So I ended up going to Sanya. China's Hawaii. Long story.
I'm back. And going crazy.
They call it counter-culture shock I guess, but I didn't expect it to hit so soon.
Right now, It's 525 AM.
I remember getting off the plane 12 hours ago and being shocked by how freely people spoke English. And not the clean, accented English that I've grown accustomed to, but real English.
I was looking around, and I had the familiar feeling that I didn't fit in. Not like I felt in China. In China, not fitting in was how I fit in. I was a foreigner. But back in the States, I don't have any kind of leeway for mistakes, people don't wonder who I am.
I also began to pick up on subtleties that I haven't yet learned how to read in China. Like, I knew the guy at the airport hated his job as he leaned up against a pole and directed us on with a roll of the eyes. Or maybe it's just that people are more rude in the States. Or more honest. In Japan everyone who is working bows their head to you. In China, people, knowing you have money, will follow down streets complimenting you into buying their product.
I waited for soooo long to pick up my baggage from the carousel. Hong Kong and Tokyo were model airports. Chicago, Boston not so much.
I hate to sound critical, but I am.
But when I got out of Logan, I found what makes home so great. Two of my friends had come to pick me and my family up. It's amazing how easily you can slide back into friendship with people you haven't seen in 6 months. I wonder why I'm so lucky as to have friends that would waste their time picking us up and dropping us off. Or have friends who take me to the DMV to get my license. Or friends in China who I'm waiting to meet again. Why am I so lucky as to have friends that send me emails even after I forgot to write back? I must of been very good in another life.
