What I Missed the Most

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 The voice of the flight captain woke me up, as he was announcing that the plane would land in 30 minutes. I looked to my left and saw my father staring at the window next to me saying, “We are finally back son. Home sweet home.” I was excited and anxious at the same time to go back home and see the rest of my family.

Spending that previous week in Shenzhen changed my life a little. I got to experience their lifestyle and I was apart of their culture. Over the course of the trip, I went to a lot of different places that ranged from the cities to farmlands. I met a lot of new people but they are mostly my father’s business partners. Most of them are old, so the topics to our conversations were limited. During the times when we weren’t traveling, I was usually in the hotel room relaxing. I brought my laptop hoping to communicate with my friends, but I soon realized that Facebook is banned from China. I tried watching television but all the channels were in Mandarin.

Overall, the trip wasn’t too fun for a 19 year-old college student. For the last few days of the trip, I was home sick. I didn’t feel right being in Shenzhen, I felt the urge to go home. As I got off that plane, I felt like my mission was accomplished and it was only minutes away until I see my mom. When my mom picked us up, I couldn’t help it but to instantly hug her and tell her how much I missed home. 

The Point: There is no place like home.

Education: The Best and the Worst

My worst educational nightmare began with my first English class in college. I was anxiously waiting for my professor to arrive. My mind was filled with curiosity of how my professor would be. I soon realized that the class was a “joke.” It felt like I was re-experiencing middle school. The material he taught was so basic, that I was regressing than progressing. My professor also had an accent that was almost impossible to understand. However, the worst part was that I finished with a “B” in the class. Never again will I underestimate a class.

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My best educational experience did not come from school, but from home. My parents and grandmother are the best teachers I’ve ever had. Even though they do not teach me subjects like Math or English, they teach me the education necessary for life. They help me understand the person I needed to become in order to succeed. Sometimes a warm hug is needed and most of the times a loving spank is given. This educational experience is not just a onetime event. Every single day my ‘best teachers’ continue to mold and refine me into a better person.

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