These few days have somewhat been a blur since the kids left. There's no more culture excursions, language excursions, morning punishments for being late or even meetings to meet about the days ahead. With all this free time, it is really sinking that the kids really did leave on that bus and are already home in the U.S. This is a very surreal feeling because even though we spent 6 weeks together, it's not enough. Sure, we all wanted to kill one another at one point or another, but who doesn't after 24/7 interaction in a confined space for that amount of time?
Truly, this has been a great experience to share with everyone on the program. I have no regret in quitting my day job and coming half way across the world to Beijing and doing this 6 weeks program. It has been an awesome-eye opening experience for me personally and I will forever remember the time spent here. It is rare to have moments of joy, pain, and sadness all in one setting but this was that. This experience rolled all emotions into one giant adventure and in the end I came out of that a somewhat different person but yet remaining who I want to be. We are in constant search for self and in the end, we always come full circle to the beginning and reinvent what we already know and want.
Thank you APSA/Jump! for this experience! Thank you for pushing me to do things I would not do normally on my own, making me step out of my comfort zone without pushing me into the deep as well as supporting me in my endeavors with compassion and knowledge. I've learned so much from my fellow colleagues as well as the students. Thank you all for contributing to my life experience and let's meet later in life again!
"We shall not cease from exploration and the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time. " --T.S. Eliot (Four Quartets)
APSA/Jump! Family 2013
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