Slipping between worlds

I touched down in Qingdao at 15:30 today and the only thing that seemed strange was the sensation of cold on my face which somehow after 10 days I had completely forgotten, even though I knew to expect it.

I'm really struck by how seamless the shift between western life, culture, and people versus the Qingdao equivalent has been this time around, given how strange I found being in HK after really immersing myself in Qingdao. And yet despite feeling fully westernised again over the last few days I had re-adjusted and slipped back into life in Qingdao before I even touched down. The only person who finds this odd seems to be me, stuck on how very weird it is just swapping between worlds and languages like that... more so because they have been so totally separate (despite mum and a couple of friends visiting they have no relationship with each other at all). I'll make sure I take a load of photos and footage so that some of you who still think China is a backwater can get some idea! I don't think heading West will be anywhere near as strange next time around, and am actually very much looking forward to it in many ways. That would be down to the dastardly trio who showed me a cracking time while in Singapore. Not only was the trip amazingly good fun and relaxing but it also gave me a good perspective on the last few months and the time ahead of me.

Without turning this too much into a 'Dawson's Creak'esque rant, I genuinely feel I've made the most of my time in Qingdao and really given every aspect of life here 110%, sometimes to my own detriment! But then the benefits are the ability to straddle both sides of globe and enjoy doing it as much as I am right now are certainly a good reward. Now just to finish off the materials I've had my sights on, clean up properly, and say some goodbyes. I'm also gonna see if I can make the Ice Festival in Harbin weekend after this.

Over and out from a very very quiet 'still on new years break' Qingdao. No prizes for guessing photo was taken in QD this afternoon!

D.
x

p.s. every keeps telling me in the cafe that 你发胖了...他也说你发胖了！'You've put on weight... he also says you've put on weight!' It seems the good food of Singapore has added a few pounds. But I do love the way nobody here batters an eyelid or considers any sensibilities before they throw it at me within minutes of walking back in! They did say I looked better though! Either way I'll miss them.

p.p.s. I forgot to mention Laimay my new Honk Kongese best friend... you're great. There you go, you got a mention, now don't complain again!