Springtime in Shanghai was drowned in April rain. A mist veiled over the city in a suffocating melancholy too empty to grasp. Such times seemed to force the suitcase to stand and for the people to rise, dreaming of escaping in a confined space that all already know too well, or perhaps not well enough, but nevertheless, the thought of exploration appeared futile. The rivers of tears failed to flow to sea, and everything of negativity percolated positivity until it all became too toxic to breathe, to think, to live in. 

Why did I choose to go to Microcampus? That’s easy. I love Shanghai. I love school, I love my friends, my teachers, and my life. But after a while, your love for Shanghai becomes more of a love for the routine. And after an even longer while, the routine ends up boring you to death. Every day started to feel the same as the day before. I could hardly differentiate between them anymore.

Before I came to Xizhou, I wanted to escape the fast-paced city life of Shanghai and truly experience what a less-developed village would be like to be a part of for such a long period of time. I also felt really tired of the regular schedule in Shanghai, and I guess I just needed something new and fresh in my life.

The morning sun stung my eye from completely opening, and everything remained in the minute slit that's fragmented by eyelashes. Limited vision forced me to seek for something afar, and soon, the memories of past and visions of future obtained conciouses of their own and seemed to tamper my thinking about the present. Time blurred and the acts of moving seemed to have lost its meaning. Everything seemed to become the things I've lost and will lost, positivity rested in a distant state of mind.

Microcampus was such a life-changing experience for me. I never thought that this experience could change me so much as it did. When I applied for Microcampus, I did not think that I would actually get in, but when I did, millions of thoughts popped into my mind. How would the experience be like? Who would be my roommate? What would be my inquiry project? I had millions of questions and thoughts running through when I realized I was chosen.  

Why I Came to Microcampus? A question all Microcampus members have been trying to answer the entire trip. Why is it that 16 students would want to go to Xizhou, away from their parents for a month? I have my own explanation. And this will have to trace all the way back to five months before today when I first heard the two words micro and campus said together. That day, all the 8^thgraders of Shanghai American School were gathered in a small room with a projector at the front of it.

Xizhou, the people of Xizhou, the culture of Xizhou, the simplicity of Xizhou all of Xizhou would never be forgotten by me. In the 672 hours I spent in this wonderful community, I learned so much about myself and the others around me. It felt like yesterday when I walked into the doors of Yang Zhuo Ran, curious to find out more about this place. And now, I am 20 hours away from leaving. I will miss all the people I have met during my time spent here. All I can say is that farewells for now and I will definitely come back with my family in the future.

I walked along the alleyway, waving goodbye to those who I spent time in meeting for the past 27 days. I smiled towards Mr. Yan, who sold us Xizhou babas whenever we asked. Along with Mr. Yan, I smiled and converse with individuals that I had gotten to know who were down the alleyway. It is amazing how in 24 hours from today, I will probably be on a bus to Dali Airport, waiting for a flight back to Shanghai. I remember reading from a book that goodbyes are good things since it means that you will or at least want to see them again.

I was really nervous to see what people's reactions are to our service learning video, but in the end, it was really successful. People seemed like they were enjoying it, and I actually enjoyed seeing people's reactions to our video. I thought that people would have black faces when watching, but then had really pleasant faces and happy faces.