Photo above of me in Beijing in late October 2011. I thought about photo shopping this picture as there is a car in the way (ha) but then again, this is China. This is the real China and the reality of the situation is that there are lots of people and it is hard to ever get a decent photo of anything, especially in front of a tourist site like the Forbidden City!
As they say in life, all good things must come to an end. Right? That is how I feel about my China series. It has been over two months since I returned from my trip to China yet for some reason leaving this post series behind feels like a painful divorce. I keep trying to move on, to gently push it away, but it is still there bothering me and looking me straight in the eye.
Although China wasn’t my favorite place that I’ve traveled to, it was perhaps the most fascinating place that I’ve been to. I believe it is due to many things. An enormously rich culture filled with traditions that go back thousands of years. A country that is so different from my own which is always interesting, perplexing and thrilling to try to uncover and understand. And finally, being there at the right moment in time, as the Asian Tiger reigns and soars.
The transformation of this country over the last twenty-five years has been mind-boggling. To see the contradictions of old versus new all wrapped together like a garbled package in one place just blew me away. My mind was constantly challenged and awoken to explore this place and comprehend what I saw. It took months and I’m still thinking about it. Yes, I was only there a short time. But wow, did I learn a lot in that minuscule amount of time. For a pensive traveler, that is the best gift one can receive.
So now I say farewell to China and my posts. I do have one more post coming out on World Mom’s Blog next week about China’s controversial One-Child Policy which I will include a link on this blog. Yet for now I’m saying goodbye to China posts and moving on. I will still passionately continue to read about China in the news and through novels. There is hardly a day when China isn’t mentioned somewhere in the papers. It will be interesting to see what the future brings to China. Happy New Year, China! May the year of the Dragon be good!
Farewell. It’s been an amazing series, my friend. And I look forward to your post over at WMB.
Hugs,
Kathy
You’ve done a great job with this series – looking forward to others in the future too. And I’m sure that sooner or later you’ll return to China – there’s still loads more for you to see.
Thanks! I’m glad you enjoyed them, especially as someone who lives in China! I am going to email you the draft on my post but don’t have your email. Can you send it to me? My email contact is: thirdeyemom@yahoo.com
Thanks! It would be nice to get another set of eyes looking over it. But in all honesty I won’t have much time to work on any changes since I’m going to DC Sunday for the next few days.
Thanks for the series – I have thoroughly enjoyed it as well. China isn’t an easy place to absorb – over 4 years in I have some of the same feelings. Happy Year of the Dragon!
Thanks! I think it is a culturally difficult place but as long as you are open and ready to see it with a “third-eye” then it can be enjoyed for its differences, right! Glad you enjoyed the series!