From Shanghai with luve - 1: arrival
Shanghai, in Chinese, it's a city above the sea. Shanghai is not only the biggest city in China, it's also the city with a style. "Shanghai Style" is more like fusion we talk about nowadays: a mixed style of western and eastern. Isn't Shanghai a beautiful name! Therefore Dec. 23 to Jan. 16 of 2005, I chose to return to Shanghai.It's been 4 years since I last visited my parents, for the first time I felt more and more obligated to be a good son. There are multiple reasons that I chose to fly back on Dec. 23, a day before the Christmas eve, even thought that meant I had to work my butt off to get everything up and running without mistake during my absence: I still have to do so. I always like the feeling to arrive at an airport. Airport means a lot to me: mostly it's the feeling of being up for something far and maybe unknown. Choosing Dec. 23 to fly actually turned the table of lonliness around and everything seems a lot brighter: the worst thing for a guy who is away from home like me is to spend the biggest holiday alone, or with some random friends. Now I get to see my parents, see Shanghai, see old friends, and maybe a few new friends, maybe girls who will love me for me. That alone make 13 hours crawling in a narrow coach seat worthwhile the wait and pain. The United does serve with the best food: within 13 hours, we had lunch, afternoon tea, snacks, dinner, and late night snacks, along with countless beers, ginger ale, and bottles of wine. No wonder United can not pay off the debt! Big screen continued showing up the flying rout from all directions, when it was getting close to Shanghai, my heart started pounding: Shanghai is no longer a city in a developing country call China. Shanghai stands for excitement, newer things, fashion, opportunities, and most importantly I realize all the good and old friendship that was looming away would come back to me live. I knew that the moment I saw my aging parents extending their necks trying to locate me from the crowd pouring out of the airport exits: I decided to take a little while to get everything together before heading up to them, with my new aviation jacket and hiking backpack. It's always hard to put up certain facial expressions when I first see my parents after a while apart. I am not extremely comfortable to show my emotions in public yet I am an extreme emotional person. Life is always full of contradiction! Dad already had the camera in his hand: the camera I bought them 4 years ago when I returned. He took care of it very well. Mom is running around trying to find a shortcut to come to me: Mom is escalated to see me, she is appearing older now, with a lot more small tiny wrinkles around her eyes socket, I tried not to show much emotion...each time I walked out of airport exits with a lot of people waiting for their friends, families when my parents are among them, they always make the whole situation like everyone is there for me, strangely, time is slowing down and everything is becoming moving in slow motion, and smiling at me. There is a blonde blue eyed girl standing right next to my Mom stairing at me with intense looks when my mom hugs me. Home! Sweet home!
posted by Road less travelled @ 11:17 PM
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