Before coming out to Microcampus, I honestly expected something completely different. I honestly thought that it would be more of a break then what we actually did. When I got here, I started to realize that it was not the case. Microcampus is a program that changed my point of view on certain things. I also got the change to reflect about myself as a person. I was trusted not to run out into the streets but to behave properly. This was a trip where independence was handed down and we were trusted with it. If I were to sign up again knowing this, the reasons would be different.

Before this trip, I wanted to come to Microcampus because I wanted to see my limits, and I wanted to try to see what I could learn about the world outside of Shanghai. Now I truly know why I came to Microcampus. Now I have come to understand that I came to Microcmpus to understand the Chinese culture better, and that not everywhere is like Shanghai. I also believe that we came here to learn life lessons. Some of the life lessons I learned was that the last 15% is not extra work, and to never procrastinate.

When I fist signed up for Microcampus I did it because I had some interest in the program. I wanted to go and learn how to communicate with the people in Xizhou and my parents supported it. Though I did have some second thoughts I still wanted to go and learn. I did not expect to learn that much about myself but I expected to learn more about the people here. When I first stared the work I thought that there was not going to be that much but I was extremely wrong. Though I did a little on how to talk to people I learned more about my self and some habits that I could fix.

Others may have came to Microcampus to learn how to live. They may have came here to learn how to work more efficiently, but the reason why I came to Microcampus is completely different. Before the trip, I thought I came here to go outside of my comfort zone. I strongly believed the reason I came was because I was scared about confronting people, and this journey would be able to help me reach outside of my comfort zone. However, once I came to Microcampus, I realized that this was not the case. I did not have that big a problem talking with locals and finding connections.

Today I went on a hike during this time I was wearing the Heart rate monitor, during this time when I was wearing it, in the beginning the HRM was not working so then I was resetting and but it still was not working so then right after 10min of us hiking, the HRM finally started working. Another thing during the hike was when I accidentally dropped my hat into the river and then I needed to run after it.

Today was officially our last day in Xizhou. We spent the morning tying up loose ends. After the daily meeting, we packed our bags and said a final goodbye to our favorite locals here in the village. It was tough to part ways, but I am sure that I will visit Xizhou again in the near future. After lunch, which was made up of everyone's  favorite dishes, we embarked on the hike!

When I first signed up for Microcampus, I did so because my parents, my mom in particular, told me to. I thought that I was signing up in order to experience life as it should be, not life as it is in the city. Later, when I was accepted into Microcampus, I thought that I was going in order to study my topic, enhance my Chinese language skills, and learn about the village of Xizhou and its inhabitants.

Today all ten microcampus students got to go on a hike. It was a half day hike that was a memorable experience. We got to see lots of nature and the air was very fresh and clean. What I loved the most was that I could just have a time where I could relax and enjoy the scenery. What I loved the most was when we got to see a valley between the two mountians. I thought that it looked awesome and that it should have won best nature award. But who knows it might have.

Today was our last full day here in Xizhou. We were given the chance to say goodbye to all the people we had met and all the friends we had made in the village. In the afternoon, we went on a half-day hike at Cang Shan.