Holy SHIT! I'm in CHINA!!!!!

Once in a while, this thought pops into my head...and today it hit me while I was teaching class. I am in a Communist country where people can't utter, even under their breath, that they are dissatisfied with their government; where many people around me live on less than $200 per month; where factory workers go to work for 7 days a week and get paid 1000Yuan (about $200) a month; where one particular student of mine works in the factory all day and is still excited and energetic about learning English for 2 hours (and has to pay for it)... AND in addition to that, I am literally half way across the world from the people that I care about most.

I have to keep reminding myself, over and over, to step back, take it all in. Time is seriously ticking away SO QUICKLY! I've been here for 2.5 months and it feels like only a few weeks. I can't complain because that means I'm busy, but I believe have adjusted to this life a little too much. I don't even notice things that I would from my "American eyes" because now I have a more Chinese view. While speaking with Ugo on Skype today he told me that I have just quickly adapted and become versatile, but I really JUST realized how...well...American I am, I guess (as much as it kind of pains me to say that). I thought that living in Poland, visiting Poland and traveling has made me more understanding of the world, but China really is becoming more and more of an experience that is irreplaceable and so important to me. Something that is pretty much priceless and worth more than I can explain. I hope that when I get back to the US, I won't take in the luxury and work ethic some Americans have (like I have just adapted to China)...but that China will change me for the better... in more ways than one. That I can really analyze and think about my experiences, not just as an experience, but something that really benefits me from within.