Last week I had my first brush with a spell of homesickness. It came after a long day at school when the students hadn’t been very responsive in class. Most of the time they are a bit reticent to speak, but once you get a few of them involved, it snowballs pretty quickly. Not that day. This of course also had to do with my own behavior and feelings in class, but I chalked it up to an off-day. So: long day, coupled with some of the social differences between Chinese and American behavior that can be challenging at times, and also the ups and downs of starting new friendships led to a rough day.
I was back in my apartment watching the newest episode of South Park on my laptop (I’m doing my best to immerse myself in the culture here, but that does not mean I will deprive myself of some of the finest social commentary/poop jokes of our time) and an advertisement for Wendy’s, or some fast food chain, came on. As always, the cheeseburger was a symmetrical, glistening stack of deliciousness. I would not be making an over statement by calling myself a big fan of cheeseburgers, and that advertisement gave me an immediate and intense physical reaction. It was simply the bitter cherry on top of my shit sundae. Things sound pretty bleak, so I will turn it around.
The next morning I woke up to what was easily the most gorgeous day I’ve seen in Chongqing. The ever-present smog had lifted, the sky was blue, and it was Friday morning. Classes went swimmingly that day. Had a few beers and a few laughs over the weekend. Crisis averted.
I realize that there will be challenges ahead, but I’m doing my best to focus on the positives here. It would be quite easy to adopt a pessimistic attitude towards being an expat here, but that is a lazy way out. I’ve instead come up with my own Theory of Relativity. Though perhaps not as intricate or game-changing as Albert’s, it is working well for my needs. It is about looking at things in a relative manner. If I get annoyed that the gas is out and I have to take a cold shower, I could have no shower. If I’m missing family and friends, it could be even 10 years ago when I couldn’t have easily emailed, Skyped, or chatted with them like I can now. The challenges that I face and sometimes find frustrating are hardly real problems in the grander scheme, so I try and react accordingly.
That being said, I may flip out if I don’t find a decent cheeseburger soon. A man must draw the line somewhere.
Einstein has nothing on you. Sounds like you are very self-aware and conscious of the downfalls associated with living half-way around the world; these are very good things. Now go find a damn cheeseburger. I KNOW they have McD's in Chongqing.
ReplyDeleteP.S. Tell dad that your homesickness will only be remedied by Michael & I visiting you next summer, and that he should help me with making this a reality.
P.P.S. Dad, if you are reading this, you hallucinated that last post-script.
You're right, Einstein was a total hack.
ReplyDeleteThere are McD's here, but I don't want to defile my first delicious cheeseburger experience in two months with that shite. Some thing I hold sacred; cheeseburgers being one of them.
P.S. I'll see what kind of message I can get through to him.
P.P.S. Dad, you should probably get those hallucinations checked out.