How is that I wasn’t informed that this was even legal in the first place!

My time in China feels like it’s winding down. School’s getting out, all my new friends are either traveling for the summer or leaving Nanjing for good. And I’m planning on what to do while I’ll be home. I’ll be in DC from the 8th of July until about the 12th or so of August. So this serves as a heads up to anyone that actually reads this.

***

Lemme actually take some time and delve a little bit deeper.

A couple of days ago was the 3 month mark of my being in Nanjing and it’s strange to look back. I’ve mentioned it before, but the other day I was running by the hotel I stayed in the first day here. And it got me thinking about my first two days in Nanjing.

I got here on the 28th in the evening. It was cold cold cold, and besides a quick power nap before the flight, I hadn’t slept in about 40 hours. I arrived to China being able to ask “Do you speak English?” “hello” and “thank you”. The person waiting for me took me to the hotel and the next morning I walked around Nanjing for the first time.

I’m trying to think of how to explain it, and as lame as it sounds, it is like stepping into a different world for the first time. You look around and you notice that:

a) everyone looks different from you;
b) they all know where they are going; and
c) they obviously aren’t as freaked out about the incomprehensible characters everywhere as you are

I remember walking into a park just to look around and when a woman came up to me (probably to say I needed to pay to get in or something) I just backed away and kept on going in another direction.

And here we are just 3 months and a couple of days later. I am in no way whatsoever fluent, but I can kinda get by…I can haggle…I can pay my own bills without help…I have some Chinese friends…

Hell, I had a complete conversation in my broken Chinese with my Korean and Japanese classmates. As I mentioned before, they don’t speak english, so we have to talk to one another in Chinese.

And most importantly, I don’t feel alone and I see myself understanding the langauge…and maybe even the people one day. I’m not only learning here, but I’m really starting to enjoy my time here in Nanjing. I’ve taken the buses, the cabs, the walks…I’ve gotten lost and found things that can only be found by accident.

I remember being so afraid and withdrawn. Looking back, I don’t think I’m the same person I was 3 months ago and I’m very much looking forward to seeing the person I will be a year from now.
—Alberto