Sunday,
March 15, 2015:
We
leave today! I am so sad! I have learned
so much and just want to stay longer.
However, today I had to order lunch with someone who spoke no English
and this time I did not have Sijia to help me communicate. I went to a chicken place by our hotel and I
kept telling the cashier the number of the meal I wanted, but she asked me
questions about it and I did not understand.
She eventually brought out a picture menu, but even after I pointed to
what I wanted she was confused. There
were two items next to each other, one was a sandwich without fries and a
drink, and the other was the combo.
Eventually, to communicate that I only wanted the sandwich, I pulled out
15 RMB because that was what just the sandwich costs and she understood
then. Looking back, it was not that
difficult, but it the moment it was extremely stressful and I was worried that
I was holding up or upsetting the few people in line behind me. When I went to McDonald’s the day before, I
was expecting that same situation, but the manager there spoke English so it
was much easier. Tara, Bryce, Shalv and
I went to People’s Square earlier today and had to take the subway, but we had
Dr. Chyu give us directions before we left so we did not end up having to ask
anyone where to go. Well, we did once,
but the lady just looked at the address and pointed, so it was pretty
straightforward. I found it was easiest
to attempt to communicate with the little Chinese I knew along with pictures
and hands. Other than that, it is pretty
much impossible if you do not know the language. I want to learn the language so I can go back
to China and communicate by myself!
Being
back in the United States is weird. I am
glad to be home, but I wanted to stay longer.
I miss Ivy, Ariel, and Jodie already.
They truly were great guides and taught us about the culture while
having fun with us. Also, my
professional and personal skills developed over this trip as my communication
advanced and learning about the businesses in China gave me new perspectives on
my major. I see how China has grown with
technology over the years and why they are a great center for globalization,
but the pollution is such a major problem that needs dealt with. It is holding the country back, in my
opinion, so their efforts to reduce their environmental impact is more
important now than ever. The technology
has definitely helped China improve, but ethical concerns engineers need to be
aware of when they are implementing new technology is how it effects the labor
force in China as well as the environment.
That
being said, I would love to revisit China and maybe even live there when the
pollution dies down. I loved Innovate
and am so thankful for being able to have such a life-changing experience while
being immersed in a culture full of amazing people.
Bye China, Until Next Time!