I am finally back in the Middle Kingdom (China). This definitely did not hit me until my 2nd day of traveling. I slept on my way to Chicago, slept on my way to Seattle and watched the movie. Then in the Seattle airport it started to sink in as I spoke to other waiguoren (foreigners, for those of you who may have forgotten) about why they were traveling there. The amount of waiguoren who study and live in China is amazing. They all have their reasons and seem to have a hard time leaving. That flight was hard, Hainan airlines has no leg room. But the food and flight was relatively painless, when I arrived I got my first taste of things I hate about China and things I love about China all at once.
First I spoke to a girl who was coming over to teach, she had no better instructions than "get on a bus at the airport to go to your site." She spoke no Chinese, there was no one to meet her, no one to help her. I did my best, to call the lady and try to get better instructions. That is so classically Chinese, at the same time here I am being given a hotel room for my 16hr layover in Beijing. As I was herded along towards the minibus, I felt for the girl. My desire to punch the lady only grew when she called me again while I was on the way to the hotel to ask me to help the girl get on the right bus. Why didn't they send someone to wait for her, collect her. Or give her really explicit directions in Chinese she could show someone. OH CHINA!
As the minibus careened around corners, and other cars, towards the hotel, I couldn't help but relax. I was used to this, this felt normal. I don't know what that means but I am sure it isn't good. The hotel staff all spoke English, so I wasn't forced to delve deep for my Chinese just yet. I woke up the next morning went to the airport, still not feeling like it was China. Then just before I boarded my last flight, a man with wide eyes stared at me and said "Hello!" I smiled and responded "Hello". He and the other people sitting all chuckled. Then it hit me. Welcome back to the Middle Kingdom!
The first few days of Changsha have been ridiculous. It has been eating, cleaning, unpacking, sweating, climbing a million stairs, sweating (did I say that twice, yeah because it has been that bad), and seeing old friends.
I no longer have to pay at the convenience store apparently because I brought my favorite guy some american cigarettes. 7 cups of tea has been redone, there is room to sit and they just put Wifi in. I almost made my Aie cry when I gave her the gifts I had brought from America. And truly the best memory for the week so far (besides seeing all my friends), is walking to breakfast at 6:40 only to pause and watch the road completely covered in fireworks go off for Zhong Yuan Jie (spirit day). Then I walked into my noodle place, the owner smiled and started making my usual order.
I love Changsha and look forward to another year of Chinese inconsistencies, travel, food and friends!
