A/M

Steve and I picked up my friend Annemarie today at the airport.  She flew in from China to visit us for ten days, and I am really looking forward to being a tourist in my city with my friend.  Tomorrow we are going to Whistler, and we have plans for most of the days that she is here. 

I lived in China for three years and we became friends during this time.  She and I enjoyed many fun times together; shopping, watching movies, eating out, mani/pedis, and just hanging out.  We also shared our China frustrations; bad driving (yes, it is true.  The driving there is, well...just like driving in Richmond), language barriers, and many other things that would be simple at home but endlessly complicated there (such as banking).  I used to live in a small city (4 million people), so I would get on a two hour bus ride every weekend and stay with A/M.  The city I lived in was so quiet, and I loved the personality of Beijing with all its people and things going on.  I remember walking through the city early one morning and just watching the people quietly doing Tai-Chi, and then going out in the evening and watching couples of all ages dance in the square at Houhai.  The city was such a strange mix of new and old, and you could always find something to do. 

I will always remember my time in China with fondness.  It was there that I overcame my shyness, and it was there that I learned that I really love adventure and seeing new places and meeting new people.  I now know that I can do things on my own, in a place where I don't speak the language or know the culture, and that I will be just fine.  I also met some of my dearest friends there, and one of them is visiting us now.