"It is a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done..."

(Brandon)

This week flew by. It feels as if we just got off the train from Shanghai and met our second host families for the first time. Whatever the case, today started off on a normal note. Spring out of bed (well, more like a long groan followed by the untangling of sheets) and head out for school. Not before Mrs. Ye could hand me a delicious apple however while on my way out the front door.

Our first class today was cooking with the uncle WNH (not Western New Hampshire), during which we learned how to make "heavenly wish" rolls. After Chef Bacon showed us how to make one, the Bears got their paws dirty. We collected our wonton skins and spread some of the pork, onion, and scallion mix onto them. After folding the skins in on themselves, Chef Bacon ingeniously directed us to tie a strip of scallion around the top of the rolls to hold them together. Delicious and pragmatic, the best of both worlds. Half an hour later the Bears were eating their finished products. The tops of the rolls were crunchy while the bottoms were filled with the deliciously salty mix of the aforementioned materials. The Bears spent the rest of class relaxing. Momma Bear had to depart before the end of the class however because her teaching responsibilities called.

Personally, our next class is one of my favorites. We learn Tai-chi and then have "free time" to play ping-pong, badminton, or basketball. Lao Liu, our instructor for this class, found us practicing our poor shooting skills with a basketball that had been left out. When it came to officially start, Deanna, who injured her foot a few days prior, sat out with Tom and talked. They watched Mike, Patty, and me practice the many Tai-chi moves we have learned over the past few weeks under Lao Liu's patient gaze. After reviewing what we had learned, making minor tweaks and adjustment here and there, Lao Liu showed us another two movements. The latter being one of the more difficult ones he said. This movement incorporated all sorts of movement. I personally struggled with keeping everything in sync. When my hands moved, my legs would not. And if my legs moved, they did not move in the right direction. We soon moved onto ping-pong where Tom and I duked it out. Mike got some of our intense rallies on film for proof!

We moved back to the cafeteria and had lunch. Among other things, we had dumplings in a salty broth, a solid but hearty chunk of beef, and mushrooms and green peppers. Ms. Moy and I greatly enjoyed the hot dog bao (or the closest thing we could find to one) that was given to us, ultimately making us crave the delectable ones we buy in Boston's Chinatown. The Bears then told funny anecdotes with Ms. Moy leading the way. The lunch room was filled with our laughter. Who can blame us, they say that smiling is good for digestion!

English Corner rolled around after lunch. While it's not as busy as before, the "regulars" came again. The Bears enjoyed the warm, sunny weather, a welcome feeling after several cold days filled with fog and rain. The students soon had to return to class and the Bears called it a day, at least for a few more hours. At the end of the day, the vice-president of the high school's astronomy club graciously gave us an excellent tour of the observatory and the club's workspace. The club packs some serious heat in terms of the equipment they use. From dangerous-looking chemicals to a computer-operated telescope situated further west of Hangzhou (of course entirely built by the astronomy club itself), the gang was pretty enthralled. The Bears especially enjoyed seeing the enormous telescope that sits atop the high school start up and move. And yes, we did snap a quick picture of ourselves in front of it...for scaling purposes of course.

I guess it didn't hit me till I really had some time to sit down and reflect though. This trip is coming to an end. We just finished our second-to-last week of school. Feelings of despair of having to leave our beloved Hangzhou clash with feelings of homesickness. While there are many more moves and styles to learn, Lao Liu teaching us one complete Tai-chi set is a perfect representation of a certain feeling of closure that I have felt growing over the past week or so. The trip has gone smoothly, and while we have had our fair share of bad luck, we certainly have had an unthinkable amount of sheer and pure happiness. We accomplished what we came here to do. Make friends, see the sights, experience the culture, and of course, do what Bears do best: eat!

"...it is a far, far better rest that I go to than I have ever known."

Brandon