It was July 15, a day which seemed to be another typical schoolday until we knew that it was the birthday of two of us. What I’d like to say is that, although it wasn’t my birthday, it is definitely a birthday to remember. During the biology class, we got to know that it was Miss Sun’s birthday, and to show our gratitude and affection towards our beloved biology teacher, we decided to plan a surprise for her. On the one hand, some of us ordered a birthday cake. On the other hand, JJY and I worked on a birthday slide. Though only having two images with cartoon-style biology teachers surprisingly similar to Miss Sun and various congratulations we’ve come up with, it is valuable for the thoughts we’ve put into it. Then, we also planned to call out the congratulations as Miss Sun enters the classroom. The big moment drew nearer and nearer with each tick of the clock, but problems arose. As JJY opened up the slide, he accidentally turned off the computer,…

注：中文版本在此 It was the early summer of 2020, on the other side of the globe, in the dead of the night, when it wasn’t long before I should leave the small city of College Park. The journey back home was being covered by COVID-19 as far as the eye can see. Though knowing the assuring fact that our destination is our homeland, the thought of leaving our “safe harbour” still kept me awake. Two hours of sleeplessness was spent, and the moment of the reluctant departure arrived with the merciless tick-toks of the clock. The several minutes we spent wearing masks and stuff were also the last few minutes we spent in this place which I’ve never had the chance to call “home.” Then, taking various bags and stuff, Dad and I locked the door of our apartment room for the last time. We took the elevator. Time in even the elevator seemed so long at such a time of leaving, and the sound of friction, once noisy, seemed almost musical now. Several months ago…