“When a friend comes from afar, how great the joy is.”

Chinese: 有朋自远方来，不亦乐乎。

Yǒu péng zì yuǎn fāng lái, bù yì lè hū. – Confucius

Dear professors, organizers, new friends, and fellow students,

Coming here to Shanghai has been one of the most joyful, enriching, inspiring, motivational and unforgettable experiences I’ve ever had.

From the moment I arrived, I felt warmly welcomed. I loved meeting people from all over the world—Together, we spoke the universal language of physics, but also of curiosity, banter during tea breaks and commentary during ping pong and chess games.

The academic program covered everything—dark matter (which I personally feel slightly more enlightened about now), neutrinos, exoplanets, AI, black holes, muons, and quantum everything—basically, every mystery in the universe except where all our sleep went.

One of the highlights for me was attending the lectures by Professor Anthony Zee, which he sprinkled with so many anecdotes from all the physicists we usually know from textbooks - they turned alive in my eyes when he talked about them. So, in a way, this Summer School wasn’t only from the largest cosmological questions to the tiniest quantum mysteries but also a meeting of the older (I can’t say oldest) to the youngest minds of physics, including both the researchers and us, the students.

But it wasn’t just about the science. I’m incredibly grateful to my Chinese friends who helped us in so many ways—from figuring out how to get bikes, to navigating the city, to ordering takeout, or traditional dresses or simply being there when we needed anything. I think we might now qualify as a transportation expert in China, having used everything from planes to high-speed trains, subways, taxis, and of course, bikes. So, coming here, was a journey both in space and in spirit.

“Even when good friends live far apart, they remain close at heart.”

Chinese: 好朋友即使相隔千里，心却是贴近的。

Hǎo péngyǒu jíshǐ xiānggé qiānlǐ, xīn què shì tiējìn de. – Mang Bo

This quote captures how I feel about the friendships we’ve formed here. Though many of us will soon go back to our home countries, I truly believe that the bonds we’ve created—through shared challenges —will stay close in our hearts.

Studying in the beautiful building of the TDLI institute , with its impressive architecture and atmosphere of discovery, was a true privilege. Being able to learn about the biography of T.D. Lee in his library was deeply inspiring. It reminded me of the legacy we’re now a small part of.

“Parting is brief for long-lasting friendship.”

Chinese: 离别虽短，友情长存。

Líbié suī duǎn, yǒuqíng chángcún. – Schiller (adapted)

So yes, saying goodbye may feel bittersweet. But I truly believe that what we’ve shared here will last far beyond this summer. Thank you to everyone who made this experience possible - for the science, the friendships, and the memories. I learned one more thing that Inwant to say in Chinese - nimen hao li hai: you are all amazing! 

I really hope that we will all see each other again - be it at a campus in America, Europe, Asia, Australia, back here at TDLI one day or for remote meetings when we exchange our research.