Family

Reflection

When I entered this journey of self and China, I had no idea of the country I was traveling to. I knew that my roommate called China home and I have seen his family of video chat, but all other information was left opened to be soaked and absorbed while abroad.

After my time in China, I don’t think changed is an adequate word for what I experienced, however, I my thoughts and self evolved through my experience in China. I now have a better look into the life of my Chinese brother and the far lands of China. I have a newfound love of a country and family. China has become my forever second home. There are times of homesickness I have.

One of the most difficult borders to cross was the border of language. I was unable to communicate thoroughly with people without the help of my brother. I did manage to try and abridge this border with sign language and my own way of communicating with others. Somehow this never seemed to fail. 

At first it was so strange for my ears to hear no English and only Mandarin…everywhere. It was almost that I was deaf. This was awesome, because it allowed me time to reflect on my journey while I was on it. It was almost like I was traveling with myself, but also had the great pleasure of company.

I do heavily believe that the world is a book, and every page is so intricately woven and written. I feel that only the brave and free minded want to unveil this mystery. Those who choose not too have fallen content with life and unable to see the world for all the beauty that it is.

The statement that Chesterton makes is one that resonates with me. To me this means that one should not just travel to say I have been to A, B, and C, but to recognize that other lands are not much different that one’s own. There is adventure around us everyday, and it is our duty to find the beauty in every surrounding. One does not need to leave their country or town to see the world. Life happens everywhere, not just in China or New York City.

Overall, I feel that travels have broadened my understanding of humanity and of myself. I challenge everyone to venture outside their comfort zone and inhale the air of true freedom; the air of travel.

The Closing to a New Beginning

After returning from Beijing, I get to enjoy my last 4 days in China. I got to celebrate Pengfei’s birthday, get an International haircut, eat goat, and celebrate Mother’s Day within those four days. I have fully embraced my Chinese life and family.

I have to go back to Shanghai to catch my flight back to America, but we decide to make another road trip of it. The gang reunites, Li Miao, Tian Ji, and Terry venture with us to Shanghai. Although, Didi was unable to join us, I was finally successful with getting a good picture with him.

I’ve never bonded with a group of people so quickly in my life. We became best friends and family in a matter of weeks. Although we never spoke the same traditional meaning of language, we did speak friendship and willingness to learn about each other as best we could.

My final night in China is one that will never be forgotten. Once arriving in Shanghai we struggle to navigate the crowded and confusing roads of the city, Pengfei soon becomes angered by this, but I find it somewhat comical. I listen to him curse in Chinese and of course I mimic him to add some type of comedic break to the situation.

We wonder the street of Shanghai for our last time as a group this time. After we had enough exploring the unknown city we make our way back to the hotel. We share dinner in the hotel, my last meal in China, and then they decide we must celebrate, so they order the American beer on the menu, Budweiser. To my surprise, it isn’t the normal bottle size. It’s huge.

One round turns to two, three, and four. Soon I find something incredibly funny and cannot contain myself. I erupt in heavy laughter. Soon the whole group follows my cue. The other customers of the restaurant soon take notice and begin staring. We decide we have had enough fun downstairs and make our way up to the rooms.

The last account of the night I have is making the nonsmoking room’s bathroom a smoke box with Li Miao and Tian Ji. We share numerous cigarettes and we communicate verbally. Somehow we understand each other and I’ve realized I’ve not just made friends, but brothers for life.

The next morning I wake for the first time in China, hung-over. Just in time for my long flight back to America. This ought to be interesting. We exchange our goodbyes and I promise I will return to China.

3AM Wakeup Call & The Great Wall

Waking up that morning, we are close to reaching Beijing. We joke about our upgrading and laugh about the event that took place with the people in the ex-cabin assignment. There is an announcement over the intercom and I ask Pengfei to translate for me, for the millionth time it feels like. He explains that it says we are reaching the stop.

After exiting the train terminal we are to find the tour group we are traveling with. Pengfei directs us in the correct spot and I notice the woman and daughter from the cabin we vacated were there. I begin to make the connection that they are apart of the tour group.

The seven of us pile into a van and Pengfei and I take the far backseat. It feels that I have entered a metal oven. I have no idea what anyone is saying and my translator seems to be tired of translating, so I just smile. That’s universal. Pengfei finally decides to tell me they were just asking about the American and the connection he and I share.

After our time spent in the sauna the van stops at the hotel that we are staying at. After arriving there is some dispute with Hotel management about me staying there. The hotel has a policy that no international guests are allowed to stay. Pengfei tells me that I may have to sleep in the lobby. I am soon filled with concern, however; this soon subsides when Pengfei tells me he was only joking.

Before heading to our rooms we caucus with the group to decide what we will be doing in the morning. Pengfei and I were overruled and will be waking up at 3:00am to make our way to see the Chinese flag rise and visit the site of Chairman Mao’s body.

I don’t have much to document about the flag rising, other than I was the only American in the vicinity, and I was given strange looks when seeing Chair Mao’s body. Pengfei and I were exhausted.

The next day we visit the Great Wall of China. Once we arrive Pengfei and I want to make as much distance between the tour group, and us, so that is exactly what we do. Once reaching the entrance of the Wall, we take off. We are only allotted a certain amount of time, so we begin running because we need to make it the highest point.

I nearly faint twice because of the heat and elevation, but I push forward. Upon reaching our destination, I am filled with a euphoric feeling. All the blood that is rushing through my body and the amazing view that I whiteness. I am in China, I keep thinking to myself. I am one in the sea of many on this wall, and I am alive.

A Train Ride to Beijing

I haven’t been picky at all with what we do while I am in China. I have left most of the plans up to Pengfei. He insists that we go to the capital of China, Beijing before I have to leave China. It is said by natives, that you cannot say you have been to China until you reach the highest point on the Great Wall of China, so that is exactly what we plan to do.

Pengfei’s family sets up the details of the trip for us. We decide to join a tour group in Beijing to cut down on coast and see as much of the city as we can. The plot twist of this is, it’s an all-Chinese tour group and the instructor barely speaks English.

To reach Beijing we take a train from Hangzhou. This is my first extensive train ride I’ve ever been on. It seem that China is managing to take a variety of my virginity, and I quite like it. What a better place to do so. A place that is so foreign to me yet begins to feel so much like a new home with new friends and family.

Upon entering the train, we usher down the small isle ways to make it to our cabin. I have little knowledge of train cabins, but I thought we had a cabin alone. The reference I have in my mind is Harry Potter and their train travel to Hogwarts. How simple minded I must be you’re thinking. Well, you’re right. The cabin is composed of 6 beds; bunked. At first I am not all that worried.

Pengfei and I claim the top bunks as an older woman and her daughter house the lower two. Any sudden movement vertically and I could practically cripple myself, or a jerk to the one side and I will topple from the top. I feel like the Princess and the Pea.

An elderly man now enters and climbs into the second bunk. He doesn’t smell the fondest and begins to undress to change to more comfortable clothing. Prior to this, Pengfei and I jokingly mentioned upgrading. At this point a joke quickly became reality. We changed upgraded our tickets to a private cabin with two beds and a joining bathroom.

Upon exiting the two women ask what we were doing and Pengfei tells them we are upgrading. They mention that this must be expensive.

We slept very sound that night to say the least. Money really can buy happiness.

Destination: Wenzhou

We have arrived to the National Park in Wenzhou. The air smells fresher here. Although, the elevation is something my body needs to adjust to, breathing here takes a little more effort. Though the other guys don’t seem much phased by this at all.

I am in awe of the natural surroundings that I find myself engulfed by. As I look up I see nothing but stone, greenery, and blue skies. The car ride was long and I am happy to be on foot with my camera in my hand. I instantly begin snapping photos of everything and anything. The guys quickly catch on that this is kind of my thing.

We begin the hike to the highest point we can. There is a good amount of people here as well. I soon realize that I become just as much of a monument as the natural ones surrounding me. A lot of people take notice to me and begin staring as I pass. Some people even extend a broken English, “hello.” I am enjoying the attention, honestly. I jokingly ask myself, “Is this what celebrity feels like?” I feel that the guys I’m with don’t mind the attention either.

I am in the far back, basking in the inspiration that is surrounding me as I continue to photograph. Terry is in the far front of the group basically running. I notice this and begin to play the game. Now Terry, Tian Ji, and myself are running to see who can make it to the top first. Although, we cannot communicate this verbally, somehow we know the competition that lies in this situation.

Li Miao and Pengfei are puffing for air in the tail end and begin to slow. They decide to sit down and rest. I know at this point, I cannot let Pengfei live this down. Our friendship is very brotherly, so anytime we can poke fun at the other we seize the moment. I call him slowpoke and continue the journey to the top.

As I make it to the top somewhere closely behind Terry, I am winded, but not just by the exertion of physical activity, but by the pure beauty that lays ahead of me. I can feel the wind on my face as beads of sweat fall down my forehead, and I inhale a deep breath of air. My lungs fill with China as I close my eyes and know I have arrived.