I've seen, done and discovered an incredible amount of things in six short months. It helps that I live in one of the oldest countries with the richest history and culture(s). Let's do a monthly play-by-play. For my avid readers, I apologize for any repeats.
July 2: Ready, Set, Go!
I walked away from my parents knowing I wouldn't see them for the next 365 days at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston at 6:30 a.m. (I've never been more proud of my mama for holding in her tears until I was out of sight).
At this point I honestly had no idea why I was doing this, how it was going to turn out or why the hell I chose China. I didn't even like kids at this point. But hey, when you're searching for a place in the world, you try anything once.
Twenty hours later I'm in what I hope to be Beijing Airport. I stand out like a sore thumb and I have never been stared at so much in my life. Excessive stares from Chinese locals was not in the research I'd done prior to leaving the U.S. Reminder: For many Chinese, especially those who live in rural areas, they have never seen, or seen very few, foreigners in their life. China only began to open to foreigners in the last 15 years or so. They stare because they are curious, which is the same reason I occasionally stare at them. :)
Mid July: Phase 1: "I live in China?"
I passed my TEFL course to be able to stay in China and teach. Everything is new and exciting and all is grand. I'm making a new friend everyday and I have struck gold in the roommate department. I have also started smoking. Everyone smokes when they come to China because it is so cheap. By everyone I mean usually seven out of ten foreigners. It helps to have a popular social habit while adjusting. It has only been weeks so my brain has not registered that I am a temporary resident of this country for the next 12 months.
August: Phase 2: "我不懂 --- "I don't understand.'"
I saw Summer Palace. One of the ten most famous palaces in the world. Right here in the city I live in. Beautiful. I'm finishing up a six-week intense summer course I was thrown into as a rookie at school. I have my own classes and I'm still freaking out before walking into class each day because I can't understand what students say their names are, what color they like or how they are through their Chinese accents (my ears have since adjusted).
September: Phase 3: "对不起 (duì
I've got my full load of classes, and I still have no idea what the hell I'm doing most days. I forget to assign homework, collect and check homework, mark attendance, do an entire 15-minute segment of my lesson plan, and who knows what else. Because I came in during the six-week intense summer course, I wasn't given much time to adjust, nor much guidance that wasn't on the spot. I think I'm a stronger teacher today because of this. At this point, I am saying sorry every five minutes, though.
October: Phase 4: "Holy shit! I live here!"
I knocked another WONDER OF THE WORLD off my list when I saw The Great Wall in October. It seems like such a mundane name for such an amazing creation, but, "Holy shit! This is the most unbelievable, incredible, breath-taking, badass, man-made, wall you'll ever see," was just too long for postcards. :)
I'm rockin' n' rollin' in all of my classes and already considering staying another year. I know most of my students names, what to assign, what to check, what to omit, what is crucial and so on. Also, I get to color almost everyday.
Lastly, it finally sets in that this is my home and I'm absorbed in everything. Oh, and I've quit smoking because there is enough filth in the Beijing air without me adding to the amount of poison I inhale.
November: Phase 5: "Stella Gets Her Grove Back"
My Chinese has increased from five words that were completely useless to about 100 with many being phrases. Although, I'm not conversational at this point, I'm gaining a large knowledge of the vocabulary and I'm able to understand, yet can't always reply. I can respond in simple words and phrases and a large use of hand gestures. I'm proud of myself at this point in the journey.
I take a 10-day holiday with my Venezuelan amiga where we saw an unrealistic amount of Chinese culture. In the south of China in Guangxi Province, we discovered the famous Karst mountains in Guilin, Yangshuo, and Xingpin. Another natural world wonder of the world, knocking out two major natural world wonders in one week, we hopped over to Shilin in the Yunnana Province and saw the Stone Forest. Going for a home run, we also saw the rice terraces in YuanYang County. I've blogged about all of these things individually so I won't go into further detail. I'm on top of the world at this point and can't believe the places I've seen and the people I've met so far.
December: Phase 6: "I want my mommy and daddy!"
The first week of December I got a kidney infection and spent a whopping 12 hours in a hospital. The staff all spoke impeccable English and were extremely attentive and professional. I had my bestie by my side, too. However, I've never been so weak and sick I couldn't walk. Nothing makes you want home more than being sick, much less, hospitalized. I spent the next three weeks contemplating what I was going to do for the next six months while I awaited for my chance to get the hell out of China. I was homesick for people I don't even know at this point. I was an emotional wreck and my permanent smile was fading. Then as if a hypnotist snapped his fingers, I was out of it. Christmas came and went.
January: Phase 7: "And that's it."
My goal for the year is to let go. I was having lunch with a friend and we were spouting the normal, "traveled there, want to see this and do that, probably someday, and I used to" stuff that is common among fellow wandering spirits. They said if something happened then, "that's just it." As simple and completely unrelated to my life as the statement was, it spoke to the exact part of me that needed dealing with. I spend a lot of time asking what if and why instead of simply embracing the present. I think that comes across insane to most of you because in most of your eyes, I live this "exotic life" so I must never miss an opportunity to embrace anything, but the truth is that I do.
When I left for China I promised myself it was going to be an eat, pray, love adventure like Elizabeth Gilbert (or for non-readers, like Julia Roberts). Well I've done a lot of eating and loving, and in my own way, praying. For two years I've been trying to "figure it out," but the truth is, we never really do. Life is kind of bittersweet that way. If we knew how it ended we wouldn't bother thinking about the hard things. It's safe to say, despite even the mistakes I've made here, China has been the biggest eye-opening move of the last 24 months of my life. And since I've already informed my family of my plans, it's safe to tell the world I'll be here an additional year. I've found something I'm good at doing and a company I can grow and continue to travel in. I've also found the perfect environment for my mind to expand and absorb easily. Above all else, I'm happy. :)
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