It’s 9:20 p.m. and I’m sitting at Toronto’s Airport gate D22. We missed our connecting flight to Ottawa, of course, and we are waiting for the next one.

It’s been a long day and a very long flight and we didn’t sleep much if at all.

The last few days in Beijing were typical of the city: there was a lot of smog and pollution, and most tourist places were crowded. Yet, we went everywhere, circling the city from West to East, from North to South. We even made it to the Temple of Heaven a few hours before our evening flight.

I’m sad to leave China. I like it there. But again, I’m always sentimental when I leave a place, so maybe there is something wrong with me.

I’m exhausted. I hope we board soon.