It's been really hard saying good-bye. I've met so many incredible people here. I've been shaped by a tremendous experience both good and bad. I have lost myself and pushed through adversities. I have discovered things about others but mostly I have discovered things about myself.
Rose cried when I met her at Starbucks during my last week.
"Don't cry," I begged, "I'll be back again someday."
"When you leave I won't have any friends," she said, "You're my only friend."
I was touched. To have made a difference in someone's life in a little less than a year was astounding. I didn't think I could create such an impression. I realized then that the Chinese do not forge friendships lightly and though they were a difficult culture for me to understand (as I'm sure mine was to them) we could still speak the language of genuine concern for each other.
The last time I saw Rose we went out to dinner. We didn't talk much about the departure. We just held on to the time we had as if nothing was happening. Believe it or not there was a sense of closure in not closing at all.
I went to a party then afterwards with the foreigners I met there. It was nice. We discussed our returns home (and for some their stays) and it was a beautiful send off.
"What will you do when you get home?" one asked.
"Eat the biggest burger I can find," I said.
We laughed.
The next day I was on the plane and greeted by familiar faces. Was there culture shock in my return? Strangely not The only weird occurrence was I had accidentally bumped into someone at the airport in Philadelphia who was Asian American and I apologized to him in Chinese and he gave me a strange look.
Other than that, well, it's good to be home.
