Right now, I am on a plane back to the States. I am filled with emotions as I reminisce on all of the memories I’ve had in Zhongdian. I feel sad because I won’t get to see Dr. Bill, Tsering Drolma, Sam, Kalli, or any of the ACE students. But, I also feel a sense of happiness knowing that I got to develop close relationships with them.
I will forever remember the time at the botanical gardens when Dr. Bill was able to tell us about every single flower or plant we passed by
I will forever remember the time I got to sit next to Tsering Drolma on the way to nunnery, where we shared stories and ate chocolate mushroom snacks…
I will forever remember the time I interrupted Sam’s yoga session to discuss something I was interested in, and her patiently listening and responding thoughtfully…
I will forever remember the times Kalli called me Hannah, then immediately corrected herself…
As for the rest of the ACE members…
“I am so grateful for all of the experiences I’ve had throughout this trip, and cannot put into words how happy I am to have met every single one of you.”
I will forever remember the fun times in the glass gazebo; the dance parties at the cheese house; watching scary movies, and the even scarier Bachelorette episodes; circle dancing in Old Town; cooking dinner and baking yak butter cookies; eating meals at the dinner table which often ended in tears of laughter or pain from the hot peppers; planning for camp and figuring out that the day doesn’t really go as planned; and being able to settle down at the end of a long day and laugh about all the silly things that happened.
Overall, I am so grateful for all of the experiences I’ve had throughout this trip, and cannot put into words how happy I am to have met every single one of you. Thank you.