Almost There
Only a week left to go!
With so little time left in Scotland, it’s hard to know what to think. I’m excited about going and sad about leaving, but nothing has really sunk in yet.
I’ve never been “east” before – at least, nowhere east of Europe. My exposure to Chinese culture so far has been limited to tourists, take-aways and YouTube videos, so this trip is really a new frontier for me.
Right now, I’m just trying to appreciate things I often take for granted in Scotland, such as fresh air, drinkable tap water and personal space (as well as family and friends, of course). In China these things aren’t so easy to come by, and I’m sure I’ll miss them. The fact I can leave my house and walk for miles in peace and quiet without seeing a single person is something I’ve taken for granted all my life. At the same time, I’m looking forward to meeting new people, experiencing new places, new flavours and new languages. Having lived in a village of 50, it’s hard to know what to expect in a city of 15 million.
Several Chinese people have stayed at my house this year, since we do Airbnb, and this has given me some small but helpful insights into the Chinese way of life. Many of them were really excited I was coming to Tianjin, and they were eager to test my Mandarin speaking skills, to give me their contacts on WeChat (Chinese social media) and to invite me to their homes. One guest even offered to pick me up from the airport! So, maybe making new friends in China won’t be so hard after all!
Enfin, il faut choisir ce que je prendrai dans ma valise. J’ai déjà mis dans ma valise…
- des chemises
- des pantalons
- une paire de chaussures
- huit paires de chaussettes
- huit slips
- une veste
- un sweat à capuche
- une serviette
- un kilt
- une escarcelle
- une brosse à dents
- du dentifrice
- du déodorant (difficile à trouver en Chine – est-ce que vous savez pourquoi?)
- un passeport
- un portable (avec chargeur)
- de l’argent chinois (yuán)
- des petits cadeaux écossais
- un guide de voyage
Pensez-vous que ça suffit?
Anyway, that’s all for now. I’ll keep you all updated about how things are going in China, and if you have any questions you’d like to ask, n’hésitez pas!
À tout à l'heure!
Arran