Yes, you read the title right. I am coming home. I will take my original planned flight out of Asia on May 16th. I couldn't be more excited. I have no regrets with my decision. The idea of a summer in China is a completely romantic to me. Bartending, meeting people, learning mandarin and having random exciting adventures. In fact, everything the past couple of weeks has led me to believe that I can't fight fate - that everything has worked out so perfectly and all the signs are leading me to stay here. However, despite everything the one thing that has deterred me and made me second guess my decision was my heart. Everyone knows that quote. "Wheresoever you go, go with all your heart". Yes, part of my heart is in China. But where my heart really is is back home, in the good old United States of America.
I have had so many great times here. So many adventures with travelling, as I have documented a couple of them in my blog. But most of all I have learned and grown as a person. I believe that I will have left China quite a bit different than when I entered, and it is all for the best.
They say that China is the New Wild West. I believe that. This is an amazing country that has so much potential for greatness and power. The future for the time being looks optimistic for China and the opportunities endless. I believe I share that with China. I think my future is pretty optimistic too, and I don't have to stay here for the summer to have crazy adventures and new opportunities. In fact, I have somfe pretty crazy adventures with my best friends back home!
So here I am. In my dorm room at the old SWUFE campus. It is way nicer than the one I came into, and I just got back from having nice long chats with some people I met in the lobby. Most are from the University of Florida, here on an exchange. They are very wide eyed and excited as they have only been here for a week. All dreaming of what China will bring them. I am sure it will bring them great times, just as I am sure that I would have fun with them, showing them around and venturing around Chengdu. Learning Chinese by day, bartending at Shamrock by night.
But I have already done this whole scene, and I have more than my fair share of stories. So with that, my feet are following my heart back to Seattle and I couldn't be more excited. I am about to turn 21, which is quite possibly the best age to be in America. I want to celebrate it with my best friends who I can't wait to see. I look forward to those late nights at the Burrow, staying up until sunrise talking about nothing and absolutely everything. Being able to text Taylor any innappropriate phrase I want and having her respond with quite possibly a more inappropriate one. I'm going to look forward to having Jessi drive Maggie, I and whoever else around all summer and causing a raucous. Having Alissa come over from Spokane, Shiree leaving the Tulip frields and visiting. And Paula - oh Paula. I look forward to whatever crazy story she will have to tell me. Lunch dates with Cyril, listening to him talk passionately about Orison. Seeing Matt in odd moments - rolling my eyes at his horribly bad jokes. But most of all I am excited to see my family. My mom (who I know was just here but who I miss already), my stepdad (because who else is going to slam the cupboards at 4 AM and wake him up?) my Dad (because who else will entertain him like I do?) my stepmom (who else is going to leave a mess everywhere?) and all my siblings - all five of my beautiful, wonderful, crazy siblings. I can't wait for my little sister's First Communion and can't wait to see my whole wacky, fun extended family of cousins, my little second cousins, my aunt and uncle, and most especially the man that made this all possible - My Grandfather.
So here's to you China. We had our ups, we had our downs. Mainly it was ups and I will never forget the time I spent here. I have learned so much and made so many amazing (albeit interesting) friends and had one too many crazy counters. Thanks for the late nights and the insane taxi rides. The strengthening of my quads with the squatty potties, and giving me the force of the hulk to now be able to navigate through crowds of thousands of people. Xie, Xie and Bye-bye!
Side note: My mom put her foot down and completely refused to pay for another flight for me (as she should..I am quite the money sucker!) so I have to take the train. My internet isn't working at the Tex-Mex grill that I am at right now so I have tried to explain frantically to the Chinese people my situation and they have been the most accommodating. Since I couldn't book online a man left this place to go a half hour away to find and book the tickets for me. He got me a luxurious first class cabin on the train for a fraction of the price that most people pay! That's the thing with China - you never really know what you're going to get. They can't figure out that drinks and appetizers come before the meals but sometimes they will quite eating their meal and run to the train station to help you out.
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