china
I submitted this to the travel section of the Inquirer. Who knows if it will make it there, I am not exactly a writer... but I figured I might as well post it.
I also won 7 bucks on powerball last night. powerball + two numbers.
Lastly, if you want to hear me sing, you can check the link below. If not, its okay.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=G2tsgzurLAY
This summer I traveled to China for two weeks. I knew before leaving that I was going to be immersed in a different culture, but I had no idea that it would change my perspective on life itself.
China is beautiful. It is beautiful in both its wealth and its poverty. I found it to be a world of intrigue. Behind every gate lay a mystery: it may be an ancient temple, or it may be the door to blight. The pictures I took of China do not do justice to the strange dichotomy of new and old, of splendor and decay.
We started our journey in Beijing, where we were stunned by the sheer size of the Great Wall. We traveled to the gorgeous canals of Souzhou and to the terracotta warriors of Xian. We spent our final days walking the magnificent gardens of Shanghai.
During our two weeks, we marveled over the Chinese language, causing fits of appreciative giggles from the Chinese whenever we attempted a hello or thank you. We met so many people eager to talk to us, take our picture, and simply look at us and how different we were.
I loved being there. I drank in every moment.
It was not until I returned, however, that I realized how different I had become.
Some aspects of the change were merely amusing – my instinct to say “xie xie” instead of “thank you”, how everything seemed expensive, how thankful I was for air conditioning and Wawa hoagies!
As I recovered from jet lag, and as time continues to pass, I have found more important differences in myself. The Chinese people were overall very poor in material belongings but rich in spirit. An afternoon there is best spent strolling leisurely through one of the perfectly manicured gardens, playing cards, or simply sitting around with friends. Unlike here, they did not seem to have the need to be on the go all the time. They did not need constant entertainment. These people never seemed to be bored.
Being enveloped into that mind frame that has really changed what is important to me and how I want to spend my time. Life is not about what you have, it is about who you have in it. It is not about having the latest gadget or the coolest clothes. It is about getting to know people, spending time with them, and loving them. The things that worried me or upset me before I went just do not exist anymore. I strive to carry these lessons with me wherever I go.
We are so blessed, so lucky to be here in the States. Now I understand why the rest of the world is willing to die to get here. It has been eye-opening to realize how rich in goods I am, but know that means nothing if I am poor in spirit. I hope that everyone gets a chance to visit China and experience its beauty like I did.
I also won 7 bucks on powerball last night. powerball + two numbers.
Lastly, if you want to hear me sing, you can check the link below. If not, its okay.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=G2tsgzurLAY
This summer I traveled to China for two weeks. I knew before leaving that I was going to be immersed in a different culture, but I had no idea that it would change my perspective on life itself.
China is beautiful. It is beautiful in both its wealth and its poverty. I found it to be a world of intrigue. Behind every gate lay a mystery: it may be an ancient temple, or it may be the door to blight. The pictures I took of China do not do justice to the strange dichotomy of new and old, of splendor and decay.
We started our journey in Beijing, where we were stunned by the sheer size of the Great Wall. We traveled to the gorgeous canals of Souzhou and to the terracotta warriors of Xian. We spent our final days walking the magnificent gardens of Shanghai.
During our two weeks, we marveled over the Chinese language, causing fits of appreciative giggles from the Chinese whenever we attempted a hello or thank you. We met so many people eager to talk to us, take our picture, and simply look at us and how different we were.
I loved being there. I drank in every moment.
It was not until I returned, however, that I realized how different I had become.
Some aspects of the change were merely amusing – my instinct to say “xie xie” instead of “thank you”, how everything seemed expensive, how thankful I was for air conditioning and Wawa hoagies!
As I recovered from jet lag, and as time continues to pass, I have found more important differences in myself. The Chinese people were overall very poor in material belongings but rich in spirit. An afternoon there is best spent strolling leisurely through one of the perfectly manicured gardens, playing cards, or simply sitting around with friends. Unlike here, they did not seem to have the need to be on the go all the time. They did not need constant entertainment. These people never seemed to be bored.
Being enveloped into that mind frame that has really changed what is important to me and how I want to spend my time. Life is not about what you have, it is about who you have in it. It is not about having the latest gadget or the coolest clothes. It is about getting to know people, spending time with them, and loving them. The things that worried me or upset me before I went just do not exist anymore. I strive to carry these lessons with me wherever I go.
We are so blessed, so lucky to be here in the States. Now I understand why the rest of the world is willing to die to get here. It has been eye-opening to realize how rich in goods I am, but know that means nothing if I am poor in spirit. I hope that everyone gets a chance to visit China and experience its beauty like I did.
posted by FireWithin at 4:59 PM
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