Last day in Chengde

Here's a picture of my last foreign gathering in Chengde. After I came back from Tibet I was the only one left... so...

Today I had my kick off boozy lunch with Pres Gao and co. were I realized that the effort to impression ratio of my curriculum is totally in my favor. Apparently I'm one of the best teachers they've ever had, all the students love me and they would love for me to come back next year. har har. Who knew that acting like a total idiot in front of these kids to get them to talk = sought after skill. Anyway that made me feel good.
Then I went to dinner with my nursing friend May. She's been a real help and source of information and Chinese culture while I've been here, which is why I was super pumped to eat dinner at her mother in laws house. Maybe it's more because her mother in law is an awesome cook. Who knew I'd actually ever want Chinese food, let alone request some for my last meal. My head has now grown to an even more gigantic level because as we were saying our goodbyes May really layed it on thick. Things like, "you have made my life so colorful" and, "you are such a beautiful girl with such big eyes and long eye lashes, you must be one of the most beautiful girls in your country." WHY AM I LEAVING? How can anyone compete with that? Any guy I ever date will now pale in comparison to a cute little 32 year old Chinese nurse. Sorry Brandon, but you're going to have to start thinking of some wildly outlandish compliments and say them to me as if you really believe them.

While I'm really looking forward to coming home to friends and family and food I can't help but wonder if I'm going to miss being wonderfully fabulous just because I'm not Chinese. I mean there are a lot of people in the States who aren't Chinese. I'll just have to cherish the times when people commented on my "beautiful high nose" when I'm back home and my nose if just plane ol' big.