What this trip meant to me (Matt)

Where can I start? I think the best way I can describe what this trip meant to me is that when I have a friend or acquaintance ask me how the trip was, all I can say is "Amazing", and then I'm at a loss for words as to how to continue. I feel like unless I break out the slide projector and sit the person down for a 45 minute lecture on everything about the trip, I'm doing it and the history of our family an injustice. I feel like no matter what I tell these people there's no way I can convey the significance of what this trip meant to me and I'm sure what it meant to everyone else.

When I look back at all the things we did in those two weeks and I think of the grandeur of the Forbidden Palace or the Great Wall, I almost can't believe that I was really there. But even as amazing as those places were, the most impacting memories I have are things like being in the humble Songwang Village and standing in the middle of a field, eating scorpions or even just riding in the bus with the whole group there. Like Aunt Rebecca said, one of the greatest aspects of this trip was that we were able to experience it together as a family.

Aunt Roberta, thank you so much for all the work you put into everything logistically and financially, I don't know how things could have been any better! It was an amazing mix of national history, family history and fun and I wish I could have stayed on for a couple more weeks. Not to mention all the work on the book, I can't wait to someday go back with the future generations and be able to reference all that history and know that no matter how the government over there distorts the facts, we have a first hand account of the truth that cannot be taken away.

Also, thanks so much to Grandma Yang for the Yellow Mountain/Huangshan portion of the trip, I think the hours of fog and clouds only made the 20 minutes when it was clear that much more amazing! And thanks to everyone else on the trip as well for all the help translating, for putting up with us sickies, for making everything possible and for making this really a trip of a lifetime. This was an experience most people on this Earth wont ever get to go through, and I feel lucky to have gone through it with all of you!