I'll reflect on three things today: forced simplicity, future hopes, and possible upcoming travel to Shanghai. Firstly, forced simplicity. While I knew I would be downsizing my lifestyle here (i.e. smaller living space, only 2 suitcases worth of possessions, no car, etc.), I could not have predicted how much of a shock to the system this would be. I didn't realize just how many comforts I had around me in the US until now, when I don't have them anymore. I miss having a full kitchen where I can prepare a delicious and healthy meal whenever and however I want. I miss having a nice, plush couch where I can read, or a soft mattress and comforter to greet me at night. I miss organic food, seafood (at least safe-to-eat seafood), quinoa, lentils, and fresh green veggies. I miss having an easily accessible fitness center where I can work out to my heart's content. I miss quick and easily accessible internet (nine days after applying, we STILL do not have internet in our room, and the internet here in this coffee shop is much slower than the US). And without getting overly sentimental, we of course miss our family and friends (yes, YOU, dear blog reader :). The platitude is true that absence makes the heart grow fonder.
As you have already intuited if you've read the previous posts, life here has been incredibly burdensome. Yet I have learned much in this time of forced simplicity. I no longer take any provision for granted, and I am indeed learning to live with less. I was actually led to Hebrews 12 my first week here, and verses 11-13 particularly struck me:
no discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness
and peace for those who have been trained by it. Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees.
“Make level paths for your feet,” so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.
I do feel like this is a time of training: training in language, culture, and living with less. Only time will tell what the training is for, but I know I am growing from it. If nothing else, I'm becoming more grateful for the provisions I do have here! :)
So yes, deep down, I appreciate the forced simplicity. The forced simplicity will also allow us more time to partake in the enjoyable aspects of life in China. I can now remember some of the reasons I wanted to come here in the first place. I'll give you a preview of some of the fun things we hope to do in the near future:
- get a massage (especially one where little fish eat the dead skin off the feet--sounds intriguing! :)**
- peruse a selection of (cough cough) off-brand DVDS of our favorite movies and TV shows
- visit local canal towns that not only retain traditional architecture, but are also the homes of famous Chinese writers
- go to a public park early in the morning, when many people waltz for their daily exercise
- attend Chinese opera
- climb a nearby mountain for a great view of the city
- visit Beijing (Great Wall), Chengdu (pandas and spicy food), and Xi'an (terra cotta warriors)
Lastly, one adventure we may be able to have shortly is visiting Shanghai. Shanghai is only two hours from here, and we'd love to explore it. We'll have a week off from classes the first week of October for some sort of national holiday. We're excited to have time off, and we've heard October is a great time to visit Shanghai. Only problem is the entire country also has this week off, and everyone else also wants to travel. So Brian and I are trying to decide if it is worth fighting over a billion people for train tickets and hotel rooms. I'll let you know what we decide to do!
If we end up staying put in Hangzhou, however, there are worse places we could be. Maybe we can begin to enjoy this city now that the big obstacles of settling in are mostly behind us. At least I can investigate where to find those massaging fish, and DVDs!
**the fish massage applies only to Melanie. Brian would be mortified to partake in anything so strange and (insert negative adjective of choice here).