Yesterday I said my goodbyes to colleagues, students and friends. I took a final walk through campus and soaked in the atmosphere. All semester, I enjoyed my daily walk across campus to and from work, and so I paid close attention to the trees, the sounds, the heat and the birds as I walked the path for the last time.

I have gotten many lovely goodbye gifts from my students, TA’s and colleagues. One of the gifts was a key chain made with my likeness, hand-drawn by a student! That was very sweet.

In the morning of my last day, I went sightseeing with four of my students: Violet, Veggie, Jellyfish and Lucy. They were in high spirits and excited to be showing me their city, even despite the 100 degree temperature.

We went to Tiananmen Square. It required a one-day advanced reservation, a metal detector machine scan and at least two passport checks. In my observation, the students studiously avoid talking politics and criticizing the government. Only one student in my time in China, voiced criticism of the government and they did it with me only when we were one-on-one. As one of my students told me, “Chinese students don’t talk about politics much for obvious reasons.” The rest of the time, they only made veiled references — “there was the 10-year period that we don’t talk about” (Cultural Revolution), and “that day, June 4, that we definitely don’t talk about” (Tiananmen Massacre).

I took a moment of silence to remember those who lost their lives at the square.

Back to my goodbyes…. it was very sad saying goodbye to my closest friends, Jingyue and Lamqiezhun. I was somewhat surprised that I was able to make friends in such a short time in China. I will miss them both.

I also said goodbye to my favorite meal vendor, the fishmonger at the Dining Hall.

That’s all for now. I am in Tokyo and I have to board my flight for JFK. It will be a 13-hour flight. Then it’s onto Syracuse. I should be back in Ithaca by 1 am!

I’ll send an update in Syracuse! Bye for now….