“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”
Well, I have been back in the States for a few weeks and it’s been difficult for me to fathom that I taught in China. Returning from a journey, whether a short three-week adventure in Brazil, or an almost two-month stint in China, it’s always difficult for me to transition back. Many times once I return, it feels like that adventure did not even happen; this often happens to people returning from a sojourn abroad. Although I was not able to fulfill the ten months I originally intended at the beginning of my journey, I am very grateful for the opportunity. Teaching abroad has been something I had been interested in doing for a while; I even looked into it before I decided to start graduate school. The quote above really says it all for my life; it’s better to try something than to regret not trying it at some point in the future.
There are some things that I miss about China. I miss my students, especially my Pharmacy and Sanitation students; they were excellent, energetic, and willing to try and learn new things!
Pharmacy Students
Sanitation Students
I miss the teachers I worked with and our camaraderie and the campus, especially the beautiful views from my apartment. I really miss the food and I’ve been purchasing frozen Chinese dumplings from a local supermarket; it helps bring me back to my teaching days a bit! I miss walking around downtown in a big city and people watching. Obviously there are things that I miss – that happens often when I return from traveling abroad. I almost wish that I could create my own little world with all of the things that I miss about the places I have traveled and although that’s not possible, I try.
Returning is not always easy, it often feels like walking with your shoes untied – you may stumble at times, but that’s all part of the re-entry journey. You change through these experiences and return a different person. The re-entry process is processing those changes, learning the implications in your life, and adjusting to the changes. These experiences shape who we are, as we EXPLORE new places, DREAM about new experiences, and DISCOVER who we are.
Stephanie taught abroad with API in China.
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