Sunday, August 25, 2002
Greetings!
I'm
writing now from my dorm room at Michigan State University -- all moved in
and getting ready for classes to start on Monday. I've been back in the US
long enough now that I can no longer claim jet lag, so it's definitely
time to write one last entry.
On Saturday we flew from Nanjing to Beijing for the Amity debriefing. Once
again I was glad to be part of such an ecumenical experience -- our
worship was wonderful and our discussions really helped put the experience
into perspective. One group shared that whenever they encountered
something strange or unexpected they would just say, "China," and move on.
I met many people like this who just seemed so well-suited for the Amity
experience -- they didn't stress out, they didn't panic, they just trusted
God and prayed and said "China."
Beijing presented quite a bit of culture shock for most of us. Traffic
lights! American fast-food chains! The cars and bikes stayed on their side
of the road, but were somehow much more menacing than in Chu Zhou. We
didn't have very much time at all in Beijing to spend sight-seeing. When
we found out that we wouldn't have time to see the Great Wall, Jeanne and
I were disappointed, but said, "Ah well, we'll be back." We saw the summer
palace, home-away-from-home for Empress dowager Cixi. That was fun, and it
was interesting to see all the tourists from all over the world -- I heard
one group speaking Spanish. Another culture shock: all the touristy stuff
to buy. Chu Zhou wasn't really set up for tourists. Of course, none of us
had any room left in our luggage ... I left almost everything that I
brought to China in China, and filled my huge suitcase with all the gifts
from the students.
Jeanne and I had a really wonderful meal at the Hard Rock Cafe.
Hamburgers, french fries and lemonade never tasted so good. We were sick
to our stomachs but very, very happy.
Monday was the big flight home. It was long and I didn't sleep too much,
but it was nicer than the flight to China. Of course, I wasn't nervous. On
the trip to China I frantically wrote about 20 pages in my journal about
how insecure I was feeling and how completely inadequate I was to be
teaching in China ... on the way home I wrote at a more leisurely pace,
about 10 pages of reflection on the journey and how it altered my map.
When I got home my mom asked how the trip changed me ... I thought that
this trip would be something that would increase my confidence ("I've been
to China, I can do anything!") -- what I didn't expect was the way it made
me realize how much I still have to learn about life and the world. For
example, my interactions with people in China were a valuable lesson in
how to accept help graciously, even when I didn't feel like I needed help
at all.
When
I arrived in Chicago I was one of the first people off the plane, one of
the first through customs, one of the first to get my luggage and the very
first to head out the doors to greet the Edison-Swift welcome team ... Mom
and Dad with gorgeous pink roses and a fantastic butterfly balloon. I was
still too dehydrated to cry ... that came much later as I showed Mom and
Dad the video of our closing ceremony and Nicole and me singing together.
When I got home I started unpacking ... I kept my parents up until one am
showing them all the things I brought back from China, and telling
stories (including the time I sang Chinese opera
with Mr. Lee). I felt great the next day ... got up early, did some shopping,
had a nice, full day. After that I crashed a little. But I haven't gotten
sick, which is a blessing---I thought for sure that when my adrenaline
dropped I'd get some onslaught of illness, but I think my body was just so
happy for the clean air and the sleep
that those five weeks of abuse were forgiven.
My first Sunday home I presented St. Luke's a paper cutting of the story
of the Samaritan woman at the well. I bought it along with two other
pictures at the Amity arts and crafts shop in Nanjing. I met the artist, a
woman named Fan Pu, who was selling her work entirely to raise money for a
friend who needed a kidney transplant. Through an interpreter I told her
that I only have one
kidney, and it made her very glad to see someone living healthily and
happily with one
kidney. I gave her my email address, and just a few days
ago got an email thanking me for my thoughts and prayers -- her friend got
the kidney and is doing very well.
I've exchanged a few emails with Nicole, who has just completed training
for her new job at one of the airports in Shanghai. When I go back to
China it will certainly be a flight to Shanghai, and Nicole says she will
be the first person I'll see when I step off the plane.
The current challenge for all of us who went to China is to settle back in
our lives and at the same time keep our experiences at the front of our
minds to share with others -- to write articles, give presentations and
tell our stories to anyone who will listen. Thank you all for "listening"
by reading this
journal -- it made me very glad to know that we could be separated by
such a distance and still connected by prayers and good wishes. If you
haven't yet signed the
guestbook... there's still time! The guestbook really made those
smokey internet cafes worthwhile ... those messages are the best! Thanks
again, and I hope to be in touch with all of you soon!
Mwah!
posted by Anne Edison-Swift at 1:24 PM
<read more
in Annie's journal>