Monday, August 23, 2010

Back on (blog) track

Hello, China! Hello, blog readers!

I couldn’t keep away for more than 2 months. First I told myself that “come on, you’ve said your “goodbye,” how on earth can you start blogging again?" But then I thought: “well, why not?” (And really, why not?) It’s not as if this blog is following some kind of special format… It was nice to have a blog-break during my summer holiday in Finland and Sweden, but now when I’m back in Shanghai again it feels kind of odd not to be able to share all the funny things that I see, hear and experience every day (which has always been the purpose of this blog). Also, my dear parents (especially mom) have expressed numerous times that it’s a shame not to know what I’m doing anymore (sure we talk, but not every day) and that’s kind of true. Finally, I have to say that I miss writing. I thought that not blogging would inspire me to write longer emails to my friends, but it’s simply not the same. So, here I am. Back again. I’ll try not to do the whole “bye bye this is the last post” for a year or so again.

Forgive me? OK, then here we go again!

I got back to China in the beginning of August, after good holiday in northern Europe, only to be greeted by a hiking temperature. It was “only” 33 when I got here, but soon it went up to 39 degrees, and this made life, well, not hard, but kind of miserable. You don’t really feel like going out for a walk when it constantly feels as if you’re walking behind a bus that’s releasing all of its heat and fumes straight in your face.

Sick of the heat and bored with staying in I decided I needed to get out there and do something, so I went to the gym (that’s what I normally do when I feel bored and useless) for a releasing run.

Or well, that’s what I was meant to do.

Only though, when I got to the gym I was greeted by a somewhat cooler, but still not that cool, gym (how they can still be stingy with the air-con when it’s 39 degrees outside is a mystery to me, but I seem to be the only one complaining about it, so maybe it’s just me who has some kind of inner heat in my body and who has a problem with it?). I had been doing some running during my holiday, so even though I felt as if I stepped onto a tropical island when I stepped onto the treadmill (the heating lamp that was located just above my head acted like the radiating sun) so I told myself that it shouldn’t be too hard.

What was I thinking?!

40 minutes later I laid, soaked in sweat, on the floor, trying my best to regain my breath and wishing for my head to regain normal temperature again and not feel like an about-to-explode-bomb.

Ah, it’s good to be back!” I told myself.

And really (even thought I might have been exaggerating and lying to myself at that very post-treadmill moment), it is. It’s insanely hot. Smelly. Messy. Crowded. Loud. (Did I say hot?). But I love being here. I passed my 4-years-in-China mark on August 15, and I must say that I’m stoked that I’m still here.

To another year in China (coffee mug clinks with water bottle)!

And to blogging again (solemnly raising a big spoon of muesli and yoghurt)!

32 comments:

Anonymous said...

Glad to see you've returned.

조안나 said...

Glad to see you're back!

WarPony said...

yay!!!! so glad you are back!!!!

Jane said...

great you are back! haha!

emily said...

glad you are back!

though it's quite funny with the time difference, it's like you are writing from the future! (it's still august 22 here.)

Kate said...

thrilled to read that you're back, jonna!!! I started reading your blog in 2008 when I studied abroad in Shanghai, and I've been reading ever since. I'm now working at the expo and have missed reading your insightful, goofy and always interesting snippets of life here in china. can't wait to read more!

Nick said...

How wonderful you back!

Stroganoff said...

Jonna,Welcome back. You were missed by this reader and your return has made my day !

Jonna Wibelius said...

Thanks for all the wonderful comments! I have a lot of catching up to do!!! So glad to see that you guys still check my blog!

Mackan said...

Smart val att komma tillbaka och dela med dig om dina äventyr till den som ska börja sitt sista år i gymnasiet och drömmer sig bort i världen! :)

Jonna Wibelius said...

Mackan -ja visst är det?! :) Drömma sig bort var det enda jag gjorde under mina år på gymnasiet. Håll ut -1 år till, and then the world is your oyster!

Blank-Socrate said...

Welcome back dear :)

Bagman and Butler said...

Yes great to see you back. To blog or not to blog, that is the question. The nice thing is that none of us (well, at least not me) are going to hold you to any kind of commitment. There's freedom in that.

Anonymous said...

Was there any doubt? ;)

Speaking of hot, I immediately thought of your blog when news broke of the unfortunate deaths at the world sauna championships. I first heard about the event here at your blog and immediately wondered if you had heard the news and what you might have wrote about it.

Glad your back and hope you enjoyed the break.

Unknown said...

Yay! good to have you back. If I were to stop blogging, I'd stop writing 'coz this is where I write :))

jane said...

it's great you're back! i missed your posts!

Chocolatesa said...

Really happy to see you're back! :D

Martin said...

SHE in China withdrawal symptoms dissipating...fading...fading...AH...much better. Welcome back Jonna, you have been missed!

Jeanette Kongsgaard said...

Great you are back!

Anonymous said...

yay! so glad you are back! I checked your page today on a whim and I was so happy to see a new post!

Happy Reader said...

Very glad to see you come back.
-A happy reader.

Jonna Wibelius said...

Hopfrog- I was in Sweden when the sauna news broke. I don't know how many people called me just to go: "hey jonna, I know you praise Finnish sauna, however, have you heard what happened during the Sauna World Championships....?!"

I personally don't think there should be competitions in "sauna sessions" as it is something that's meant to be an enjoyment, not torture. But that's just me. I bet there are some Finns even agreeing with me after what happened during this summer's competition.

I didn't have as many sauna sessions as I usually have when I'm in Finland this year though -as Finland experienced a heat wave and during the 10 days I spent in the country, the average temperature was around 30 degrees during day time! It was the most beautiful Finnish summer ever. Sauna or no sauna! :)

Thanks for all the other comments. I'm surprised (but stoked!) to find that so many of you still check in on this blog!

Unknown said...

I am also surprised to see many people still check your blog even if you have been away for couples of months.

Anyway, I am every excited.

Stefan Geens said...

kul. I suspected you couldn't stay away:-)

Jonna Wibelius said...

Mouseneb - Ya, hoooorray for me coming to my senses!!! :)

Lideting -I'm also surprised, but happy!

Stefan -you're so right... I don't know what I was thinking there for a while. I love writing and sharing my China moments!

Anonymous said...

So nice that you're back! :) Have been missing stories from the odd but oh so fascinating country!

Top Can said...

Welcome back!

W said...

Your return is the only good news in the last 3 days. Welcome back.

******************** Shanghai MiFeng said...

Ahhh .. no need to go to the Library anymore to read up on China . Jonna is back .. yeah !

TG said...

Welcome back! The world has missed your scribblings :D Ok, don't know about the world, but I did :)

WoAi said...

Oh my God I just clicked on your blog to see if you kept up your decision to quit so I have only JUST realised you're back blogging! Deep down we all knew you couldn't stay away. It's addictive. Welcome back. We're WELL overdue for drinks!

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