From Alyssa

6/29/2011

        The past few days have been busy at work- I have all of my projects culminating at the same time as well as the internship reflection paper to worry about. I have been also really working on my Chinese (both speaking and writing) with Ting Ting at the office. She laughs at me when I say something the wrong way, but normally she can understand what I’m getting at. I have also been thinking a lot about the fall semester back at AU, because I’m thinking of switching some classes around based on what I am learning and researching this summer at my internship. Right now, my classes in the fall will be about US Security Policy and Global & Human Security, but I’m actually considering switching to International Environmental Politics because I find the work I am doing fascinating right now.

        The Great Wall trip we had on Saturday was really fun—I absolutely loved seeing it with my own eyes. It is every bit as cool as it is in all of the pictures. When I got home I wikipedia’d it to find out more about it, and it spans over 5,000 miles! That’s longer than NYC to LA by a significant distance. I was very impressed, as I’m sure everyone else is who has been to see it. I had been told by my parents (who went there in 2008) that it was really steep and hard to climb, but I was surprised at just how difficult it was. The builders of the wall made every single step a different width than the previous step, and it’s very steep. I feared for my life at times because I could see myself falling over the edge. Ashley and I are both terrified of heights—this was intense. But fun none-the-less. The scenery is breath-taking. I don’t think I have ever been anywhere in my life more beautiful than the Great Wall. (Besides maybe Vail, CO- it’s a tie.)

        In other news, next week Ashley and I will be going to Seoul for 4 days before returning to the US! (Time went by so fast here; I can’t believe it’s almost time to go home.) I can’t wait to see Korea.

        I think I definitely want to come back to China at some point in my life for an extended period of time. I have to convince Nick (my hopefully open-minded and adventurous boyfriend) to try to find a job in Beijing so we can move here some day for a bit. It’s an awesome city and I’m so glad I decided to do this internship.