My university has an especially long break between semesters this year. We have more than two months off and don’t start classes again until the second week of March. Students have been excited for weeks about getting to go home and spend time with their families over the Chinese New Year, which is called the Spring Festival here. Most of the students took buses home right after they finished their final exams, but I’m staying in Huangling a few extra days to turn in my grades and get everything wrapped up. Without as many students, the entire town is starting to shut down and almost all the restaurants have already closed.
