Hello, America!

Oh, where to start?? I'm living in a bit of a daze-- culture-wise and sleep-wise. Last night was my second night back in the U.S. after 10 months away. I fell asleep at 11:30 p.m., and woke up about every hour. I finally got up at 5:30, just in time to see the sun coming up.

So I guess I shall start at the beginning of my journey home. I ended up taking a grand total of 4 flights and a long car ride to get back to my hometown. First, of all, it was so apparent that people were thinking of me!! There were so many things that could have and probably should have gone wrong as I journeyed home, but everything went extremely well.

On Monday night (American time) I took the long bus ride to the Nanchang airport with Reborn, my best Chinese friend. There we said "farewell," and it was one of the most difficult partings I've ever made in my life. She gave me a sweet, sweet card.

Here are some words she wrote in her card, which makes me misty-eyed:

"The memory of you will in my mind. I can see you anywhere in college, because it seems we hang out anywhere in college it'll have our footmark..."

"You are the only one make me really really really happiness and not hurt my heart. You always encourage me, gave me confident."

"I anything no matter good or bad also when I'm unhappy. You are my bosom friend."

"Thanks [Father] brought you in my life and thank you brought [Father] to my life!"

And now I will dearly miss my "bosom friend" and all of my other friends.

So after reluctantly parting with one of the dearest friends I've ever had, I got on a Shanghai Airlines flight to... Shanghai, of course. I managed to get out of Nanchang before it apparently started flooding the next day. Leaving Nanchang was exhausting for me, so I didn't do a whole lot in Shanghai, which gave me my first dose of culture shock. I just walked around some neighborhoods and stayed overnight in a nice hotel.

The next day I took a taxi to another Shanghai airport and flew to Seoul. I was startled on that flight when a super eager Chinese girl my age sitting next to me started talking to me with an American accent. She said she had lived in America for a year, and now was returning to visit her boyfriend in Chicago. I was a little overwhelmed. She didn't seem Chinese to me. She was tall, very outspoken, politely criticized the Chinese government, and used the word "like" a lot. Then I became her best friend apparently. She insisted that I must visit her in Chicago!! Squeal! Giggle!

In the Seoul airport, the Chinese girl, "Jessie," hung out with me. It turned out that we were on the same flight to Chicago. Our flight left Seoul late, and then apparently battled a lot of head winds, so we arrived late to Chicago, 13 hours after we left.

When we arrived in Chicago, I thought it was basically impossible to be able to make my connecting flight to Kansas City. I had about an hour and a half before my next flight (the last flight to Kansas City that evening) departed, and I had to go through customs, pick up my checked bag, check in with a different airline in a very far away terminal, go through security again, and get to my gate.

I had about given up all hope when it took 45 minutes for my bag to arrive off our crowded flight. There was no possible way I'd make it. So I just took a deep breath, remembered to lift up my thoughts, and not to be anxious. Somehow, somehow, I breezed through everything after I had picked up my bag. It was like a dream.

And speaking of dreams, America is like a dream. On my flight to Kansas City, I was on a tiny plane. You couldn't even stand up straight in the aisle, or you'd hit your head. So as we were bobbing around in the late evening sky, I was amazed at how the Father has indeed shed His grace on this country. The air was crisp and clean; the land was extremely green and open; all the communities were tidy and organized. The sun was sliding well past the horizon at this point. The whole sky and land was the most beautiful color of gold and orange. My eyes were burning from the beauty and sleep deprivation.

So thank you for your many, many thoughts! I would like to continue to write on this blog, especially as I readjust to American culture.

Zai Jian!

It is Monday evening as I write this last blog from Nanchang! What a day, what a year, what a life! I was downstairs hanging out with some of the girls from the other team, and then four of my precious, popular guy students were hanging out with them. I finally started crying when I walked out the door. The last thing I saw was those four dear students, who are more like friends than students, standing there as I walked out the door. Their faces were sad, and for a second I realized that this was most likely the last time I'd ever see them on earth. I've come to love them, and so many of my other Chinese friends. I think it is finally starting to dawn on me that I'm actually leaving...

My wonderful teammate and roommate, Jodi, left this morning for America. I already miss her dearly. The rest of the day I packed, cleaned, said goodbye to my friends on the back street, and hung out with Reborn. Tomorrow I'll say goodbye to Reborn, because she's coming to the airport with me. Please lift this particular farewell up; it's probably going to be the most difficult and heart-wrenching.

So on Tuesday morning (China time), I leave for Shanghai. I'll stay there a night, and then fly out Wednesday afternoon through Seoul, Chicago, and then to Kansas City. It will be quite the trek for me. I'm used to traveling alone, but I still need thoughts for patience, wisdom, and safety. Thank you!!


Reborn's cross-stitch she made for me. It says: "I love Laura Frezee." She is scrunching her face up, because she thinks it looks like a 6 year-old made it. I don't care; I love it! :)