Thoughts at the End of a Journey

Its been almost 4 months since I've written anything in my blog.  Mostly because I have done anything out of the ordinary.  And partly because I just wasn't in a contemplative mood while being near a computer.  Well, now I am so I thought I reflect on the year I've been here in China.  This may be a bit of ramble but that is how I write most of the time.  Ha!

China is a strange beast.  In my learned opinion it is mostly show and not a lot of substance.  I'm not talking about the people as much as I am talking about the infrastructure, although you have to place the blame with the people, where it deservedly belongs.

For example, I have been told that I live in the most exclusive suburb in the third largest city in the richest province in China.  Yet, the apartment I live in has no utilities that would past the most lenient of inspection it would have to pass if it were built in America.  The windows are single pane, no central air or heating, the cable is down the majority of the time and when it does work the sound that comes across it is unbearable.  I haven't turned my television on for the past two months.  Where the electrical wiring is there are huge holes where an outlet should be.  The kitchen is really like that of an efficiency apartment.  And no, this is not an efficiency I am living in but a "luxury" one bedroom apartment.  My apartment is bigger than most houses in China.  And remember this is suppose to be the Beverly Hills of China.  I'd hate to see what the ghettos look like.

Well, actually I've seen them.  And well, they look about like ours but a lot filthier.  But then again, all of China is filthy - from the ground up.  People have no real pride in their country here.  They may tell you they do but the common people and even the upper crust when not on camera no there is much to be done here in China.  Fiscally, politically, culturally, etal.  You can be walking down the street and people just simply throw there trash that's in their hand on the ground.  Men still take a piss wherever they desire.  No qualms at all.  I've even caught myself doing the same - not the garbage, I can't bring myself to do that - when I've really needed to go.  Find a bush, done!!  It's like you're on one great big golf course.  lol

Bathing is culturally still in the 1700s.  If the commoner takes a bath more than once a week I'd be completely surprised.  Even in some of the school dormitories there is only one or two showers areas for 200-300+ students.  They literally live in a barracks like environment.  No wonder they go home every chance they get.  And again, I'm teaching at a very expensive school for the rich.

One of the things I hate the most about China is the air quality.  Any globalist that thinks America can do anything to combat air quality around the world has their eyes closed, are simply anti-America or just an idiot; I'll let you decide.  I generally will one shower a day; sometimes more.  That's just me.  But when I do its not so much to get clean as to feel clean.  Here in China, if I didn't bath every day my hair would feel very heavy with air particles.  Just disgusting.  But you learn to adapt and as long as the water is running I'll be fine.

And speaking of water, I swear I think something happen in the last couple weeks.  When I wash my clothes I know they are coming our dirtier than when they went in.

Maybe I'm just getting trunkee (slang for wanting to get back home asap) and letting some steam off but I can promise all that I write is true.  I've lived.  Would I do again?  Probably, but that the bizarre adventuresome type of person that I am.  I don't mind going out of my comfort zone.  It is the way I have lived my whole life, why change now.

Enough for now, I'm going to go veg awhile.