Thirteen years ago I left China for Canada with my mom. I was nine that year, an elementary student who was halfway through second grade. Now, thirteen years later I am back. Ready to learn more about the culture and history of China through a six month exchange program at Tsinghua university.
Why did I choose to come back? Because there is so much to learn, to see, and to experience.
Also, I needed a change of scenes. I wanted to give myself a break from the brutal pace of university life. No holidays, no breaks, was the norm for the past 4 years. This is my vacation.
Aug 20, 2009
I left for Beijing. What a difficult day that was. I was put in an incredibly and needlessly complicated situation by the parents. Nothing is ever easy or simple in my family, but I still did not foresee the circumstances. All I wanted was to get on that plane. So I kept on walking as I waved goodbye through the departure lines. It was the first time I was traveling far away from home on my own but coming home.
Aug 21, 2009
After 13 hours aboard the AC31 Boeing777, I landed. The lady that sat beside me was extremely nice and helpful. She was a teacher, unmarried and looked to be around 50. I am reminded of how lonely life can be. Beijing from above was very green and clean, very different from the last time I landed. The first person I spoke to at security was extremely rude. Perhaps I was being young, naive and always asked others for help. It could be a western mentality of asking for help without trying to figure things out on my own, my problem solving relied on others. I was detained by the swine flu inspection guards as my body temperature was high, likely due to lugging my heavy carry on bag. The Beijing airport is big. I sat and rested in the swine flu quarantine area to have my temperature taken. I began to worry about not getting a normal temperature reading. I felt my throat drying up and forced myself from sneezing. Luckily my temperature was fine and was on my way. At the luggage conveyor belts, while staring at suitcases, I suddenly felt like I was walking when I was standing still. It was a long and tiring flight.
Aug22, 2009
Uncle tried helping me get used to the new environment. The amount of people, bikes, cars, tall buildings, everything was overwhelming.
Aug24, 2009
I boarded a train heading to XinZhou. I arrived at 5:30 in the morning carrying 1 large suitcase, 1 backpack, and 1 carrying bag. Joy and relief filled me when I saw my Aunt and her family at the train station. Once home and I saw my grandpa and grandma, the tears just started falling.
Aug25-27, 2009
Eating out almost everyday. Going shopping with the family. XinZhou has changed. The restaurants had everything from hotpot to Korean BBQ. The malls were clean, well lit and expensive.
Aug28-29, 2009
Headed towards where my dad grew up. A small village in the middle of the mountains. The air quality there was incredible, but the bathrooms were frightening. Grandpa and grandma treated me well. On the way home, I had to dinner with a bunch of strangers who I did not care for. I played my part, remained calm, and handled it pretty well on the spot only to breakdown later and let it all out.
Aug30-Sept12, 2009
The people's park, wow...where I killed my head on that 360 spinner ride. The generous gifts that I received. The time I spent watching 传关东 with grandparents, the ZhongHuaXiong fish, trip to HeBian, non-stop rain for 4 days, the trip with grandma to the morning markets, these are what made those days special. It was hard leaving. It was hard saying goodbye to the people that made feel so special and loved.
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