Going back to the gym has reminded me that (not sure how I forgot) my balance and sanity are in my health. Mental and physical health are directly connected to how I treat myself. Now that I’ve apologized to my body, moped around a little in self pity, laughed off the negative, I can now smile and properly prepare for whats next.
I’ve moved into a hilarious 8brm converted from a 2brm (lord knows how many people per room) 2bathroom (I don’t step foot in either, hence the gym membership I use a minimum of twice a day) no kitchen or living room…yes its very interesting.
One of the pluses(working on being positive) of getting this temporary sublet piece of slumlord heaven was also acquiring some temporary adult students (cha-ching$$$). I’ve been working everyday since being kicked out of the last place. Work, gym, sleep. (not having a working computer...again really helps this lifestyle)
One of the new temporary students is a manager for Mercedes Benz. His views of life in China are very interesting. He’s never been abroad and he extremely familiar with western life (internets are amazing). I’ve not met many straight Chinese men my age that happily talk so openly about anything (most are shy or too busy trying not to lose face and embarrass themselves). He’s very smart and funny. His views of the social climate in China are from a perspective I honestly didn’t know existed. He tells me stories of how a simple trip to the hospital becomes an Olympic Event. You wait/pay before you see the doctor/wait/see doctor for 4 mins/wait/pay for meds/wait/see pharmacist…
Some people slip the doctor some cash (I’m apparently guilty of this when Joe took me to the hospital earlier this year, little did I know) to cut in front of “anyone” (old people, burn victims, bloody and injured alike). He admits that he can pay to cut, but he “SHOULDN’T HAVE TO.” He understands how ridiculous things are here but “sometimes you have to play the game to survive”. I asked him if his company offered to relocate him to Germany or the States would he go. He says “this sounds crazy but I wouldn’t. China is my home, but I am certainly shipping my daughter off somewhere [outside China] when she’s in her teens so she can see that this [life in China] is not how it has to be”. Mr. Benz (I call him this because we meet 3 times a week and he has a different color Benz shirt/sweater vest/jacket on. I’ve not seen him in the same thing 2 twice…hilarious) got me thinking as I desperately look for flights home, “that this might be what being homesick feels like”. Joe bought me some really good pancakes and hash browns the other day because he thinks I’m homesick, but really just wants me to shut the hell up about biscuits…man if he knew Arghhhh!!!!! If he only knew!!!!!!!!!!
I might be in denial still, but I’m having dreams of coming home now.
