Walking in my front door, I was very unsure of how the next few days would be living with my Chinese exchange student, Chen or Mike (Mike was his English name). I was uncertain of what he would be like, how well he spoke English, and how he would fit in with my family. After talking to him for a few minutes, I soon realized Chen was going to fit right in.

              Chen is 16 years old, and lives every day to the fullest. He is an avid photographer and is very talented. He has been playing tennis for several years now and tries to play every weekend. Not only is he a photographer, but a musician. Chen plays the drums and keeps a beat very well. He goes to boarding school in Nanjing, which is in the eastern part of China.

              Though Mike (or Chen) and I didn’t share many common hobbies, we became fast friends. Chen taught me a lot about photography and I taught him about the outdoors. I enjoyed taking him to the country. He loved taking pictures out there because of the scenery, but loved shooting AR15’s even more. We shared a similar taste in music, commonly listening to rap while riding around town.

              Our friendship however was not just based on hobbies, but also on deeper topics. We talked about religion, politics, beliefs, and each other’s cultures. I learned Chen saw positives in both American and Chinese Government. Chen also thought that America relied heavily on personal cars and transportation. His culture doesn’t rely on cars very often, but he is very interested in how everything in America is fast service with vehicles, such as drive through and bank windows. Chen taught me a lot about himself, and life in general.

              Chen couldn’t have been a better guest. He was incredibly polite, and always offered to pitch in when it came to chores. When I had to babysit, Mike gave it his best and was really good with kids. He was strict but also fun. After we babysat, we talked about growing up in China and America, and how different both are. He really liked playing with my dogs, however wasn’t a fan of all of my mounts in the man cave. He was very surprised to find dead animals when he walked in.

              I will never forget long lunch on his first full day. AJ Mitchell, Rob Turnage, Chen, and I piled into AJ’s car to treat Chen to some American Cuisine, Cook Out. A classic long lunch destination that was sure to satisfy Chen’s craving of southern culture. He ordered a cheeseburger and cheese fries. “Cheese in China is very different. I am going to miss American cheese a lot” Chen would tell me. When we arrived back at the lunchroom to eat, we were all eager to see Mike’s reaction. As he opened up the bag, he grabbed the burger upside down and took a chunk out of it. The smile on Chen’s face at that moment could be the universal sign for love of food. Though it was upside down, I told Chen it all went down the same, he concurred.

              The final full day I spent with Chen was full of mixed emotions, happy because we got to spend an afternoon together, yet sad because it was our last afternoon together for a while. I wanted to make it special. So Josh Legaj, Chen, and I, went out to the farm to shoot guns. Chen had never fired again, and always desired to do so. The Remington .223 couldn’t have made any person on this earth happier. We then rode around the country side admiring the beauty of all the small things. When we got home, Chen played some PS4 with my little brother and then we all just hung out. My Dad grilled cheeseburger steaks, made homemade French fries, and cooked peas. It was a fabulous meal for Chen to leave on. My family, Chen, and I, all sat outside sharing memories of his time with us. I truly wish the meal could have lasted forever because like all good things, it had to come to an end.

              I drove Chen back to his hotel and on the ride both of our eyes swelled up with tears. I didn’t know I could become so close to someone in such a short period of time, but I did. The memories we made together will never be forgotten. Before Mike/Chen left for good on that Friday, I told him “This was not a goodbye, it was a see you later.”