Some news

I’ve felt a little bit out of love with China since the beginning of this year. I am not quite sure what it is about, can’t put my finger on it, but there’s just something that is stopping me from enjoying everything to its fully. I’ve written about this before and like some people have pointed out, it might have to do with the fact that I’ve now been here for a while and that’s it’s not as ‘new and exciting’ as before… although I kind of like that everything aren't 'new and exciting.' Comparing to when I first came to Shanghai in 2006, spoke no Chinese and had no idea about anything, I prefer this… I have no problems getting around anymore (language wise), I know which places I like/dislike, and so on… but, that bubbly ‘I-love-China’ feeling that I used to possess seems to have gone missing. Along with my motivation, and some other happy-to-be-here feelings.

So, I’ve decided to do something about it.

I’m moving home.

Yeah, I know it might sound a bit drastic but I have really thought about it and I feel this is the best thing to do. I am far from native in Chinese but I feel I have a good enough level to still get a job.

….Kidding!!!

Geez, you thought you’d get rid of me that easy?! No no, not moving anywhere, but still getting a change of scene. I’ve been offered a summer vacancy at a media company (focused on China) in Finland. And I’ve said yes. So during July and August I’ll be working full-time in Finland, making radio shows and news/travel stories about China…

It’s actually a quite good situation. My boss is Chinese (although not the spitting kind, I’m done with those), and my workmates are from all over the world, including China. So, I’ll not only be writing about China every day, but I’ll also be in a ‘fairly’ Chinese environment, although I’ll still be able to breathe the freshest air, go for long runs in the forest (the REAL forest. Not just some lame field with some flowers), and swim in clean lakes (Yes I know, I am going there for work but the beauty of Scandinavian summers is that the sun stays up until late every night, so you can go for a evening dip every night at 9pm without getting lost in the darkness). I couldn’t ask for more. Since I’ll be fairly close to Sweden (a 3 hour bus ride + a 2 hour plane ride + a 1 hour train ride –OK, not mega close but closer than now!) I’ll also get a chance to go home and spend some time with my sister and her baby Sam (that I haven’t even met!!), the rest of the family, my friends and relatives… And sometimes that’s just what you need to get some new energy. At least that’s how it works for me. I need a (preferably large) dose of near and dear ones every now and then to be able to function.

I know there are still 2 months or so to go, and a lot of things will happen before I go but I just wanted to share it today for some reason (maybe I’ve still got some fever left from that flu making me all ‘I want to share everything with everyone?!’). But I am really looking forward to getting a longer change of scene and a chance to think everything over. There’s still a decision to be made at the end of this year (should we stay or should we go –and if we go, then where do we go?! Where’s ‘home’? If we stay –where do we stay, and what do we do?).

Anyways, I just wanted to share it. I’ll still be blogging from over there (how could I not. I am more or less addicted by now) and I won’t go until July so not much will change for the time being.