James Arvey - Jamie Pics and Final Thoughts

Note by Kelly Deeds:  I've uploaded pics of James during our visit.  Some might be "find Jamie" and others are of him in action.  It has been an absolute pleasure to be a part of this trip and especially of traveling with James and Noah both.  It makes a trip great when there's not much to do but sit back and enjoy because of the high quality of both individuals and what great representatives for CAP, USA and IACE they have been.  You'll have to ask James about the pics.

As my first post on the blog, ironically I will be posting about my final thoughts about the trip as we end this trip of a life time. First of all I chose China because I wanted a culture shock, and I received my wish ten fold. Just from arriving at the airport we all saw just how much different China is than the US, and then on the way to the first hotel we were all on our toes seeing the driving for the first time. As we are waiting for our plane flight to leave Shanghai to Los Angeles, I am used to the driving here mostly (if my parents read this please know I will not drive like that when I get home), I can barter like a pro, and I can even drink soup with chopsticks. I have learned a tremendous amount about Chinese culture, history, and etiquette. I have always heard so much about Confucius and I have even read Sun Tzu's Art of War, so I was very excited to see their birthplace here in Shandong Province. But most of all I enjoyed learning about the providences aviation industry, after all I am an air cadet. I thoroughly enjoyed seeing the Qingdao Airport and their facilities, the manufacturing of the Diamond DA-42, and all the other numerous aviation facilities. However, the highlight of my trip was the friendships I made with the Chinese Air Cadets. I have already been emailing them back and forth and I hope that they last a lifetime. As I wait in the Shanghai Airport preparing to leave China, I have already left my group in Qingdao. I will miss all of my new friends both Chinese and foreign cadets. The foreign cadets plan to have a reunion at this time next year in the United Kingdom, where 4 of the 10 foreign cadets will live by that time, to which I look forward to seeing my friends already.