China

I left China only a week ago, but it seems as if the whole trip happened months - maybe even years - ago. The pictures I took, the souvenirs I purchased, and the diary entries I wrote serve merely as memories of a world that seems so distant now. The food, the people, the customs and traditions ... everything was so different. I'm not always operating on a busy schedule, which I enjoy tremendously: I love the feeling of waking up in the morning without a wake-up call and not having to worry about having to pack up my suitcase and move hotels every other day. There's a lot that I miss about China, like speaking Chinese, but a whole lot that I won't miss, like the smog and pollution and people smoking everywhere and bumpy train and plane rides during which I had trouble sleeping. China was a great experience, but I'm really glad I'm back home with my family and friends, relaxing to the best of my ability until school starts again.