I bought a plant
My roommate Yan Zou and I were walking side by side down a typical Chinese street in the suburbs. There were various dirtied and scattered shops lining the streets; one was littered with broken glass and metal parts sprawled on the cement, with workers smoking and chatting as they postponed their work. The neighboring shop was a chicken butchery selling the latest chopped organs from the freshly decapitated chicken. Other shops were selling flowers, children were running about, the rain was pattering, passed another convenience story and then a cart with Muslim Chinese pushing to sell a day's worth of honeydew. Scenes from a misty day in the Shanghai suburb, only visible through the eyes of this foreigner that sees China not as a foreign planet, but as a place that is now home.
As I accompanied my roommate to the nearby pet and flower market, I had this overall feeling of warmth and familiarity. I've only lived in China six months prior to this day, and even then I didn't live anywhere near this neighborhood. I lived in Beijing. Yet something about the place felt so inviting and comfortable. I like going to the nearby open market and buying vegetables from the vendors, I like haggling for used furniture at the front of our building, I like having sweet and witty conversation with the nice little lady that sold my first house plant to me.
I love it all.
Holding my plant, i looked outside my 7th floor window from the comfort of my home. I felt the rain breeze blow in and sweep past my face with a refreshing cleanse. I saw people in the opposite apartments watching TV, fanning themselves as they sat by the window and watched the rain, making a bed for evening's rest.
I thought of all the wonderful talks I've had with my roommate. We've had the most intimate and meaningful conversations, and somehow we just click so beautifully I don't even know how to put it into words. From day one there has been no awkwardness, and it's almost like we are shadow reflections of each other.
Yesterday we talked of men and success while chomping on watermelon in the kitchen.
A hot, humid day in summer.
The Shanghai rain is pouring.
Inside I sit, conversing in Chinese, with my dear friend.
Eating watermelon.
Spitting out the seeds.
Feeling full with the fresh vegetables and meat purchased from the market.
Pitter patter goes the rain.
And I feel so happy.
I'm so happy in China. Today I realized that deep down I must be Asian. I enjoy the simple things in life; quaint gossip with the locals, buying fresh fruit and eating it over a good talk with my roommate and friends, cooking dinner for loved ones, giving a toast to health and friendship, and truly taking in every minute of happiness that I experience here. The Asian way of life is intolerable and drives me to bash my skull into walls, but a part of it seems to flow and fit me so well.
I love living in China. I love the Chinese people. I love the language.
I feel so at home here.
Will continue with the job hunt on Monday and make my final work decision. It's a big day and there's a lot of considerations to be had this weekend.
In other news, for the first time a man told me the one sentence I wanted to hear:
"Mary is Mary, and there is no one else I would rather have her be. You are perfect the way you are."
Sounds like a cliche, but seriously, who has actually said that to you word for word? Was a first for me.
Will show my first plant soon.
おやすみ
As I accompanied my roommate to the nearby pet and flower market, I had this overall feeling of warmth and familiarity. I've only lived in China six months prior to this day, and even then I didn't live anywhere near this neighborhood. I lived in Beijing. Yet something about the place felt so inviting and comfortable. I like going to the nearby open market and buying vegetables from the vendors, I like haggling for used furniture at the front of our building, I like having sweet and witty conversation with the nice little lady that sold my first house plant to me.
I love it all.
Holding my plant, i looked outside my 7th floor window from the comfort of my home. I felt the rain breeze blow in and sweep past my face with a refreshing cleanse. I saw people in the opposite apartments watching TV, fanning themselves as they sat by the window and watched the rain, making a bed for evening's rest.
I thought of all the wonderful talks I've had with my roommate. We've had the most intimate and meaningful conversations, and somehow we just click so beautifully I don't even know how to put it into words. From day one there has been no awkwardness, and it's almost like we are shadow reflections of each other.
Yesterday we talked of men and success while chomping on watermelon in the kitchen.
A hot, humid day in summer.
The Shanghai rain is pouring.
Inside I sit, conversing in Chinese, with my dear friend.
Eating watermelon.
Spitting out the seeds.
Feeling full with the fresh vegetables and meat purchased from the market.
Pitter patter goes the rain.
And I feel so happy.
I'm so happy in China. Today I realized that deep down I must be Asian. I enjoy the simple things in life; quaint gossip with the locals, buying fresh fruit and eating it over a good talk with my roommate and friends, cooking dinner for loved ones, giving a toast to health and friendship, and truly taking in every minute of happiness that I experience here. The Asian way of life is intolerable and drives me to bash my skull into walls, but a part of it seems to flow and fit me so well.
I love living in China. I love the Chinese people. I love the language.
I feel so at home here.
Will continue with the job hunt on Monday and make my final work decision. It's a big day and there's a lot of considerations to be had this weekend.
In other news, for the first time a man told me the one sentence I wanted to hear:
"Mary is Mary, and there is no one else I would rather have her be. You are perfect the way you are."
Sounds like a cliche, but seriously, who has actually said that to you word for word? Was a first for me.
Will show my first plant soon.
おやすみ