My Last Few Weeks

Hey guys, I’m glad I get to write to you again. Over the past couple of weeks various things have happened and I’m glad I get to share them with you. The majority of our time has been spent writing papers for school. However, this has caused us to interact with the locals tremendously. We have received the opportunity to interview various amounts of locals and ask deep questions to these friends of ours.

            Brady and I have both been engaging in the culture on a regular basis. From having interviews, to walking down the street and talking to locals, we have learned so much about this culture. We have had so many meaningful conversations with people. This is mostly because we are communicating with people we have already developed relationships with while teaching at the high school. We were even invited to a local’s house where they cooked us chicken and tofu in a boiling pot for dinner. Over the various interviews I have eaten rat, dog, snake, goat’s blood, pig intestine, and octopus. However, take me seriously when I say that I am truly grateful for the opportunities that have been given to us and I hope they will continue throughout the rest of our stay.

            By the time this blog is published our American friend will have arrived to our city and we will be packing our backpacks for an adventure through various rural villages. I am writing this blog a little early so I can spend as much time with them once they arrive. I am looking forward to this adventure and can’t wait to see what happens. I will be packing books about the culture so I can double check my research in my spare time. I have grown out a beard and let my hair go wild for the past month so I would be prepared for this adventure.

            Emotionally I am feeling great. I feel like I am at one with the culture and look forward to engaging it in the next few weeks. I am a little sad that I only have a few weeks left. I have always had a love for East Asia and have now grown relationships with those living there. So now I have a love for the people of East Asia. It will be sad for me as I continue to say goodbye to the friends I have grown to love so much. However, I do look forward to reuniting with my family and friends back home. I am so grateful I have people like you supporting me. Thank you so much, I love you.