what you will miss if you come to live in china
In China, loneliness is a choice one makes, with so few foreigners to go around some schools that hire foreigners actually have “dinner partners, fuck buddies and general friendship guaranteed – true love not included.” Listed as one of their lucrative perks they have on offer. There are times, however when the loneliness creeps up on you, like the chilling cold that starts from the inside and it hits you when you least expect it, this loneliness. On a cold shabby winter’s day which is every day for 5 months out of the year – one longs for school cancellations, road closings, pizza hut’s 12 inch thick crust pizza with the works…delivered right to your door. “Friends” reruns on NBC with commercial breaks and Jerry Springer at 10 EST right after Martha Stewart Living, corner stores that carry RC Cola, Dr. Pibbs, Mountain Dew, yellow jackets, condoms in all colors and sizes and noodles in a cup, for telemarketers that always call when you are performing #2 in the toilet (aah for a toilet you enjoy visiting) taxi drivers that speak English and don’t give a damn about where you are from, why you are black and if your hair is real. Clean, bikini clad summers, hanging out at the organic store drinking wheatgrass shots. Super sized Wendy’s meals, coke and ice tea refills, happy hour at Cody’s, not so legal back door smoking parties at Cody’s, garage bands, friends up for impromptu hang time …anytime, impulsive trips to South Carolina or Indianapolis to watch no name bands, pulling all nighters, reproducing term papers, not showing up for soccer practice, going to Arkansas for spring break, pouring weed killer on a neighbour’s green grass for shits and giggles. for.. In fact, not a week passes where I am not seized by a desperate longing for everything and anything that is regular.