Six Months

Six months ago I stepped off a plane, muscle sore and bleary-eyed, into the oppressive heat of Wuhan, one of China's four "Furnace Cities." Adam, Jeremy and I were whisked away from our companions and hurried into a rickety (or so I thought at the time) bus with a reckless (or so I thought at the time) driver. That day we were shown our dirty (so I thought...) apartments and fed unpronounceable food. Our escort gave us each 200 yuan (a number that shocked me at the time...but is only about US$26) and we attempted to figure out the supermarket and the fresh market using only gestures and written numbers. In the evening, the 3 of us gathered underneath my air conditioning unit and Offered Thanks and Shared Hope and Wishes for the coming year.

This morning as I prepared for class, I could see my breath in my own living room. I still have no hot water (it's been a week now)--so washing my face adds a certain zing to the morning that I could probably do without, but that I'm trying to be thankful for. I try to be really animated while teaching to keep myself warm in the unheated classrooms--I still don't understand how these students learn anything in this cold.

This six monthiversary is particularly poignant, because after class I hurried home to say goodbye. Jeremy is leaving Wuhan after exactly six months of never-ending adventure. His injuries will require at least 3 months to fully heal and it's best for him to recover back in the States. We all hugged and tried to laugh--making stupid jokes about elephants and China, but it was a pretty sad day. Jeremy lives directly underneath me...and he's the type of big brother who makes you feel safer just having him nearby. Those first weeks in China, I both loved him and couldn't stand him--he'd cook Adam and I dinner and was so good at knowing what to do to feel at home--but he had/has a barbaric sense of humor and a wild personality. It took a few months, but eventually his big ol' heart won me over and we started spending alot of time together each week. More than anything, Jeremy is an energetic and bold Servant and I hope that I can continue his energy in my own Work here in Wuhan.

Now I sit here in my apartment--eating a weird meal of mashed sweet potato, banana, black sugar and yogurt all mixed together (don't knock it til you try it, people!)--all ingredients of which I can ask for and bargain for in Chinese now with my favorite vendors at the market. I have one semester behind me and one right in front of me. I have a Chinese Family who I meet with each week now. I have great friends as well. I have traveled throughout Southeast Asia and I've seen more of China than I would have expected. I am about to buy a couch and have some art framed. I can give directions and figure my way around alot of Wuhan.

I don't flinch as often when my taxi driver swerves into oncoming traffic, or when he throws the car into reverse on the highway when he misses an exit, or when he decides to use the sidewalk as a way to pass slower cars. I don't flinch (or gag) as often when someone hocks a big, nasty loogie onto the street inches from my feet. I don't notice all the time how dirty the city is....or how bad the air pollution is (oh--but it's still terrible--my lungs have just adjusted--much like a smoker's). I don't get as irritated when a student quotes Marx to me after I mention my religious background. I don't feel as invaded when I am surrounded my strangers staring at me and saying "hallo" just to laugh at my response.

Sarcasm aside, I am just grateful that in these six months I've found more of my place in this world that surrounds me. I remember my boss at my PR firm telling me that it usually takes about six months to adjust to a new job--to really feel on target and in control and confident etc... and I feel that now that this learning period has passed somewhat, I can really dig in and be more purposeful in my Tasks. I think that in China, we foreigners are ALWAYS stuck in the vicious learning curve--the country is moving too fast to figure out much before it changes--BUT, I do feel that I know how to swing and swerve China-style more easily now.

That's the report from six months in. I'll be home for 2 months in July and August. Then I'm coming back for round #2 (Father-willing). Pics will come SOON of the SE Asia trip--I promise!