I have arrived back to the USA!
My journey looked something like this:
-a farewell from about 20 of my students
-a van ride to the trainstation
-an all night train from Nanchang to Beijing
-a debriefing session in Beijing
-a 14 hour plane ride from Beijing-Shanghai-LAX (at this point I got to hang out with my cousin in LA! She is awesome!)
-a 2 hour flight from LAX to Spokane
It has been so wonderful to see my family again and to feel at home.
Before I left I was warned about a phenomena called "reverse culture shock".
So far I am experiencing the "honeymoon stage" of "reverse culture shock".
While it hasn't been difficult to be home I have noticed some interesting differences between China and America. I keep seeing everything through the eyes of my Chinese friends and imagining how they would view America. Things that I always assumed were normal suddenly strike me curiously.
For example:
-the abundance of wonderful green lawns. I did not see any lawns in China and I sometimes wonder if the thought of a sprinkler system would be offensive or miraculous to the water depleted northern areas.
-the abundance of cars and the absence of motorcycles and bicycles. I think the driving lifestyle in America as well as the relative order of the traffic would be very interesting to my Chinese friends.
-the absence of people outside.
-the fact that everyone is speaking English. I have been so happy to be able to make small talk with strangers! I've always enjoyed talking to people at the grocery store or talking to little kids, but I couldn't do this in China.
-the material I can access on the internet
-the things I can say
Often when I told Chinese students that I was from America they would say something like this, "Oh! America is a very developed country!" This struck me strangely as the first comment to make about a country, but in fact, after being back, that might be one of the first comments I would make too.
G.K. Chesteron said, "The whole object of travel is not to set foot on foreign land; it is at last to set foot on one's own country as a foreign land."
I like this quote because I think it has helped me to understand what has been happening to me this year. I leared a lot about China, but I also see my own country differently. I think one of the main changes that has happened in my life this year is that I see my role here differently. I have been welcomed into the land of China and I want to be a person who welcomes newcomers into the land of America. Its hard to be away from your own culture and America has so many people coming from different places that its easy to build friendships with people from all over the world. This is an amazing opportunity and it is at our front door if we open our eyes.
How I have changed in other ways:
-I say random things in Chinese instead of Spanish or English. I will say "due" instead of "si" or "yes". I will say "shi shi ni" instead of "gracias" or "thankyou".
-The way I speak has changed. I have stopped using reductions and slang. (I do not understand, instead of I don't understand). I speak slower. I use smaller words. Being an English teacher has decreased my vocabulary.
-I am more grateful.
-I am relatively obsessed with Asia! The continent has come alive to me and it is a real place with a fascinating history and a fascinating future even though it is far away.
-I am not afriad to move to a different country.
-I will never look at a "made in China" label the same again. Many of my friends worked in factories before they came to college.
I am really glad to be home and while I don't know exactly how this year in China will play into my future I am so thankful to have had the opportunity to go.
I look forward to catching up with you all! Please don't hesitate to call or write!
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