Closure

Grab life by the ball.

My contract as a full time teacher at Power Language Training expired a year after it was officially signed, October 27^th 2013. I will be leaving Hangzhou, China in one week. It’s a very surreal feeling. I guess it’s not common to sell your car, cancel your phone contract, and leave a comfortable life.  Granted I was a bartender, so lets not over exaggerate and imply that I had an ideal life. I wasn’t unhappy in any way, but bartending was a temporary situation. I loved it and am so thankful for all I learned, but I wouldn't let myself make it a career just because it was comfortable. Living abroad was something I had always wanted to do.

Growing up I watched as my brother and sister both studied abroad and lived in various parts of the world. I was blessed with the opportunity to travel a lot as a young adult. I think also the internal struggles I face with Orange County were all factors that pushed me to want to get out. I thought going to Northern California for College would suffice, but any of you who know me well know that that did not pan out as planned. Moving to China was the result of all these factors. As difficult as it can be to make that leap I was always well aware that the bubble of Southern California was a surreal existence, and that I wanted to experience more. The world is so much bigger than our surroundings.

Cheers to self growth.

I don't want to make it sound as if this past year in China has changed me into an all knowing, insightful or better person in any way. My day-to-day struggles have most likely been the norm. I’m not in a third world country volunteering… I’m teaching English in the fastest growing nation in the world. I’m in no way a saint for moving here (though I know that’s what you were all thinking).

I will miss my fruit guy and his son the most.

But to be quite honest; I am really proud of myself. I know that I’ve grown here. I know that this experience will prove to be invaluable to my future. I know that if I can do this, there isn’t much I can’t do. Well that's an exaggeration. But I definitely have more confidence in myself. This past year has been so challenging and so rewarding in so many ways, and I am so happy for that. And I know that it was only a year… I didn't spend seven years in Tibet like Brad Pitt. But you can learn a lot about yourself in a year.

A good friend of mine and I were reminiscing the other day on my time here coming to an end. She asked me how I felt about my experience. There is no other way for me to describe this year besides “grateful”. I think she was surprised to hear that I was grateful for all that has happened this year… For those here that witnessed the heartbreak I went through when a relationship ended and I learned of his infidelity, that was not the adjective they were expecting. But I wouldn't change anything that has happened to me for the world.

I couldn't have asked for better friends
 to share this time with.

My time here, as frustrating, difficult, inconvenient and challenging as it has been has also been the biggest test for me. And I’m happy to say that I feel as if I’ve come out on top. For every awful experience here I have had a beautiful one. The experiences and friendships I’ve made here are unlike any other. I wouldn't trade the heartbreak I felt here for anything in the world. I’m happy I went through it. I’m happy I am a stronger person for having been through all I did.

Again, I haven’t been living in Syria. Life here isn’t horrific. But it is different and it is challenging, because it isn’t the norm. Living in a different culture will always have its challenges, and I can say from experience; the cultural differences in Hangzhou can’t be explained. I’m not sure you can even experience them all in a month or two. And I'm sure there are still plenty of experiences I've missed. It’s a different world. But it’s such a gratifying experience to adapt. I miss the conveniences of home all the time! I miss having friends and family close when I’m struggling or having a bad day.  But I know now that I’m pretty strong, and that there aren't many obstacles that I can't overcome.

Margaret Wardrop: The best roommate I have ever had.
You're my Mike Wazowski.

Big life changes create a great deal of self-reflection. As someone who has a LOT of feeling and loves to talk about feelings, this is something I’m grateful for. Introspection is a very important component of growth, and I think it’s something we put aside when we become comfortable. I value the uncertainty of my life at this moment because it pushes me to question the life I’m living. I’m not bored nor do I have it all figured out… And I’m happy for this adventure even if it means I have no idea where I want to go or what I want to do. I figure that stuff will all just fall into place…(fingers crossed).

Getting out of China.

Arrived at an airport with free WIFI. Three men helped me find my correct bus to get into the center of town. A Japanese man befriended me in the bus line and instructed me how to pay and when to get off the bus. The airport bus that takes you to all the different parts of the city was a limousine bus! This was the nicest bus I've ever been in. I think they polish the armrests. The bus driver then bowed to us before he started driving. Oh, and he was wearing white gloves. There where a dozen people on the bus and everyone was quiet. How rare for me. The woman behind me made a phone call and was practically whispering. Then a Chinese man answered his phone; he was two rows behind the Korean girl and was much louder. However, there are Korean music videos playing... and boy band is scaring me with their perfect cosmetically sculpted faces. And this was my first impression of South Korea.

It was pretty simple to find my hostel. I changed real quickly and went to meet a friend who conveniently lived a two-minute walk from my hotel. We grabbed dinner at a Korean BBQ restaurant down the street. Then met a few of his friends at a bar. They are all in the military and the neighborhood they live in is called Itaewon.  The army base has been in this area since the 50's so there is a large international influence. In fact the little downtown area of Itaewon felt similar to downtown Fullerton.

The following day I did my favorite thing: walk around a new city. I truly get giddy walking around a new city. I think also because walking in Hangzhou can be so unpleasant at times (smells, people, etc) so being anywhere else is rather refreshing.

I did that for two days and in the evenings went out with Nick. It was so great to have someone to hang out with. Sunday morning I left for Taipei, Taiwan. I got into Taipei around 6pm. From the airport I took about an hour bus into the center of town. I'm getting really good at navigating and finding my way (without a smart phone to guide me that is). After arriving at the Main Station I found my way to my hostel. The place was super cozy and clean and I was instantly given a glass of wine from a guy from San Francisco. The next two days I did the same thing as in Seoul: explore.

I went to the top of the second tallest building in the world (though soon to be surpassed by The Shanghai Tower in Shanghai). I walked all day and in the evening visited a few night markets and temples. I wasn't aware of the heavy influence of Buddhism here. I took a glass bottom gondola to some mountains/tea fields on the outskirts of the city, then went to the zoo!! Animals make me happy... Why not.

I wanted to visit another area of Taiwan while here. Taipei is great in that it is a big city with a very tropical feel, but Taiwan is also known for their beautiful beaches. A Taiwanese couple I met highly recommended Hualien. From Taipei it was about a two and a half hour train ride. I arrived in a very small city and spent that evening just walking around and people watching. The owner of my hostel was so helpful in helping me to plan my stay. He highly recommended renting a scooter (I was planning/hoping to do so) and riding to Taroko National Park. This park is known as one of Taiwan's most beautiful attractions. It was about an hour ride up the coast to the park. I spent the day riding through the park on my little blue scooter, stopping often to go for a hike and explore some of the trails. I met so many nice people; Taiwanese are extremely friendly and helpful. In China I would often feel hesitant to ask a stranger for help, here not at all. The language barrier isn't as much of a problem here, which makes a HUGE difference!

After a few hours in the park I continued up the coast a bit to see a beach I'd heard about. It was so tranquil and calming to be near the ocean. I had to head back the Hualien to return the bike by 6:30. It was a great day! I enjoyed being in nature and exploring on my own. Also I saw monkeys in the park. You can't be mad when you see monkeys!

I took the train back to Taipei the following day. The older Taiwanese woman on the train asked me a few questions in broken English then handed me an orange. She then got my email address, had our neighbor take a photo of us, and put her scarf on me like a blanket when she saw I was cold. She is my new adopted grandmother.

I spent a total of ten days traveling on my own (well, I guess I wasn’t really alone in Seoul). It was a great experience and test for what’s to come next year. I have a one-way ticket to Bangkok, Thailand for January 28^th. I have given myself a window of about six months to travel in Southeast Asia. I will have friends with me at times and will be meeting up with friends a long the way, but there will definitely be many times that I will be on my own. So I have to really prepare myself for time alone as well as really put myself out there with strangers and trying to make friends…

This is my last week of work here in Hangzhou. I’ve been working part time this last month. Saturday my friends and I will celebrate Thanksgiving, which will be so wonderful! It will be the last time I see a lot of these wonderful friends I’ve made here. I will fly back to Southern California on Friday December 6^th!! I am beyond excited to see friends and family again.