May 19/20 (Day 12/13)

The last two days are a blur. One day is spent in a city outside of Shanghai called Souzou. The other day is a travel day back to the U.S.. The Souzou day trip included a boat ride and a trip to a garden along the Tiger River. We also visited an embroidery institute.

The embroidery process is painstakingly detailed and tedious. Artists sketch the picture onto canvas and the embroiderer uses silk thread to fill in the sketch. A medium size piece of work can take six months to complete. The finished piece is astounding and actually looks like a painting. It’s not until you take a closer look that you realize the difference. What's even more incredible is that the embroidery is done in a way that the picture appears on both sides of the canvas.

As my trip comes to an end, my only regret is that I couldn’t convince Crystal to join me for this opportunity. As I saw and did so many things in China, I often wished she was there with me. Some things would’ve been a tough adjustment for her, but I think she would’ve really enjoyed the experience. Even though I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the experience, after two weeks I am ready to get back to my wife and life in the United States. I enjoyed visiting China, but I don't want to live there. I miss home and according to Crystal, home misses me.



1 comment:

Unknown said...

Crystal why didn't you go to China???