Back to China

Greetings readers,

Whew! What a summer it has been. It all began innocently enough, with a trip back to the US to visit family and friends. The marquee event of the vacation was my brother John's wedding, taking place in Colorado. After an exhausting journey home (consisting of five legs and over 30 hours, just to reach US soil), it was so wonderful to be back.


Yeah. We ate there. It was cheap.


This is after an overnight layover in the Shanghai airport. I wasn't feeling too hot.

Before I left the US for China, over a year ago now, I wondered what reverse-culture shock would be like. Now I know--in my experience, it was no problem at all. As I described it to anyone who asked, re-entering the US was like taking a bath: soothing, refreshing and comfortable. If China is an assault on the nervous system, then America (to this expat) is a calming balm. Things were familiar. In fact, in some cases, almost eerily familiar. On the Tokyo-Portland flight, I kept commenting to Todd that EVERYONE looked so familiar to me. Didn't I know that gray-haired gentleman in seat 34-B? I could swear that family two rows back is from southern Minnesota. Really? They're from Connecticut? Oh, ok. It was just strange to be around so many Americans at once again. Strange, but nice.

While in the US, I marveled at the cleanliness and efficiency that I had previously taken for granted. I also enjoyed some tasty food from several culinary traditions (especially that of Mom & Dad, a marvelous thing), and drank good beer and wine. I've been back just a week and already I am craving...a sandwich, fresh springrolls, a slice of pizza, a salad...but nothing doing. Oh well. I imagine it'll take longer to get into the swing of things here, food-wise.

Of course, the best part of my summer vacation was spending time with my friends and family. I haven't relaxed and had so much fun in quite a while. Stories were told, of life at home and in China. Perhaps the highlight of my whole two months, however, was being home for the birth of my nephew, Maxwell. It was an unexpected blessing to be able to hold his tiny being a few hours after he came into the steamy August afternoon. Photos and phone calls simply cannot substitute for some things.



Two months? Unexpected? Well, to explain a bit: my original vacation was a short three weeks long, and planned to have me back in China by mid-July immediately following the wedding. But due to some health issues, I had to return to Minnesota for a bit longer. After a couple of minor procedures, I was deemed fit to go back again, but not before sorting through the paperwork and red tape involved with medical clearance for the PC. All told, I was in the US an extra six weeks. Though not without it's stressful moments, the extra time was ultimately a true blessing. I saw many more people, both family, friends and long-lost friends, than I would have in the vacation-as-planned.

I also had a lot of time to think about my purpose in China. For a short period, there were questions on the part of the PC as to whether I'd be able to go back at all. Through the late winter and spring I went through a hefty amount of angst about what I was doing in China, who, if anyone, was I helping, was this truly the right thing for me?, etc. I had just come to terms with my presence in the country as a PCV before I came home. Having reached a tentative peace with myself about it all, and then to have the opportunity to return taken away from me so suddenly, well. It was shocking. And in the end, it made me realize how much I did want to be here and how personally valuable my tenure has been. A deeply challenging and very personal journey, life in China will certainly continue to be a rollercoaster. This year, though, I intend to enjoy more of that ride.