Dear China,

Jun 6, 2016
2 min read

Over the course of my 22 years and your many,-many-more-than-22-years, we have spent a total of 14 months together – and they have been quite something, that’s for sure. Unfortunately, our time together is drawing to an end and it seems that, at least for the foreseeable future, that’s how it will stay.

Though our first meeting was borderline accidental, I have been so thankful for all of the experiences that we have shared together and the ways that you have helped me to learn and grow.

You brought my dreams of travel and adventure to life (and then exceeded them by offering $1.60 bus rides and high speed trains).

You taught me the importance of courage, perseverance and determination and, also, the importance of knowing when you’re fighting a losing battle (which is why grade 2 saw so many Tom and Jerry episodes).

You showed me many different definitions of hospitality and friendship and taught me the importance of, not only having but, also, being each of them.

You forced me to try new things and while they didn’t always end up being good (like that time I had jellyfish for dinner…), I don’t regret any of it.

If we are being honest though, our time together has not always been rainbows and sunshine. In fact, at times, you brought out the ugliest in me. You pushed me past my limits and to the brink of exhaustion and loneliness. But, if we are still being honest, you were worth it.

You made the rest of the world accessible. You offered cheap flights to countries that I had only ever seen on Google – and that is something that I will never be able to thank you enough for.

Our time together has made so many more things seem possible, so, although I love you, and always will, the doorway that you have provided to the rest of the world is too inviting for me to not walk through.

While it saddens me that I will not be returning to China (in the very near future), I am immensely grateful that I have had this time with you and the way that you have helped to prepare me for whatever lies beyond this year. Plus, I will still be around. We will see each other in passing (I will wave from the plane), on Chinese New Year (and many other days of the year), I will eat dumplings in honor of you (but not moon cakes, I will never eat moon cakes) and every time I put clothes in the dryer I will think of your dryerlessness and smile (mostly because I finally have a dryer again).