Once you leave your Western life behind and embrace other foods, smells, perspectives, and ways of life, China is very addictive.
What I’ll miss the most is how “biànli” (便利, convenient) everything is. Sure, you need some Chinese skills; otherwise, good luck. But it’s easy to get around in cities, for instance, because they all have an extensive (and cheap!) subway and bus system. You don’t even have to buy a ticket—generate an Alipay QR code and change the city or transportation mode as needed! You can travel around the country easily as well by train, and flights are very affordable.
I’ll miss how cheap China is as well. It’s not just “ah ah, look at us Westerners with euros and Canadian dollars” cheap, it’s… well, it’s cheap. People eat out, buy stuff, and have fun. Remember when we used to do that in North America?
And finally, I’ll miss learning the language and different perspectives. Whatever you’ve heard about China in Western media is very anecdotal or just plainly not true. Life in China is a hell of a lot more normal than you’d think, and Chinese people don’t eat a few dogs for breakfast. Life and people are different, yes, but normal, just like Brazil isn’t all gangs and favelas—or just like French people don’t spend their time going on strike and having affairs.
Okay, I should finish packing…
Bye for now, China!
Beijing subwayJingshan Park at sunset, 景山, 44 Jingshan W St, 景山 Xicheng District, Beijing, China, 100009Jingshan Park at sunset, 景山, 44 Jingshan W St, 景山 Xicheng District, Beijing, China, 100009Forbidden City, 故宫, 4 Jingshan Front St, Dongcheng, Beijing, China, 100009Forbidden City, 故宫, 4 Jingshan Front St, Dongcheng, Beijing, China, 100009Forbidden City, 故宫, 4 Jingshan Front St, Dongcheng, Beijing, China, 100009Forbidden City, 故宫, 4 Jingshan Front St, Dongcheng, Beijing, China, 100009Forbidden City, 故宫, 4 Jingshan Front St, Dongcheng, Beijing, China, 100009Forbidden City, 故宫, 4 Jingshan Front St, Dongcheng, Beijing, China, 100009Forbidden City, 故宫, 4 Jingshan Front St, Dongcheng, Beijing, China, 100009Forbidden City, 故宫, 4 Jingshan Front St, Dongcheng, Beijing, China, 100009Forbidden City, 故宫, 4 Jingshan Front St, Dongcheng, Beijing, China, 100009Dongcheng, Beijing, China, 100009Dongcheng, Beijing, China, 100009Dongcheng, Beijing, China, 100009Qianmen, Dongcheng, Beijing, China, 100051Qianmen, Dongcheng, Beijing, China, 100051Qianmen, Dongcheng, Beijing, China, 100051Qianmen, Dongcheng, Beijing, China, 100051Qianmen, Dongcheng, Beijing, China, 100051Qianmen, Dongcheng, Beijing, China, 100051Qianmen, Dongcheng, Beijing, China, 100051Qianmen, Dongcheng, Beijing, China, 100051Wangfujing, Dongcheng, Beijing, China, 100051Chang’an Jie, Dongcheng, Beijing, China, 100051Xidan, Xicheng District, BeijingXidan, Xicheng District, BeijingChang’an Jie, Dongcheng, Beijing, China, 100051Chang’an Jie, Dongcheng, Beijing, China, 100051Chang’an Jie, Dongcheng, Beijing, China, 100051Chang’an Jie, Dongcheng, Beijing, China, 100051Chang’an Jie, Dongcheng, Beijing, China, 100051Chang’an Jie, Dongcheng, Beijing, China, 100051Chaoyangmen, Dongcheng, Beijing, China, 100010Hou Hai, Xicheng District, Beijing, China, 100035Hou Hai, Xicheng District, Beijing, China, 100035Hou Hai, Xicheng District, Beijing, China, 100035Hou Hai, Xicheng District, Beijing, China, 100035
Happy you had a great trip 🙂
How was yours???
It was really good! The way back to Canada was hard, but we recovered. I will tell you all about it next time i see you 🙂
We have to plan a coffee date in September 🙂
Deal 🙂
Anytime! I’ll be in Ottawa in September, and hopefully the weather won’t try to kill us (yet).