Thanksgiving Edition

Yes, this post does totally conflict with the timeline.  But, I have frankly had a rough week, and it seems like a good time to talk about being thankful.

So ... let's tone down the snark for a minute and give some thanks, cool?

Preface:

To be perfectly honest, I am not the most patriotic of people.  I was raised in a household where I was taught many of the darker moments in our country's history ... at a very young age.  (picture a 4th grade version of Reese reminding her teacher that the blankets the US gave the Indians were poisoned with Small Pox)   So, yeah, criticism and dissent was not uncommon.

And really, I think we can all agree that our current government is pretty freaking defective.  Politicians spend obscene amounts of money to get the job, and then when there is actually a job to do -- they give up!  But, I'm supposed to be positive, so ...

Here's the deal, guys: being in China has made me so thankful to be American.

Where All Your Questions Are Answered

I know what you're thinking: "Wait, Reese, haven't you been in China for, like, a month now?"

Reese: "Yep.  Exactly a month."

You: "So ... um, why are we just now reading about you leaving for China?"

Reese: "@*!#$#% - #&*#* - )(@*#$!*  China.  We got a problem?"

. . .

Of course, you may also be thinking, "Reese?  Who the eff is Reese?"  Yes, I have moved to China and changed my name (kind of).  No, I don't think I need to be hospitalized (yet).  Truth is, I quite like my name.  I think my parents did a pretty good job w/ the whole naming business (shhh - don't tell them).

"So, why change it?" you may ask.

Here's the deal: my name is kind of hard to pronounce for folks who hail from the middle kingdom.  To be more precise, seeing my name on a piece of paper strikes fear into my co-workers (who are English teachers) and makes students run for the hills.  Rather than having the majority of my peers be afraid to speak with me, I have opted to go by a more China-friendly name.

So ... hello, I'm Reese.

For the record, it is really hard to remember to answer with your new name when someone introduces himself to you or asks what your name is.

I don't think I would be a good con-man.

Rough Landing

The good news:

• I had a direct flight from LAX to Shanghai.
• I purchased one of those oddly shaped neck pillows.
• I got an aisle seat (well, I got to the airport hours early to make sure I didn't get stuck in the middle).

The bad news:

• I was flying China Eastern (apparently notorious for being awful).
• I was alone, sleep deprived, and nervous.
• The flight is 14+ hours and you lose a day while traveling (pesky 15hr time difference!).

When flying on Chinese airlines, it becomes apparent that American airlines, by comparison, are pretty generous with their seat size, leg room, and baggage rules.  I'm not being facetious here.  Of course, Chinese airlines, do still serve unidentifiable and barely edible meals, and require flight attendants to be young, thin, and beautiful.  So, if you like airline food, enjoy being surrounded by people who don't speak English, prefer a "cozy" seat, and wish airlines nowadays were more like flying back in the 60's -- fly to China!

But back to my journey.  My flight was at noon.  I pulled an all-nighter packing.  I actually got less done than I planned, because packing, weighing, unpacking, and re-packing completely took over my life.  But really, two 50 lb bags when you are bringing books, supplies, and clothing to live/work/travel in China?  Not realistic, China Eastern.  Many clothes and granola bars were left behind.  So, as a result of this packing ordeal, I was exhausted and fried.  The positive is that this kind of worked in my favor -- I was too tired to freak out in a panic when I was all alone at the airport, and I was ready to sleep the second I got on the plane!

Honestly, the first 11-ish hours of the flight flew by; I had my new "neck-pillow," I had my new kindle, and I even squeezed a throw blanket into my carry-on.  Read.  Sleep.  Eat/drink.  Repeat.  Once, we hit hour 12, though,  I was ready to land.  Really, really ready.  The cabin lights kept going on and off, so both sleeping and reading were difficult.  Plus, those individual reading lights in the ceiling?  Yeah, mine perfectly illuminated the seat next to me.  So it did nothing to help me read, and quite endeared me to my sleepy neighbor.  Awesome.

"But, Reese, weren't there movies playing?"

"Yes.  In Chinese.  On a monitor hung from the ceiling.  10 rows away."

How? What? Why? China?

All valid questions.

Sometimes the answers escape me, but I will do my best to fill you in on how a blonde girl from California ended up in the middle of nowhere in China.

It has never been my plan or dream to move abroad and teach ESL.  To be frank, while it is a fascinating country, China wasn't even very high on my to-visit list (sorry, China).  BUT I am the kind of person who has trouble saying no to a dare.  When the opportunity to be paid to go to China fell in my lap ... I couldn't really think of a justifiable reason to say no.

I mean ...
Is it scary?  Yes.
Will I miss my friends and family?  Yes.

Will it be challenging?  Yes.

Will I miss Mexican food?  Yes.
Do I know Chinese?  No.
Do I like living in Winter?  Not really.
Do I even know anything about China?  ...

Too Late to Turn Back

Hours alone at LAX before a transcontinental flight have a way of making one second guess one's decisions.  My only solace was that it was too late to change my mind.


Luckily, I was far too exhausted to actually freak out.