北NEWSLETTER.PDF

May 2014 Issue 38 NEWSLETTER IES Abroad Beijing Center The Road Going Home by 孟雅琪, LIP (Kiana Mendoza, Claremont McKenna College, ‘15) n August 22 I was whisked away from the sunny gaining at the Silk Market, twenty-four hour train rides, Yu Obeaches of San Diego and dropped into the middle of Laoshi’s colorful outfits, three AM Western Mahua runs, the the concrete jungle of Beijing, anxious and excited to start smell of ink after calligraphy class, the running trail by the my adventure. Nine months, two semesters, and one hell of canal, fumbled conversations, successful conversations, and a ride later, I’m finding it hard to believe that it is all almost everything else that made up the home I made for myself over. in Beijing. I will miss the constant realization I woke up to every morning when I remembered, “I live here. I live in To be completely honest, I still don’t know how to feel China.” Sometimes I loved waking up to that feeling; some about going home. I’m obviously excited to see my friends days, not so much. But every day was a new opportunity, and family, dote on my dog, and reintroduce myself to the and that’s all I could ask for. California treasure known as fresh Mexican food. It will be nice to not have to hurdle over a language barrier just to On May 15 I will settle buy a dress or order food, and the freedom to go on a run into the window seat without worrying about smog levels makes me giddy with for my twelve-