2 pics from the Temple of Heaven

The Germans Rock

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/14/world/europe/14germany.html?_r=1&ref=global-home

My time in Beijing has been wonderful. I don't quite believe that I am coming home on Monday but that is something I will have to get over. We have a weekend of touring, which is something I'm not extatic about because I'm so burnt out from camp. Yesterday I went to the Temple of Heaven(TOH). The TOH is believed by the Chinese to be the center of the universe. The best way to describe it is as being similar to NYC's Central Park. When you are inside it feels like another world, one would never guess that they are in a city of 22 MILLION. During my time there I was able to snap some beautiful photos of the Rose gardens and elderly people that gather there. Photos are something you guys will have to ask me about. I would love to show you them, but I'm paranoid about my images getting ripped off.
 

Today the crew is at the Wall; I stayed behind to recoup before getting back home. Right now I'm sick with something and I have started taking Chinese medicine to help battle whatever it is. 

See you guys soon.

Reflections

To end my time at SE with a night of dancing is exactly what the Good Doctor ordered. It was the perfect stress release; something everyone needed. It's starting to hit me that my time with all these people, whose presence I have taken for granted, is coming to an end. Most of whom I will never see again. That has been something that has really struck me these last few days. I never realized how much Lydia, Noming, Xiao Li, and Xiao Gong meant to me. This place has so many wonderful people. They are responsible for helping change the way I now see the world. That was something I NEVER saw coming. I guess that's why I travel. Its why I wanted to do this. I wanted to be stretched beyond my comfort zone. The process has been both brutal and beautiful all at once.

Currently I do not fully believe the fact I'm leaving because this place has grown into an estranged pseudo home for me during these last two and a half months. It's going to be just plain weird to leave and never come back.

In regards to the other blogs: I want to apologize for how brief or how are they are to follow. Often I would only be able to jot a few things down before having to run off to another activity. If anything didn't make any sense I would love to better explain it either in person or via e-mail (kwerneke@gmail.com).

Thank you to all of you that have taken time to read my blog.