Monday 29 July — Unit 731 Museum
Planning and instructions are given via the WeChat group (about 200 people). Today, we wear the event polo shirt.
The entire summer school takes buses and goes to the museum of the Japanese atrocities committed by Unit 731 during the Second World War.
Then we go to a place where everyone plays in a water fight, dances, sings and eats a barbecue. Pleasant moment.
Tuesday 30 July — Data collection
Data collection. I cannot manage it. I am falling behind. I learn that many people work during their free time, sometimes late into the night. My group is working this evening, I am invited to join them, but I do not. I start questioning the relevance of the use of data by students for various reasons.
Wednesday 31 July — Relaxation
I take care of personal things today.
Trying massages in the evening.
Thursday 1 August — Energy balance
Energy balance of Malawi for 2013-2014. Others prepare maps and graphs. I get lost in the work. I am told to take things calmly. Questions about how the work is done come to mind.
Heading to downtown Harbin.
Many people take photos of us, not very subtly.
Friday 2 August — Presentation
Presentation. Buy carbon, not gold.
Use of GIS maps. Research on various things related to the work but not directly connected to our tasks (useless for the group).
Saturday 3 August — Changing hotels
We change hotels to work. The first one is hosting another event.
I wonder where the homeless are. I have not seen any.
The editor-in-chief of Nature Sustainability presents the journal and her work.
The supervisor asks me if I can do an interview, "just one sentence". I agree. Then, once there, I have to improvise a speech, in front of a technical team and other people in a small room.
Time passes quickly.
Sunday 4 August — Departures
I miss my group's final presentation.
Buying tickets for Heihe. Goodbye.