Being back in the states
My trip back to the states has been a welcome relief from my hectic study schedule. It has really been nice to kick back and just relax a bit. I have done a lot of fun things including:
- Seeing my family (dad, mom, sister Rachel, step mom Krista, step brother Mikey, Grammy Elaine, and Grandma Alice)
- Seeing a number of my friends – Justin Klein (you can read his take on our get-together here), John Medina, Jeremy Sultan, Susanna Hyatt, Chuck McGill, Ross, Davide, Madeline, etc. and talking with many others
- Flying my old airplane
- Taking some great pictures
- Riding horses with my sister and Dad up at Will Rogers’ park
- Swimming at the Brentwood country club
- Taking a family trip up to Telluride, Colorado
- Eating some In-N-Out and many other things that I had been craving
- Shopping for all the stuff I can’t find in China
- Visiting the Getty Center
- Showing everyone pictures of my girlfriend Shenqi, and seeing everyone else’s pictures
- Drinking some good Italian wine
- etc.
While all of this has been really nice, I miss China, my friends, my house, my girlfriend 申琦, and my life there. The U.S. and everyone here just seem so foreign to me now. I am having a lot of trouble getting used to the slower pace of life in general here, the MUCH higher price of everything, and, I can’t believe I am saying it, but how inefficient many things are. When I first got to China, I would have never dreamed of saying that America was less efficient, but in some aspects it is quite true. I can’t stand how long it takes to wait in lines here, shop, pay for things, wait in restaurants, etc. Having an unlimited cheap labor force really makes many things run faster in China. I had to valet my car today when I went to visit my dad’s new office, and the valet took 5 minutes to get to me, get me a ticket, and take my car. I couldn’t believe it, but it wasn’t like it was anything weird by U.S. standards. That situation just doesn’t occur in China. I then waited 30 minutes for a table, only to get served SLOOOWWWWLY by a waitress who was overloaded and couldn’t handle all her tables. It took forever to order, get our food, get a check, and get change. I missed China.
Also, making plans with people requires much more notice and planning than it does in China. If I want to meet with someone in China, it happens that day, not a week later. There is no telephone tag, schedule checking, planning, etc. It just happens. Everything for the most part is on a much more accelerated schedule.
Now don’t get me wrong, I am definitely not saying that everything about China is better. All I am saying is that there are a few things about life there that I really really miss.
I have a few more days here in L.A., and then Labor Day weeked in Las Vegas before I fly back to China. I intend to savor every minute of my time here in the states, but will definitely be happy to get back to 中国 (China).
August 31st, 2006 at 11:10 am
Great, Andy. You can savor the best of both worlds. When you get back to China, and fight the crowds in the train station where it can take an hour to buy a ticket, and have to pay cash for everything, no plane reservations online, etc., you’ll see that no place is perfect and what’s best is to go where the heart is. Sounds like that’s China now. But part of your heart will be here with us. We’ll miss you. Mom
August 31st, 2006 at 11:32 am
I’ll help you savor the last few days. We’ll miss you a lot when you go back. You do sound more and more like you want to stay a lot longer in China!!!
August 31st, 2006 at 11:55 am
sara…..very very true, and the point of my post
Dad…..you are also right…..Can’t wait for Vegas tomorrow
August 31st, 2006 at 12:51 pm
Comprendo perfectamente lo que quieres decir y tienes la ventaja, como todos los que hemos venido de lugares y culturas lejans y diferentes, de poder ver las ventajas y desventajas de dos culturas totalmente. Lo bueno de esto es que da una perspectiva que no todo el mundo tiene y te hace una mejor persona porque puedes acomodar lo bueno de cada cultura en tu vida y forma de ser. Eres tan afortunado como todos los que hemos venido de otros paises.
Ha sido un placer enorme poderte ver de nuevo. Te considero un amigo de verdad, aunque yo este mas “viejo” que tu, pero ya veras como me vas a alcanzar en unos anos, ja ja!
Espero sigamos practicando este idioma y ojala podamos ir a cenar antes de volverte para China y tu novia. Ciao!!
August 31st, 2006 at 2:24 pm
John (el viejo)….gracias…..yo tambien te considero un amigo de verdad
August 31st, 2006 at 5:53 pm
Word to the US being inefficient, word to In-N-Out kicking ass, and word to savoring every minute in the states.
So to sum up…
Word!
August 31st, 2006 at 7:32 pm
I will miss you soooo much when you are gone. But I am so happy we got to spend so much great time here together. I cant wait to visit you. Love you
Rachel
August 31st, 2006 at 8:00 pm
Justin…..word
Rachel…..I’m gonna miss you too
September 1st, 2006 at 7:19 am
It was so sweet to see that you were the one to greet me when I arrived. That hug and kiss was worth the flight. Spending time with you and your friends was a great joy. Thank you. Have a wonderful time in Vegas, a safe trip back to China and all that matters to you there. I look forward to each addition to your site. Love you,
Grammy
September 1st, 2006 at 9:33 am
Andy! So glad we could talk a bit on the phone the other day! Have a wonderful time in Vegas. Things are changing rapidly, but I will email you the info soon! Sorry we couldn’t get together while you were in the states. Miss you lots and lot of love!
September 5th, 2006 at 9:19 am
Cousin Summer…..thanks….it was good talking w/ you too…..have fun wherever you wind up!