Homeward Bound

Today is our last day in China. We will be flying back tomorrow morning. I couldn’t be more ready. I’ve learned a lot of Chinese culture and history and have developed an interest in the language but I’m ready to be back in America where things are familiar. And I need more interaction with people other than my mom. I miss my kitties, my boyfriend and my friends. I also miss Western toilets (although this time there was more than there were 11 years ago), easy access to toilet paper and paper towels and knowing what part of the animal I’m eating. There are great things about China but two things I won’t miss are people staring very bluntly and rudely and getting mistaken for being my parents’ Chinese interpreter.

My final impressions of China are that it is definitely becoming a modern country, it is a country ready to embrace the new century while maintaining its proud history and it is full of a wealth of knowledge Westerners could learn from. This trip has brought to light just how feeble my attempts at trying to Feng Shui my apartment really were compared to the principles followed very strictly here in China. There was plenty that I didn’t have time to see and I definitely would love to return some time to see other parts that I missed, perhaps the Wolong Panda Reserve? I definitely would like to go to Hong Kong although I’m pretty sure I’ll wait until spring or fall. I believe this will be my last voluntary trip to China in the summer.

Traveling abroad always broadens my horizons and I gain a deeper understanding of people I meet in Minneapolis by visiting their countries and experiencing their culture. In this case, I understand why some of the Chinese people I encounter are very pushy. In America of course, it’s considered rude but clearly in China it’s just a way of life and perfectly acceptable, at least in the big cities.

I have to give my mom some credit for being adventurous enough, or concerned about me or my dad traveling abroad without her, but many people wouldn’t go on trips like these. It takes a certain type of person to love traveling and either because my dad and I want to go on these trips or she’s curious and won’t admit it, in the end she does go. I think I can say with 100% confidence that we have vastly different traveling styles and there are certain aspects about her way that drive me completely crazy. Although that’s true for her as well, I know it drives her nuts that I don’t lock up my passport like Ft Knox the way she does and she can’t fathom why I wouldn’t want to buy purses with zippers and constantly have to unzip and zip them each time I want to get something out of my bag.

This is the first time I’ve traveled around another country without my dad and I have to admit that not having him around was not quite as fun. And he is usually the one that takes the hilarious pictures of my mom. He brings an adventurous spirit and an easy-goingness that my mom and I don’t quite have. I think any time you travel it’s best to do it in a group of at least three or more. It’s good to have more people to joke around with and quite honestly I don’t know many people who can travel with just one person for an extended period of time and not have them get on their nerves. Case in point would be Anne and Nate’s adventures in Southeast Asia. So to sum up, my trip has been a wonderful experience and an enjoyable vacation but I’m ready to come home!