Return to Yantai

In January 2002, I returned to the city of Yantai to visit.  The trip of two short weeks was really important to me because it was opportunity for closure to my time in Yantai.  I had to leave so quickly when I was evacuated out in 2000 that I did not get to say goodbye to a lot of people or to China.  One day I got hurt and the next I was in Boston without time to process or to comprehend what was happening.  I guess the trip was almost a pilgrimage so that I could say goodbye properly this time, if that makes any sense.

And I did not return to Yantai alone.  I was about to book my ticket when I thought of my friend Jeff from Maine who had wanted to visit me in China last year, but lost his chance once I came home early.  So, I called him and left a voice mail that I was going and he was welcome to come if he was interested.  I was amazed at how quickly he decided to come since it took me countless hours of planning and deciding before I made my decision.  It was really good to have Jeff on the trip, although we did confuse one or two people by having the same name.  :)  

This trip allowed me to see my Chinese friends once more.  Many of these friends who I could not say goodbye to last time.  I have kept in touch with several of my Chinese friends and I actually get more emails, letters and even phone calls from my friends in China than from the US.  I also got to see my students who have grown like weeds over the past year.  The warmth with which we were received was tremendous.  

China is amazing at being able to change itself overnight.  You can actually see and sense the changes that have occurred to Yantai in only a year.  What China is going to be able to accomplish in the next ten years is anyone�s guess.

You can read about our trip in the following journal entries.  You will also be able to see pictures once I have set up the links.

February 4, 2002

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