24 Hour Train Ride!

Team Member: Chris Benzing 

Date: June 20

Today's Activities: Shopping and 24 Hour Train Ride

My Blog Entry: Our last day in Beijing began early as we all packed and cleaned up our rooms to leave for one stop then a 24 hour train ride. We stopped at a mall with multiple levels of various things. Many of the students bought gifts for those who have helped support them in this cultural exchange.

      Then we had this wonderful fish meal and Austin Allem ate a fish eyeball as I recall. During lunch our table enjoyed great conversation with a Chinese Student and learned about his family and upbringing. We were able to encourage him and he was very thankful for our words.

      After lunch we had to drop off two beloved Chinese student that lived in Beijing and it was very difficult, some of us began to tear up as we realized we were leaving them. They also were emotional but trying to hold it in. It's apparent that the relationships we build go deep.  

       We finally got to the train station and it was very hot outside. It seemed like there were a million people also at the train station. We got to one room that was overcrowded and then found out there was another room so we went there. A couple of us began to mess with the hacky sack and the next thing you know we were running towards the train. The person responsible for taking us to the train seemed to forget about us. But that was no deterent for us. So we all ran like wild people. And someones bag broke open but I was leading the charge so I dont know who it was but Dave cleared that quickly and we all squished into the train car within minutes! It was quite the rush, nobody will forget that. As soon as the last person jumped on Dave called for a head count and we were all there. Then the train left! WOW what an experience!