Back at Last!

Hello everyone.  I haven't made an entry for a while and wanted to catch up with you.  My closing days at SIAS continued to be inspirational and heartwarming.  Saying good-bye was difficult and Susan and I found ourselves saying farewell many times as the girls kept coming back for more even though our classes had ended.  The night before we left there was a going away celebration that started with all the girls standing on the steps of the administration building in the dark with candles in hand to say good-bye.  They started to sing a Chinese love song and of course tears flowed.  After that we all went into a room and they made a big circle with each girl stepping into the middle to say good-bye and give us there final send-off.
A big cake followed with frolic starting with me putting some icing on Susan's nose as we cut the cut cake.  From there icing flowed and covered all of our faces.  We all left laughing and acting silly knowing that the lightness of it all was needed for our final moments together.
Susan and I spent five days in Beijing the highlight being the climb along the Great Wall.  Wow, can't believe that I was really there to experience it all.  Gratitude flows from my heart with this incredible experience that I was given.  I know I have made friends for life and can't wait to share it all with you upon my return.  How lucky can one person get!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!