Teaching during the third week was probably the most fun week of the camp. The previous week, because of the way the scheduling worked out, I led more activities than Bertie. So during the third week, Bertie gave one final lesson and I think this one was the best: “Make a Date from Your Classmate! Find Brandi a date!”

The whole class, even the students who didn’t participate much, loooooved the fact that I am single. Bertie decided to indulge the class and poke fun at me with this activity. The presentation began on the English dating/hookup culture and ended with a selfie of me and my cat, Sammy. In case you’re interested, this is how Bertie sold me to the class:

We then showed them the video of the eHarmony cat lady as an example of what not to do when trying to date. Bertie handed out props, the ones I had brought in the following week, and instructed the class to pick one person to represent a group of five and create a dating profile for himself.

The winning group in one of the classes focused the dating profile on a mutual love of minions and minion parties. Leon, the winning bachelor, even drew up an invitation!

The rest of the available class time was focused on practicing for the final singing competition. Unfortunately we didn’t win, but the students combined as a province to perform “Eye of the Tiger” as a group of nearly 250! Every time I rewatch their performance, my heart swells with pride and I’m transported back into the auditorium’s balcony. The amount of time and effort put into the dance is immeasurable. 

We won the singing competition as a large group! I was so ridiculous proud of all of them. They worked so hard even though they didn’t feel the same passion toward the song as they had with “Larger Than Life.”

I screamed my lungs out and lost my voice as a combination of that and the horrible pollution in Beijing. I had no voice for about a week and it was worth it. I wouldn’t have changed anything for the world.

Bertie’s plane tickets unfortunately had him leaving a day before the camp ended. My family had come over to China and didn’t have a chance to meet him. They did, however, have the opportunity to meet my class.

Green T welcomed them with cheers and greetings of “welcome to China,” and “it’s so nice to meet you.” We even showed off our dance moves and performed our dance to “Larger Than Life,” as well as a freestyle one to “Gangnam Style.” Mom and Dad even joined in!

The camp ended with bittersweet farewells at a cocktail hour. We took pictures and it was nice to see everyone in clothes other than the camp uniform, stained with the sauces from lunch, showcasing our inabilities to eat perfectly with chopsticks.