38: The End

When I try to put into words how I feel about my time in China, I reach a block. I simply can’t. You know when you watch an amazing movie, or read some book that leaves you with this weird feeling that you want to bottle because you know it’s only when you put in that much time and effort that you can feel it? And you want to share it with people because it feels so amazing, but you can’t? That’s exactly how I feel right now.

All I can do now is thank the people who have made my time here worthwhile. Thank you to the old men who beat themselves while walking down the street. Thank you to the waiters who giggle whenever I order in Chinese. Thank you to the 串老板 who remembered my order and told me not to worry that I always came out alone, because a lot of people do that too.  Thank you to the dude who asked for my number from my friend after I blacked out from drinking too much and hurt my ankle. Thank you to my teachers who put up with all my ridiculous questions, like “can 大量 also mean something flirtacious? Like when a guy looks you up and down?” Thank you to those teenagers in Guiyang who told us that they were surprised that we knew Chinese because they thought only Chinese people spoke Chinese. Thank you to the old ladies who ignored me as they walked down the street (my favorite people!). Thank you to that kid in my English class, Barton, who told me a joke and then after I laughed, asked me to explain it. Thank you to this nation who welcomed me (and sometimes yelled at me), and let me grow, learn the culture, and mature so much.

That’s it.

(Not really. I’m starting a new blog for my time in San Diego. Email me at matthewhsampson@gmail.com if you are interested in getting the link after I set it up!)