- I gave myself no time to recover from jet lag. Tuesday evening, I arrived in Wuxi; the next day, I was at work.
- I went to bed about seven p.m. on Tuesday. I vaguely remembered that my wife had cooked supper for me and I ate it, barely able to keep awake, before quickly returning to bed. I then woke up in a pitch dark bedroom. With a sense of panic, I looked around the bedroom for the time. It was four a.m.
- My mood as I prepared to go to work, and then as I arrived at work, was crummy. Wuxi's skies were gray with smog. Its temperature was bordering on humid and languid. I wish I was back in Canada.
- On my bus ride to work, I saw that two accidents had happened.
- The differences between Canada and China were like night and day, especially seeing how I had been in both places in the span of four days. I saw thin Orientals with straw hats sweeping streets or riding their bicycles -- a sight never seen in Canada. The driving in China was astounding. The fashions were different. The woman in China were so thin!!
- Leaving the Airport in Winnipeg, I thought about all the restaurants, with so much tempting food, that I would see along the way to my brother's home. Leaving Shanghai's Pudong, I thought how there weren't any such temptations.
- I first thought I was going to tell everyone at work that my father had passed away. But then I told one person, who suggested that he tell the others. It dawned on me that was a good idea when I was asked the question "How was your vacation?" It was just too maudlin to tell anyone what had happened. (Oh! my father died.)
- My first class back was an English Corner. Three weeks ago, I had chosen the topic of it to be My Trip to Canada. I had thought to talk about my father, but as I walked into the school, and looked at the students and the other staff, they all appeared cold and indifferent. So, I didn't talk about my father during that English Corner.
- How do the Chinese offer condolences? I don't know. So far, none have been offered. The Chinese staff here probably doesn't know.
- I find myself avoiding conversations because I don't want to talk about my vacation. I suddenly came to the realization that I don't give a damn if anyone here knows what happened to my father.
- How long does the mourning last? How does it affect one long-term and short-term? I find myself now with an intense dislike of my surroundings.
Thursday, June 14, 2012
Thoughts had upon returning to Wuxi from Canada
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