Sitting on the long plane ride home and reflecting, I feel so privileged to have experienced this trip alongside you five. I couldn’t have asked for a better group of kids to explore an island with. I hope that as you all move on to high school and beyond, this trip will serve as inspiration to continue seeking adventure, visit unfamiliar places, and immerse yourselves in different cultures.
Maya: You had a knack for keeping our group in good spirits with your humor and irrepressible smile. I was impressed at your ability to fearlessly approach students from JieShou (and strangers on the street) to quickly form friendships and break the ice for everyone who followed.
Dez: You’re a natural leader and I love that you are always up for any adventure. Thanks for boldly navigating the team across the city, and for always encouraging the rest of us to savor the moments. Your pep talks inspired the team when they needed it most. Sorry you never got your Peking duck, but at least you had waygu 🙂
Sophia: I really appreciate your quiet confidence and patient attitude. You never once complained even when we were on the most grueling of hikes. Thank you for your willingness to teach me mandarin. You were my most reliable fānyì and I learned so much from you. It was a pleasure having you in our group.
Donovan: Your impressive ability to recall anything you’ve heard or read was such a valuable asset to our team. Whether it was train station names or wifi passwords, I loved how the team could rely on your recall every time. Plus I learned so much from you about the bolsheviks, and now I know that you’re also a great karaoke singer 🙂
Nora: Your infectious smile always kept the group’s attitude upbeat. I’m jealous at your ability to instantly fall asleep anywhere on a train or bus! I also love that you tried so many new things on this trip, like bitter tea, léichá and Màidāngláo 😉 Thank you for your thoughtful approach to navigation and positive attitude the whole trip.