Thank you for nearly four years of extraordinary experiences. Our time together has come to an end, but that doesn't mean that we still won't stay connected somehow. You see, you are responsible for many things in my life today.
China, you gave me people that were genuine and special; you gave me people who were envious and ugly. You gave me friendships that stretch over mountains and seas; that knows no distance. You have given me the blessing of being surrounded by incredible humans, those of whom every moment shared is treasured. Because of you, I found my best friend and love of my life. Thank you for that. You taught me always to be myself and to follow my head; it's usually right. You also taught me not to be played like a fool and analyze situations before making decisions; helping me learn how to spot those that weren't worth it. You taught me that not everyone is my friend; some are just out for themselves. You taught me that I am valuable. You tested me. You made me cry, damn you, laugh with you, and be amazed by you. You made me ill, more often than ever in my life. You also made me healthier, more than ever in my recent years. You even got me swimming again; that makes me very happy. You showed me that there are many kinds of grass and everyone's green is a different color. You showed me that there are closed minds and open ones and that they can form a pretty cool community. You taught me to be very, very thankful for opportunities in my life. You taught me to value those opportunities and work hard to achieve more. You forced me to change, take risks, and figure it out, and I did. You taught me that I can depend on myself. So thank you for it all.
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While it's no secret that China is the leading producer of air pollution in the world, followed by the United States, we are still questioning just how bad it is. I have decided to start a little project of my own. After watching Chai Jing's incredible documentary about the air pollution in China, Under the Dome, I have taken even more notice of the air quality daily. Every morning, I peak out of my curtains to see if there will be a blue sky or a gray sky. Initially, I gauge the air quality of the day based on how far I can see. Sometimes the sky is so polluted that the horizon full of tall buildings stands stagnant with haze, hiding all of those architectural masterpieces. I'm an early riser, so I plan to keep the photos consistent. I plan on posting pictures regularly of the pollution in Foshan. I don't have any intention to go anywhere with this; it's just for documentation. And perhaps, some encouragement to better care for my surroundings, myself, and if anything, to change my current location. There are no photos taken from September 28-October 9 due to the fact that I was traveling in Cambodia. The photos below begin on October 10, 2016 and continue into December. While its no secret that China is completely different than the Western world, there are some advantages to living in this type of society. As for my real opinion of China; we have a love/hate relationship. There are those days that the beauty and essence of ancient ruins and culture awakens my soul and I feel so happy to have this life experience. There are also those days when I don't want to breath because of stinky markets, I scream at the world because I can't get a taxi, and I glare back at those who can't take their eyes off of me. All in all, at the end of the day I have many things to be thankful for; and the things I just described can happen everywhere, right?
But life as in expat is different than what I had expected it to be. I've always seen myself living outside of the US. Its not that I don't love my country, but every time that I go back to it, I realize how small and how small-minded it really is in comparison to the rest of the world. I've been crossing borders since I was 6. When I was 25, I hopped ship and flew to the other side of the world. In the (almost) two years that I have called China "home" I have had wild experiences and amazing opportunities that would have never happened if I stayed back in the US. I am privileged to have these memories to collect. In just my (almost) two years, China has allowed me to travel across its beautiful countryside and through its mountains, to six different countries, and finally to a person who I want to share all of these adventures with. There are many things that I want to express about China. What I will say, its a jaw-dropping country where experiences are truly unique. It will make you crazy and angry but, in the end, this country is a great teacher of patience and understanding. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. Archives
January 2018
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