Our last full day in Nanchang.

A much more relaxed day today, except for the pressure of the students having to finish their tender documents to the Asia Development Bank for their railway design.  After two hours of crunching the figures, arguing over the necessity of an extra bridge, or deciding whether that forest really needed to be cleared, they were ready to present.  And what a superb job each group did!  Every group was able to meet the design criteria (albeit with some questionably accounting practices) and in the end, the winner was too close to call.

Dr Zhou Liping was kind enough to visit and present our students (and Monique) with very impressive certificates of their time at ECJTU, and then the university students prepared for the “Australian and Chinese Cultural Party”.  Some very talented young people showed our not-as-talented students how to paint, conduct a tea ceremony (Matt was in his element – he had the best time), construct a lantern using paper-cutting and generally have a good time.  Gifts were exchanged and even the smallest present from Australia was met with squeals of delight and gratitude (and the girls liked them too… :-))  Email addresses were exchanged and potentially life-long friendships formed.

It was a bit of sad occasion tonight – our last meal at the Expert Building at ECJTU.  We will miss our new friends but many wonderful memories and lasting friendships were formed.

Early start on Friday – we’re off to Xi’An.