A Bryson in China: Going Home

Thursday, March 20, 2008

Going Home

It’s almost time to go home. I start out early Saturday, and arrive late Saturday in North Carolina. But of course, that is after crossing the Date Line and sitting on my posterior in an airplane, cars, or boats, for almost 24 hours.

I’ll miss a lot here. I know I will be back in three weeks. But the next visit is my last known scheduled visit to China. It seems difficult to believe. This has been home for three years. It has been a good three years.

I won’t miss the long rides to work. Sure it has been nice to sit in the back of a vehicle and let my driver worry about the congestion and crazy driving of the locals. Lines are forming again at every gas station, as price of gasoline has risen faster than the price regulations, and thus, dealers are limiting output.

And it will be nice to see a full news report without a cutaway to a public service announcement in censorship to some sensitive news report. Today was the first full news report I’ve seen in weeks, with the NPCC and Tibet info in the news. Otherwise, it has been repeat after repeat of Samantha Brown climbing the steps to the tower in Seville, and Jackie Stewart on Top Gear. I don’t think I can go to Seville now.