ABC in the PRC

And it's just about that time. Actually, it IS that time. I'm
sitting in the airport now preparing to head home, and I still can't
comprehend that my time in China has ended. What amazes me further is
that I spent almost two months here. Sorry about not updating this
past week, I just had a pretty low key time. The most eventful thing
that happened was last Sunday when the lab went out to try to climb a
mountain. Unbeknownst to us, there was a triathalon taking place at
our mountain of choice. Oh well, we just drove to the top and kind of
walked around a little. After that, we all went out to lunch and had
a good time. In China, when someone proposes a toast, it's fairly
common to finish the entire drink. Well, there were about 5
professors and a few graduating students that kept proposing toasts.
Also, they wouldn't let you sit down if you didn't finish your drink.
Also also, a few of the guys wanted to have a couple of extra drinks
with me since I was an exchange student. Also also also, we were
drinking beer. Funsies.

For the last week, basically I just saw a few final sights and tried
some new eats since I had the time. I don't know when the next time
I'll be back in China will be, but I'm certain that I'll come back.
If only I didn't have to study, work, and make a career for myself...
Man, I was definitely planning on spending the rest of my RMB here at
the airport, but in a moment of what can only be thought of as sheer
stupidity, I forgot that most stores would not be open at 5:30am.
Furthermore, they charge like 10USD as commission for any currency
exchange. Well, I guess I'll definitely be back in the future if not
just to spend this extra 25 bucks worth of RMB that I've got
now.Anyways, I just realized that the clock on this computer is slow
by over 20 minutes, so I have a plane to catch.

As with any stay away from home, it seems weird that my time in China
is coming to an end. Tomorrow is my last day in the lab, but I do
have another week before I get the boot from my dorm. I would really
like to come back in the future, if for no other reason, to improve my
Chinese. I think the absence of other English speakers in my daily
life here has paid huge dividends towards that end. Sometimes I see
other Americans in my dorm and I am tempted to approach them, but I
always remind myself that there are plenty of them back in the US.
I've come to feel somewhat comfortable with China, at least living
within a university. I still can't really tell if I belong here, or
if I could settle down in a place like China. Likely, I've just
forgotten about some of the things that I've been missing from home.
That being said, who knows what China will look like in another 20
years. Most of the reports of China's rapid development are true, and
they certainly have every intention of catching up with the west in
most areas. Although, until they have cleaner bathrooms, I still give
the US a slight edge.

The whole lab is pretty tight here. They like to climb stuff
together. On Sunday, we are climbing some undisclosed mountain.
Actually, they told me what it is, I just can't remember the name in
Chinese for the life of me. Also, it rained today. I still suck at
riding a bike and holding an umbrella at the same time. It didn't
help that when class let out, the streets were flooded with water and
people. Finally, the spent the day fixing the air condition in the
lab. One day before I leave. Nice.