Ten years ago today I first arrived in China. Well, that’s not entirely accurate. October 20, 1999, I flew into Hong Kong, where I spent one night and one day, before heading back out to the airport to meet up with my colleagues and hop on our flight to Changsha. But Hong Kong was a mere stopover (sorry, Hong Kong). Arrival was the evening of October 21, in Changsha.
I suppose I should have something profound to say about my experiences over the last decade, but I don’t. Nor do I have anything interesting to say about the changes I’ve seen in China over the years. Sorry. I do have to say that, as milestoney as it is, it actually seems like a very short time. And indeed, a mere decade it is.
One of my students said, wah, you must’ve looked really young back then. Yeah, and how about you? Oh, I was just a little girl. Yep, one thing that makes me feel old is that my students were in primary school when I first arrived here.
But there you go, a decade.
Congratulations on your tenth anniversary. If the military’s unavailable, I’m sure it’d be possible to arrange a march-past of girls in short red skirts to celebrate the occasion. I’m afraid the fly-past will just be small kites, though.
Thank you, John. Actually, we managed to get the neighbour’s pigeons to accompany the kites.
Happy ten year anniversary.
>>Yep, one thing that makes me feel old is that my students were in primary school when I first arrived here.
During my visit to Xiamen University and chatting with my dorm mate last August, we discussed that a lot of class 2009 students were born in the year when we were brand new college students. So don’t you feel old yet!
Thanks, and fair point. I’ve still got a few years till I need walking stick.
Please mind your grammar. My students might be reading your blog.
I’m sure your students have better things to be doing with their time.
And now that almost all my colleagues know about this blog, I’m really going to have to be careful….
Yeah, it would be a shame to let your colleagues know what you /really/ think.
Exactly.