dream out loud

Since I’ve lived in Guangzhou (only four months) there have been major transformations. All for the… Asian Games. We have become accustomed to explaining every mystery in the city with “must be because of the Asian Games.” Some are quite noticeable changes – the TV tower, demolished old architecture, extension of the subway to the airport, the list goes on.

Certainly the city looks better than when I arrived and when I visited in January or April. Sounds like it was quite different here a year ago. I found an old article on the how the San Francisco based architects designed many of the transformations. In it, Guangzhou is billed as the third largest city in China (it doesn’t say, but I assume after Beijing and Shanghai) and a sustainable and livable city.

When I was home this summer, everything was strangely familiar. It was a comforting feeling. No wonder a place is a called “home” for a reason. My parents’ house is pretty much the same, my friends are just the same, the streets look the same as I last saw them. The first time I left for China, I was heartbroken to leave my New York. My one and only home, I was so sad to leave it, and even made a list of things to do and see before I left. As I learned during my visit last summer, almost everything is still there, and I was reassured of that again this time.

So although I only had a few short weeks at home, I was not as afraid or sad as I was the first time. Especially since this time, I said goodbye to Suzhou, a place I will probably never live in again, but I know that New York is a place I can and will always return to.

I had always been eager to spend time working and living in China. I was sad to learn that Suzhou wasn’t the kind of place I was looking for. But what I was sad to leave behind were some incredible friendships and relationships there. Right now, I am facing another new adventure, I think of it as China: Chapter II. I am now living in Guangzhou. In a short time, I feel much more connected to Guangzhou than I ever felt in Suzhou. Maybe it’s the fact that my father’s family is from here, maybe it’s the fact that I know the dialect (Cantonese), maybe it’s the warmer Southern culture. I don’t know. In Guangzhou, I’m happy to wander the city, go to a nearby museum, hike up a mountain, go to a pretty impressive import store, or meander through Chinese medicine markets.

I feel at home. Whatever the reason for that feeling is, I’ll gladly add Guangzhou to the exclusive list that New York is on: Places I Call Home.

There are places I’ll remember
All my life, though some have changed
Some forever, not for better
Some have gone and some remain

All these places had their moments
With lovers and friends, I still can recall
Some are dead and some are living
In my life, I’ve loved them all

- The Beatles’ “In My Life”

For family and friends, I haven’t yet gotten to update, I have some news. In January, we went to an international school job fair (just like the one that brought me here.) We both got jobs at the American International School in Guangzhou. I will be back to Kindergarten and Glen is still high school math. This past week, we were fortunate enough to be able to visit Guangzhou. Our school had a week off, but they were in session, so it was great timing. During our visit, we had a tour of both campuses, (elementary and high school are in separate locations) had our medical check, opened bank accounts, and picked an apartment. Very exciting, very productive.

Guangzhou isn’t all that well known when I refer to it to friends back home. But when I describe it as “Cantonese,” then people have an ‘aha’ moment. Guangzhou, along with Beijing, Shanghai, and Shenzhen are considered the first tier cities of China. The tiering system includes business, population, and real estate. Guangzhou is also the host of November’s Asian Games.

In the four days we were in Guangzhou, we experienced things we miss out on in our current home: public transportation, a myriad of restaurants, bars and entertainment, movie theaters. We also loved having western style shopping malls, then a Chinese style alley with street vendors upon just turning the corner. Even more exciting is our close proximity to Hong Kong. It is just a 2 hour train ride from the city center. Guangzhou is also a hub for flights to Southeast Asia.

There will be a spare bedroom for you, so come on down to visit!