Returning Home

The final week in China was the busiest time of the entire trip. We gave our students the final oral examination, said goodbye to a multitude of students, packed up, and cleaned our apartment. I alone had over 800 students who took the final pronunciation examination. Fiona was kind enough to help me with some of my biggest classes so that I could finish up in the allotted hour and half period. Grading, compiling, and curving the grades took longer than it should have because everything is still done using paper and pen at the school.

We also attended four going away parties! The first one was our idea, but then the students (as usual) took it into their hands and organized the whole thing. It was an American style pool party BBQ. Unfortunately it was a cool and rainy day but we still managed to have a lot of fun eating Chinese BBQ and swimming in the spring fed pool (no chemicals added!).

We had a rushed dinner with the University president who received his PhD in math from the University of Glasgow so his English was very good. We also had a “banquet” with a few faculty members. We tried many Chinese delicacies such as congealed blood, cow throat and stomach villi (not as good as it sounds).

Last but not least for our final English corner, our students put on an elaborate show complete with games, pictures, gifts, skits, and many musical performances. The Chinese students are so organized and put so much thought into their welcoming and sending off ceremonies. They are also extremely sincere and romantic. They say things like “I will never forget you.” “Never say goodbye.” “Although we will be far apart, we will still be together in our hearts.” “Can’t get you out of my head, can’t get your out of my heart, can’t get you out of my life no matter if we are apart.” “My heart will be empty without you.” I tried to keep up, stammering things like “I’ll miss you, it has been great, you have all been great friends” but I felt like my bland statement of feelings didn’t hold up.

We spent the last day packing, cleaning, and saying goodbye to the students who we were especially close to. It’s traditional for Chinese to exchange gifts when saying hello or goodbye so we had to scrounge around for gifts such as some American change, sea glass, etc. Not enough really. We received some beautiful paintings and meaningful trinkets and felt very lucky to have such wonderful students. After leaving at 4:30 in the morning we made an arduous journey from Chongzuo to Nanning to Hong Kong to Thailand.

Because this blog is about China I cap the Thailand story to just a few details. We went to Pataya which was the world capital of prostitution and just an insane party (at least for the visitors). We went to a little island called “Kohl Larn” which was beautiful and we ended up staying in a most beautiful hotel room for quite cheap.

We then traveled up to Chang Mai to visit Erica who is an old friend from high school. Since graduating from Barnard she has been teaching in Vietnam and now Thailand. She had a beautiful house on the edge of the city and taught young kids in the Montessori Method. If I was going to live in Asia again, it would probably would be in Thailand. Go to China if you want to see a something unaffected by western culture, go to Thailand if you want to be comfortable and enjoy yourself.

Looking back on China I could make some basic conclusions: The government owns a lot, the people own a lot less. By and large, the Chinese are good people. They are traditional, innocent, and seem very happy given their lack of resources.

The Chinese also like Americans, and probably anyone of European decent. In fact, if can’t find a job in America, China is a good place for you. Check out this article: http://current.com/entertainment/comedy/92517344_for-rent-in-china-white-people.htm

Erica said that Asia is the new California. I agree with her in a certain sense. For instance, there is a real movement of "young hipsters" who are choosing to pick up their roots and move to the far East. There is a plethora of jobs and although they do not pay well by western standards, the cost of living is so low that it is in fact very easy to live quite well. On the other hand, Asia has a long ways to go before it catches up to the west. The average standard of living is still much lower than that of America and economic inefficiencies run rampant. There is much work to be done in Asia and much opportunity for those who seek it.