice and quiet conversation with them. It was the most relaxed that I have felt since leaving St.
Louis, and definitely helped calm my nerves and anxiety.

We then left and immediately went to Peking University - the most popular university in China.
We understood why once we arrived. This campus is the most beautiful campus I have ever seen. It felt as
though we were walking through a forest once we arrived. I took so many amazing pictures and I cannot
wait to share them with everyone back home.

The hotel is so nice, and the beds are so much more comfortable than in Lanzhou. There is a 7-11
right across the street from the hotel, and a KFC just a little farther down. The rest of this evening will be
spent relaxing and watching TV in the hotel room, in preparation for a very long and exhausting day
tomorrow.

May 23rd, 2019 (Thursday)

Today I crossed something off of my bucket list! We had an early morning with a bit of a drive,
but a lot of beautiful scenery. We got to where the start of the Great Wall is, and I began to wonder if I
should take a cable car up instead of walking. My pride got the best of me, and I knew I wouldn’t feel
satisfied if I didn’t at least attempt to climb the wall. We started our hike and almost immediately, I fell
behind the rest of the group. While I really didn’t want to walk alone, and wasn’t sure it was the safest, I
wasn’t mad that I was alone because this meant I could go at my own pace.

I made the hike up the wall. I had to stop a lot, due to my asthma and the high altitude, and each
time I did I had someone try to take a picture with me. After a while it got a little annoying, because I was
only trying to enjoy myself. About 3/4ths of the way up, I stopped and started to think about turning
around. I no longer had sight of my group, and could hardly breathe. I decided to FaceTime my dad and
show them the views that I saw. After I got off the phone with him, I decided to keep going - I knew I
could do it if I tried my hardest, and that I’d be so upset with myself if I gave up now. I kept going and
before I knew it I found part of the group, and had an extra hand to make it to the top. It was a euphoric
feeling, and I was so thrilled.

I felt so good, that I decided to walk down too instead of taking the cable car back. We found
everyone at the bottom, who had been done for quite some time. The way I see it, I made it to the top and
back practically by myself so it doesn’t matter how long it took me to do it. We made it back to the bus
and I felt like I had checked out for the day. I really wish we didn’t have other things to do after, because
I felt exhausted and drained after that. But we went on to a very yummy lunch, as well as learned about
the use of jade for their materials and how the creations are made. I even purchased a beautiful set of jade
earrings.

Our next stop was the Ming Tombs. The first part, where we walk down a long path surrounded
by different animals, was quite interesting but not very fun - for it was exhausting after doing all of the
walking and climbing just a little bit prior. The tombs themselves were also interesting to learn about, but
I have to say that I was not as impressed as I had imagined I would be. I found it all interesting, but I
expected there to be a lot more to look at and learn about.

I was so exhausted, that I decided I would go to bed extremely early tonight.

May 24th, 2019 (Friday)

Our last full day here, and I am mentally and physically exhausted, drained, in a little bit of pain,
and very excited to return home and share everything with my friends and family. Our first stop was to
the Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City. The square was rather large and very full of people. It was
interesting just to see the placement of it, and I would assume it could be used for large protests or just
when there is important information to share. We then made our way into the forbidden city. It was insane
to see just how large it was. I had no real expectations for this, but was pleasantly surprised. It was so
large, so full of people and so beautiful. Seeing the golden throne that the emperor would sit on was very
cool as well, and I never would have expected it to be so large and beautiful. The idea of sitting on the
throne and watching your city is just astounding to me.

The city was so large, and it felt like it took forever to walk through. There was, however, a
beautiful garden and some interesting artifacts we could see along the way from the women who lived
there. It was a beautiful sight to see and definitely something I will remember and keep pictures for
forever. Once we left, we took a quick lunch break then went on to the Summer Palace.

The boat ride was beautiful, relaxing, and very fun. I’m honestly glad that we were able to end
our week like that. When we arrived on the island we took a short walk around, checked out some shops,
and relaxed a bit more along the water. A few minutes to unwind was just what I needed to reflect on my
experiences from the past few weeks. The things I have seen, experienced, and felt over this time has
been incredible and I don’t believe I could ever experience anything even remotely similar to this.

May 25th, 2019 (Saturday)

Overall, I have spent this time reflecting on my time here and looking at pictures taken. As we
travel back to the states I think about my favorite and least favorite parts of the trip. Even on our drive to
the airport Saturday morning, we all discussed our individual experiences. My least favorite part of the
trip has to be when I got sick - I was out for an entire 24 hours and feel like I missed out on some amazing
experiences because of it. However I have so many favorite parts, such as the relationships I have made
with everyone on this trip, getting to meet and get close with Jeff and Emma, the new food I was able to
try, and learning an absolute love for travel and other cultures that I did not realize I had before. Overall, I
am extremely glad I decided to take this trip and make the experience.