I feel as if I may still be in the “honeymoon period” of my time in Wuhan. Everything still seems so wonderful. My students and Chinese friends tend to ask me how I’ve adapted to my life in Wuhan or if I’ve grown accustomed to the Chinese food. I never really know how to answer because I never felt as if it was weird or anything different from my life at home. I think growing up half-Asian has a lot to do with my ability to adapt to living in China. I grew up eating foods that my Western friends thought were weird, or smelly or gross. My students and friends tell me that many foreigners have a hard time adjusting to Chinese food; maybe because the dishes here are similar to the dishes I ate growing up, it’s easier for me to live my day to day life. I think food is a fundamental part of life--not just for survival. The fact that I am already used to eating the food here allows me to venture out into the city and go out to eat with my friends without inhibitions.
Speaking of friends, I’ve met some amazing people in Wuhan. I remember the first few weeks in Wuhan when I didn’t know anyone, I would sit in my apartment and not do anything. This time in my life, I was filled with a lot of anxiety and was quite lonely. I didn’t know what to do with myself or where to go. Everything was so new to me and I didn’t have anyone to show me the ropes.
