Minor aftershocks continued occasionally through the morning, but the local people don’t seem too worried. School continues and we joined them for a sports exchange, playing futsal in mixed teams, and learning how to use the Chinese yoyo (“Diablo”).
After futsal, one of the students demonstrated the Chinese yo-yo:
Then everyone got to try it out
For lunch, the JieShou PTA bought us all American-style lunch. Fried chicken and pizza! There were some unusual pizza combos (vegi pizza with pears and raisins, fried chicken with mayo). Classic Hawaiian-style was just as we’d expect.
Now for some ice breakers between our kids and the group of Taiwanese students coming to Portland in May. Two truths and a lie, and Pictionary.
Finally, the farewell ceremony. Principal Watson made opening remarks, followed by our Chinese teachers.
Then the students gave speeches thanking our host families and the school for their hospitality.
They created a fun game that would test how well each partnership got to know each other over the past 5 days. Kind of like the newlywed game where you both write down an answer and see if it matches. If you got it right, you earned a certificate.
Time to say goodbye and return to our hotel. Someone started playing See You Again, by Charlie Puth, and many started crying as they hugged each other and promised to stay in touch.
What a day! It began with fear and excitement from the earthquake, and finished with tears, then falling asleep in a bunk next to your friends. They’ll probably never forget this day. I’m pretty sure I won’t.