Submitted by Kenneth Kokason on the 2016 winter session program in China sponsored by the Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice..
As this program comes to a close, I look back on one of the best experiences of my life. I have been exposed to so many new things here in China, and I have learned so much about Asian culture. I have made new friends from across the globe, and shared stories and exciting moments with the best classmates I could ask for. My flight back to the States leaves tomorrow, yet I find it difficult to pack because I almost don’t want this program to end. I am grateful for this country’s hospitality and welcoming people. From the famous Beijing Opera, to the Summer Palace, this city holds a plethora of new and engaging sites.
While I have enjoyed my stay here in Beijing, China, I am ready to come home and see my family and friends. I will return a more cultured version of myself, humbled and grateful for the little things that are easy to overlook in everyday life as an American; whether it is a juicy hamburger, or access to Google and YouTube, or even fresh air and blue skies, I will definitely appreciate my life more, and remember what I have learned from this great opportunity of a lifetime.