From China, With Love

Ni Hao!

It's about time we updated you all, don't you think?
Oh, you hadn't even noticed our absence eh?  Charming.

Most of you know that Moo and I decided to set up camp in China for the next year. It was a decision that sprouted from a love of soy sauce combined with the desire to keep on adventuring.

Last year we hit a wall in China; I don't mean the Great one. I mean a metaphorical one. We had been on the road for 6 months, and had grown tired of living out of our backpacks, of not having our own bed, let alone our own room. We still longed for change, for excitement, for new challenges every day. But we couldn't deny that we now desired a home, or at the very least, a place to call our own. An address. A place to essentially dump our belongings, and not worry about how they would fit
back in our bags the next morning.

After visiting cousin Adam and Norah in the North of China, our minds were made up. Their life was so comfortable here; a great apartment, great jobs and a good social circle. Oh, and HOT POT on their doorstep! What more could we want? We mulled over the prospect of becoming English teachers, and though I believe I would be well received by children, Moo could not commit to a full time career. Once you fall off the 9-5 Monday to Friday wagon, its hard to climb back on it. The other option? Come and study. Great! Cheap tuition, future job prospects, student life... but no. Moo's committment issues threw a spanner in the works again here. The thought of staying in one place for 3 years was too much for Moo. Which is when the penny dropped. To study a language course we only needed to commit to one year. Perfect! We have always wanted to study another language, particularly after travelling and meeting so many bilingual friends. So without further hesitation, Moo applied for Harbin and Hangzhou Universities. We were accepted by both, which I think had something to do with the fact that we would be the first woman and farm animal to study together at a Chinese university. How's that for diversity?!

We gave much thought to moving to Harbin, we knew we would have a great time there with Adam and Norah. But Hangzhou had something special. An unforgettabe sunset over the West Lake. A city cuccooned in mountains. Temples in one direction, shopping malls in another. On our previous trip, we left a piece of our heart there. So we knew we had to go back and get it.

And so here we are! 2 months in. And what a crazy two months it has been. Of course we expected it to be a challenge. Moving in, shopping for essentials, finding our place in this busy city. And yet we had no idea just how far we would be pushed.

A week after landing, Moo received her smear test results in the UK.

Abnormal cells. Please come for further screening.

The following weeks were a real test of Moo's patience, strength and capability. We had to arrange biopsies with Chinese doctors, receive painful, invasive procedures with a total lack of professionalism, guidance or comfort. We paid large fees that we still aren't sure that we'll get back, for treatment that would be free on the NHS. After a few wobbly weeks, we received promising results. No cancer. Pre-existing conditions that can lead to it, which have to be monitored from now on. But the worry is over.

At this point Moo would like to thank her close friends and family that supported her during this time. Although so far away, you provided immense comfort when it was most needed, and we wouldn't have made it through without you guys (Moo was very close to cancelling all plans and flying home).

We just completed our mid-term exams with flying colours, and have just accepted a part time teaching gig, reading The Very Hungry Caterpillar to tiny little Chinese cuties 2 nights a week.

The first two months have been a whirlwind, but they have also been transformative. Learning a language is so much fun; communicating with Chinese people in our daily lives is a real pleasure, breaking down barriers and allowing a deeper understanding of the culture. The friends we have made here are sure to be life-long, particularly Katy, Ailana and Jeremy, who held Moo's hand and made her laugh in equal measure during the tough times. At the risk of sounding corny and cliche,
it takes a scare like Moo had to remind you how lucky you are to be alive. If you're capable, you must chase your dreams. You must do things that make you happy. Don't live for someone else. You only get one shot, and who knows how long it will last. The biggest regrets are for the things you didn't do.

And surround yourself with good people. You don't have to like everybody; not everybody has to like you.

I don't have any pictures to share this time, because another road bump that we hit was breaking our phone... It has since been replaced, so there will be more to follow.

Anyway, love to you all, and thank you for reading. Sorry that things seem to have turned so serious on this blog lately, I promise there will be fun stuff around the corner! After all, there is a never a dull moment here in China!

Zai Jian!