A New Kind of Wonderful

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The countdown has begun. In four days, I will board a plane bound for the United States to celebrate Christmas with my parents, brother and extended family. In contrast to years past, however, this year I will not return to China. This year, my trip to the U.S. will be a permanent stay.

After four years spent studying the Chinese language and culture, gaining professional experience and traveling all over China and southeast Asia, it is time to return to the motherland. It is time to go home.

"Home". Now, there is an interesting concept. I'm not entirely sure where 'home' is anymore. Is it back in the country of my birth, a place where I have not lived for four years? Is it here in Beijing, a place where I have put down roots? Is it somewhere in between? These questions will only be answered in time.

Friends who have returned to their native countries before me tell me to be prepared for 'reverse culture shock'. Obviously, prior to moving to a foreign country, one learns all about the expected cycle of adjustment to a new land, country and customs. But what about when one returns to one's homeland after an extended stay abroad? It would seem to be an easy transition, since the language and culture is already familiar. What must be kept in mind, though, are all of the new habits, customs and nuances of the host culture that have been picked up while living abroad. If I expect to fit right back into American culture, I may be in for a big surprise. Instead, patience will be the watchword.

I remember vividly one example of this adjustment. I returned to my hometown in Wisconsin this past summer to visit my parents for three weeks. As the plumbing systems in many Beijing apartment complexes (including mine) are quite antiquated, it is not recommended to flush toilet paper. Instead, a covered bin is kept next to the toilet for this purpose. It took a few days for me to remember that this particular practice is not acceptable in the United States...

I am excited and happy to be returning to the U.S. to begin a new career and to stay in better touch with family. But, obviously, there are many things I am going to miss about China. In no particular order, here are a few of the things I will miss most about life in China:

-- Insane traffic flow patterns that require pedestrians to play real-life games of Frogger to get from Point A to Point B, but somehow maintain an ordered chaos.

-- Kung pao shrimp. Real kung pao shrimp. That stuff they serve in the US is not the real deal. Oh, heck, 'real' Chinese food in general.

-- Random, late night karaoke with friends and coworkers.

-- Camaraderie with fellow expats living in Beijing.

-- Circles of retired Chinese men gathered on street corners watching two of their own play an intense game of Chinese chess. Commentary always required.

-- Effusive praise for my 'flawless' Chinese from shopkeepers, passersby on the street, coworkers, etc. I am dubious that I will receive recognition for my amazing English language abilities in the U.S.

-- Hilarious language mistakes. Just the other day, I narrowly avoided getting hit by a car and in my distressed state yelled that the driver must have been Mongolian (when I meant to say blind). The difference in pronunciation between méng and máng is subtle but the meaning is not. Oops.

Another great example: intending to say that I will never give up, but instead loudly proclaiming that I will never fart. (Fàngpì vs. Fàngqì). Ah, language learning. It never gets old.

-- Blue sky days are more readily appreciated when sandwiched by weeks of 'fog'.

--Elderly gentlemen strolling down the sidewalk, singing at the top of their lungs with nary a care for who may hear or judge their melodic abilities.

--Proximity to exciting vacation destinations in SE Asia. Where else can you 'pop' over to Korea for a weekend or take your holiday break in Thailand without battling jet lag?

--Total willingness of close Chinese friends to do absolutely anything for me without expecting anything in return.

--Random occurrences when the only appropriate response is 'Oh, China' (and the realization that no one in the US will understand).

Yes, I will miss all of these things (and probably more that will come to mind once I'm settled back in the US). But I am excited and ready for the new adventure that lies ahead. This is not the end of the story, nor is it the end of the blog.

Stay tuned.

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