Getting Close to Saying Good-bye...

As our stay at SIAS is getting close to ending the stories still continue.  To catch you up, last Wednesday was our last Open-Session in which all the students on campus are welcome to attend.  It was entitled "Private Victory" and was to recap all the private victories that the girls in the Academy have experienced.  The two young women who were doing the introductions spoke with great sincerity and shared their private victories.  Crystal spoke about feeling "fat" and learned that honoring her body and sending it messages that were positive made a difference about her health and attitude.  Julia shared her private struggle with her mother and how opening communication to talk about their differences was something new to her and the relationship.  Each of these women, taking a step in bravery to look differently at how they could manage their lives.  Susan and I sat there in amazement and pride for their stories were shared to an audience of almost 700
 students.  On Thursday we closed with a final lecture and again stories of how these incredible young women have grown.  We shared laughter and tears and moments that are never to be forgotten.  During the day, Susan and I wander about campus seeing now familiar faces that greet us with a sweet hello so that this certainly feels like home.  On Friday, we held our coaching sessions and sacred circles.  This is again a most special time for sharing and looking within.  This week it was about saying good-bye and giving the girls their evaluations to complete.  Susan and I each bought something to leave with them as gifts..  Susan brought bracelets that had the word "spirit" on them which the girls loved.  In the last of the coaching sessions, Enya, asked if she could gift us with a song that she wanted to sing.  There she was, this gentle and quiet nightingale standing in the middle of the circle singing.  Oh my!!!!!! We all joined her in chorus and applauded at the fun of it all.  I had brought for the women jewelry that all my friends had given me to take along and give away.  I wrapped each piece and had a grab bag that delighted each and everyone.  The glee and giggling reached a high pitch as the girls put their hand into a bag to pull out a treasure. I let them know that this was from not only myself but from "other" women leaders who shared their journey and were excited about their bravery and being in the Academy.  Saturday was spent getting a foot massage and walking hand in hand along the streets outside the campus.  It is really sweet to go arm in arm or hold hands which all the women in China do with their girlfriends.  We met another faculty member for dinner and when she saw us walking hand in hand commented "Oh my you girls really have adjusted to being in China".  What do they say "when in Rome do as the Romans do".  What was even funnier is that we know it is getting time to go home because our american toilet paper that we brought is now all gone.  So I guess that means time to return.... We leave for Beijing this coming Thursday early in the a.m.  It is a 2 hour flight from ZhenZhou and we spend four days seeing the sights.  We have saved all our monies for shopping there and are looking forward to finding the bargains.  We have gotten good at bargaining and walking away shaking our heads when we think the price is too high.  The mark up to foreigners is about 300% so there is a lot of space to make a deal.  We'll also climb the Great Wall and maybe try out bravery by eating a scorpion or two that is a supposed delicacy here in China.  I am really not sure that this will happen but I will consider it!!!!!!

Looking forward to seeing you all soon.