The Final Countdown

No, I'm not talking about that 80's cockrock song (as classic as it is), but rather the realisation that we only have 11 months to go before we are likely to resume our normal lives back in Canberra (not that I can ever be classified as 'normal').  While I'd like to avoid cliches at this point, it is actually quite amazing how fast 25 months have flown by.

We've certainly tried to squeeze all of the goodness out of the opportunity that we could, knowing that if we don't get another chance in our lifetime then we'd go back to our home in Canberra happy and grateful for the experience.  We've tried to see as much as we can, written about it way too little, and made some great friends along the way (and sadly said goodbye to some).

To say that living in China has been an absolute blast would be an understatement.  There will be things that I certainly will NOT miss when I go, but there will be things that I will miss dearly.  But where to start on a list for either?  Probably after 2 bottles of red.

Things I Will NOT Miss

• Walking down the street and seeing a kid taking a dump on the footpath.
• Having to dodge frozen lung butter on the footpath (ie goobers the size of a newborn elephant)
• Sitting down in the non-smoking section of a restaurant, only to find I've been seated next to the Marlboro Man himself.
• Getting aforementioned Marlboro Man as my taxi driver, even though there is a non-smoking policy in taxis (resulting in me taking yet another photo with my phone of a Taxi Driver's details).
• Getting asked by a taxi driver to "Get Out", because he's not wanting to go in the same direction that I want to.
• Looking outside and not seeing two feet in front of you because of the "fog".
• Driving skills of a 1930's rural Australia.
• The beratings I get from taxi drivers for not getting one of my Mandarin language tones correct.  Here's a deal, Mr Taxi Driver - you have a shower this year, and I'll correct my tones.
• Shit TV
• Having to go to 5 shops to buy all the stuff on the shopping list.  "Hot and Cold" as a descriptor for stock availability just doesn't cut it.
• Having that feeling after EVERY purchase that I've been done over on the price.  So looking forward to a return to fixed prices.

Things that I WILL Miss

• Our first year of weekends in China.  No weekend kids sports commitments, no planned activities (social outings excluded), and no household commitments.  The absence of routine Saturday offspring activities can be a sweet, sweet thing.
• The innocence (and righteousness) of childhood in a very multicultural setting.  In all of Maddy's friendship 'issues' it's been the usual peer pressure as the first culprit, followed usually by the group power struggle, and so on down the line of personality traits.  In all cases the excuse of "she's Korean/Chinese/Japanese/" has NEVER rated a mention (as it shouldn't).  The tea leaves bode well for a world view, and we thank China for the tea.
• The MIGHTY Flying Cocktails - dear friends I have made, and dear friends I will miss (and others who I've already had to farewell).
• Chinese New Year.  It's the night that Chinese people forget they live in China.  Rules are disregarded, authority is thrown to the wolves, and anarchy is embraced faster than bai jiu at a Beijing banquet.
• Shit TV (hey, they're STILL ninja movies).
• Conversations with my Chinese guitar teacher about life, faith, and politics.
• Those who I've dined with, and wanted to dine with a second time.  
• The adventures, the travels, the encounters.  China cannot be adequately described in a TV series or even an epic Lonely Planet guide.  I've read plenty of books about people's own views of China, and not one of them relate in any way to mine.  And in all honesty, my view of China now is unlikely to relate in any way to my view in another 5 years time.
• The total lack of self conscience in the older population.  They dance in the street, they sing in the park, and they don't give a rat's arse what other people think.  Perfect tonic for the modern western world.
• The pulse of a city (but one showing signs of a forthcoming cardiac arrest in many areas - traffic, development).  But while the pulse may eventually slow in the daylight hours (or in the case of traffic, come to a grinding halt), it's the night that will continue to be WHERE IT'S AT!.
• Roubian, late night Jian Bing, and this little salty pancake with an egg that proves the quintessential breakfast on a rushed morning (two for AU$0.60).

There is no doubt I'll come up with more as the countdown continues, but as is the way here they will usually rear their heads as a direct result of an incident that is just as likely to leave me smiling and hopeful, as it is to leave me pissed off and cursing.  But in the words of many before me (who were alot more experienced in these affairs), "That's just China".