Reflections from Hangzhou
I got back to Beijing about a week ago and I started classes at Peking University this past Thursday. Hangzhou was such a productive time of learning and it was hard to leave, but things have really picked up here in Beijing. Here’s a short bit I scribbled on the train.
“Just like that another chapter of my life, over and done with. I don’t mean to sound so blunt, but this is how life has felt recently. Don’t get me wrong. I’ve been learning a lot about my faith, my character and life in general. It’s just that everything has felt like a blur as life has taken off in a hurry. I really haven’t had a chance to take a breath and soak in all this learning and growing.
It’s particularly difficult for me as I get acclimated to new places since I get attached easily. I guess I am one who takes some time to open up to new places and new people, but once I get comfortable, it’s hard for me to let go.
Coming to Hangzhou I really didn’t’ know what to expect—actually I didn’t really expect much. All I came with was eagerness and an open mind to learn and grow. Who knew that my time in Hangzhou would be one of the best experiences of my life? God has provided bountifully, from Pan Gege to Dinghe Law Firm and everything in between. Living with a Hangzhou native, I was able to fully immerse myself in the Hangzhou that tourists don’t see on a casual vacation. I’m talking about the small stinky alleyways lined with barbershops, fruit stands, 网吧, motopads and pedestrians; all the desirable and undesirable aspects of China mixed on a quarter mile alleyway. Walk a couple steps down and there’s another alleyway, with a different flavor, but many of the same commodities. The beauty of Hangzhou also left an indelible mark in my mind. Hangzhou has the feel of a big city without all the negative realities of big city life, well at least most of them.
If I had to pinpoint one of the more penetrating lessons that I learned from Hangzhou, it was learning to adapt to new things. Even in my younger years, I tended to be hostile to the thought of new things, ideas or people. For instance, I would only let my mom hold me when I was little; I rejected new vegetables or food that my parents encouraged me to try. On the other hand, I had a strong penchant to hold dear to people and things that are comfortable. In Hangzhou, I began realizing this negative trend and made some impactful changes in my life.
Living conditions were certainly far from the level of comfort that I am used to. Actually, I don’t think I took one thorough shower in the three weeks that I was there. (The showers consisted of dumping water on yourself with a bucket) Instead of complaining about the peripheral discomfort, I began taking notice of the beautiful place of Hangzhou and the life lessons that were coming from all directions.
It was in Hangzhou where I realized how hard life is for some people. Most people are up by five or six o’clock A.M. and have no vacations throughout the year (weekends included). While my conditions were not nearly as difficult, I took an appreciation for life without all the external comforts of life—warm showers and instant Internet access included.
It was also in Hangzhou where I realized how dependent on others I am. I think it starts with my dependence on my parents and somewhere along the way stems from a tendency to trust in others more than myself. While this isn’t inherently bad, I realize that I am overly dependent on others. In the past if someone were remotely more capable than me, I would defer him or her. In Hangzhou I had to figure things out for myself. This includes jumping on ultra packed busses to find my way to work, exploring the city of Hangzhou, and interacting with new people that I met.”
