Missing

Between the idea
And the reality
Between the motion
And the act
Falls the Shadow

It has been some time since I wrote the last message on my board. Although I may have not written much, be assured that I am far from feeling bored. I gained new experiences, gathered exciting memories and collected new thoughts. Unfortunately, it often seems that the more I get to know China the less I understand its rationale. Maybe Elliot also thought of China when he analysed his conceptual shadows. I mean they are in middle (maybe nowhere?) and don't think about where they are going or are (or do they?). Sometimes it makes me wonder, if someone knows the way back home or recognizes the road that led or leads (to a destination or into the unknown). China is interesting, as it often seems that nobody knows what to know and what not to know. Choices.

Anyways, the weekend of the 21^st of October I visited Nanjing (great … the spell check in MS Word does not recognise one of China’s most important historical sites…). If you have the time please check Wikipedia to read about China’s ancient capital (don’t skip the Japanese massacre part, which is still a major issue in contemporary China). I travelled together with Chanell, who is British and with whom I spend most of my time in Wuxi. Although it rained cats and dogs and taxis were as scarce as on a boiling summer afternoon in the Sahara dessert, we had a great time. Nanjing is a huge city (another), but somehow has a lot more character than Wuxi and therefore was well worth spending my time.

Last weekend I (and some other foreign teachers) visited Huangshan. A truly magnificent place as, the mountains reach beyond the clouds into the heavens. As you can imagine: perfect conditions to go hiking! I had to prove why the Bedouins in Jordan nicknamed me monkey boy J. We climbed three tops of approximately 1800 meters high and enjoyed all the beauties and delights that the Chinese landscape had to over. A wonderful experience, and a good exercise to train for the Mount Everest (Anne? J).

Of course, I also teach in between my weekend trips. But I can’t really imagine that you are very interested in that kind of stuff. People need to dream a bit, don’t they? Anyways, uni is doing fine. I make my students do lots of tests; receive both compliments (“students should be happy to have a teacher like you”) and complaints (“teacher, teacher I am tired could not do homework yesterday”) and in the meantime hang out with some of my students (played football and basketball with them). Life is fine in China, as long as you know where you are and where you are going.

Before I forget, somebody asked me what I miss most:

- I miss those people whom I love most

- I miss wine on Quai de Valmy (Bobo? Maybe, who knows… ;) )

- The smell of the North Sea

- And the sound of bargaining merchants in streets and piazzas, which connect the perfect body of eternal cities

I wish everybody the best and hope that you are all doing fine!

My love, hugs and thoughts

Marijn