The Journey Home

Saturday, June 2, was our last morning in Beijing. We all got to sleep in for the first time of the trip, but got up early enough to capitalize on the hotel breakfast, which ended at 9:30 am. A couple of us ventured off into stores for last minute gift purchases, and then we packed up and got our luggage and rooms squared away. The bus left for the Beijing airport at 1 pm local time, our flight was at 4:20 pm local time from Beijing to Chicago. We arrived in Chicago at 4:00 pm local time after a 13-hour flight, then had only a brief layover before boarding what seemed like the shortest flight ever: a 2-hour jaunt from Chicago to Philly. While saying goodbye to everyone at the baggage claim, it was incredible how much we had all bonded over only a two-week period, but I guess being the only English speakers in a different, foreign nation will do that to you. All in all, it was a phenomenal trip - the experience of a lifetime. I hope you've all enjoyed keeping up to speed with the trip via this blog.