7/12 - 7/13 Last Days of GSP

7/12 - Evening 

During the day, everyone researched and prepared for their presentations for their independent research topics. It was pretty long and arduous so i'll dive into the fun stuff.

Last night was an incredible night. We started by going to this Peking Duck restaurant in Sanlitun (Soho) a district very similar to 5^th avenue in New York. Many high-end brand lie Prada, Giorgio Armani and names that I was not even familiar with. When we arrived to the restaurant at 8, I thought it would be packed, but the main dining area was near empty which was a bit of a surprise. Although it would have been nice to have many people there, it felt like we had the restaurant to ourselves and the service was impeccable. They carted out the duck and the chef masterful carved the duck onto a plate. We had seen this done before, but because the restaurant was empty we could hear the chefs blade crack the skin as it dissected the skin into small bit size pieces. Within 45 seconds of his first cut, the smell of the tender duck meat wafted over to our table as all of us began to salivate in anticipation for Beijing’s most famous cuisine. Before the duck was served prawns wrapped in green noodles, albacore stew and braised ribs that fell right off the bone arrived at our table and I was transported to culinary heaven.

The Crew

Prawns

Peking Duck

After dinner we went to a rooftop lounge overlooking Beijing and looked up at the full moon. In a smogless night, Beijing is a beautiful city and the modern aspects are truly amazing. After a bottle of wine and a glass of Glenviet 12 years (the smoothest single malt whiskey I have ever had the pleasure of drinking), we went down to a side street in search for street food. After a 5 minute walk, I was transported to what felt like the Lower East Side, with small bars and clubs with music blaring onto the street. There were tons of foreigners and at this moment it felt like I experienced modernization with Chinese Characteristics. There were bars playing hip-hop and rock, yet the area was predominately Chinese and there were street stands selling skewers that were being roasted on open flames. After some skewers, we slipped into the basement of one of the clubs, watched a b-boy dance off, burned some calories dancing and left for the guest house.

Skewers

7/13 Beijing Airport

I am sitting in alone in the airport writing this entry outside gate E22 waiting for my flight to Osaka. All alone. After spending close to every waking moment with my fellow Columbians, its nice being able to travel at my own pace, but so, so, so lonely at the same time. Emiliano isn’t here to crack jokes with and no Anton isn’t here to run, jump and climb with and Junho isn’t here to laugh along with. Last night we threw a little going away party with baiju and cheesecake in the Professor Armstrong’s room after dinner at a hot pot restaurant. When Armstrong said his final good byes, everyone ran over and we all gave him a big group hug. The patriarch had left. This morning we had to say our goodbyes as we all scattered across the world to Shanghai, Guangzhou, Seoul, Kyrgyzstan, Oregon, Texas and New York City. If there is one phrase to describe the trip, it would be “its been real”. If there had been a TV crew following us around, the suspense and drama would have gotten us higher ratings then even the Jersey Shore. I cannot even imagine what the confessionals would have been like.

In this last month, I learned so much from every single person on this trip and made a life experience that I will never forget. This reminded me of Harvard Summer Venture in Management Program where they brought together some of the greatest minds of America into the classroom for one week to learn and grow in one of the most intellectually stimulating and rigorous environments in the world. Emiliano, Gabby and I all walked for graduation this spring and are heading off the real world. To be able to end my experience undergraduate days not in New York, but in the Global Center in Beijing truly brings my East Asian Studies experience together.

The Global Scholars and Professors are all a little crazy in the best way possible. Before I close the book on this chapter I have to thank my father, mother and brother. They have been unwavering in their support. I've had a great time and for that, i'm glad.

Peace Out Beijing!