Home Truths

These are just a few of the questions I asked myself after making my long-awaited pilgrimage “home” after almost three years mainly spent in Beijing. I almost forgot about daunting long-distance flights, annoying layovers with short transfer times and insane airport prices, but I didn’t care, I was too excited to get home and see my family (and eat all the food I had been missing, of course). 　

When I landed, my parents greeted me at the airport and we headed back to their house, but not before hitting the grocery store for some of my favorites. Walking into the huge grocery store, I was immediately overwhelmed with the sheer number of choices. There was an entire aisle solely dedicated to salad dressing. Was it always like this? The next thing I noticed were the prices. Last time I was home, I know I wasn’t paying US$13 for a carton of eggs. The reverse culture shock was beginning to set in, hard. 

　

My first nights going out with friends, I didn’t feel like myself. I don’t know if it was jet lag or just being overwhelmed with how drastically different the culture was. But why was I so shocked? I had lived there for most of my life. 　

After the first week, I started to settle in and get back in the swing of things. But after seven years in China, I started to see things differently at home. My favorite snacks and foods didn’t taste like I remembered. Transport was so expensive and nowhere near as convenient, and while I used to love the service style in American restaurants, it now felt pushy and over the top. 　

Even conversations with my friends weren’t easy. From being gone for so long, most of my stories or experiences were based in China, and most people lose interest quickly because they have no frame of reference. I felt like I was saying, “In China we…” all the time. 　

Most of my close friends had a better idea of what my life in China is like, but I always dreaded when someone would ask me, “So, what’s it like in China?” As if I could explain the experience of living in a foreign country in just a few words. 　

While it did take some time getting used to the way things are back home again, I really enjoyed my visit. I wanted to see a friend a few hours away from my hometown but renting a car would have been too expensive. So, I decided to check and see if there was a train, and there was (much to my surprise). While it was no China speed train, I got there in around the same time it would have taken to drive and it only cost me US$44 round trip. 　

I told a lot of my friends about the train because it connects two major cities in my home state of North Carolina, and they couldn’t believe how cheap and convenient it was. It made me wish that America would develop their railway more so people could travel more easily around the country like they do in China. 　

After traveling coast to coast, and even taking a short trip to Mexico for the day, I found myself ready to be back home – in China. While I won’t let three years go by before visiting the US again, I am happy to be back in Beijing. My hometown and friends and family from there will always be a part of me, but now China is too. I couldn’t wait to get back and get some authentic Chinese food, see my friends and relax in my apartment. I hope that as things continue to open up, my friends and family can come visit me here so they can see why I love calling China home (and bring me some of my favorite snacks as well). 　

Up next, I hope to travel more within the country and take advantage of all the plusses that come from living here – cheap convenient transport, endless destinations to discover and all the amazing food. Here’s to more travel in 2023.