Reminders of Home

Last week, while I was at a friend's place, I witnessed my first actual thunderstorm in China. It has rained here for extended periods of time, but it's not the same as a Midwest thunderstorm. The temperature here cools down, and it rains, sometimes even hard for a while, but it's definitely not pouring down rain, and the storm lacks thunder and lightning.

So last week, when I was talking with my friend, I thought I heard thunder, but dismissed it, thinking it was probably a truck rumbling by, or some other city noise. A few seconds later, though, the darkish sky lit up with lightening. We both broke into a smile and ran to the window, like little kids. Then came the rain. A refreshing downpour...big drops of rain...thunder and lightening mixed in. As quickly as it came, it stopped. The smallest things that remind me of home, though, bring such joy! If only I could have seen it rolling in over the corn fields - I think that might have to wait until I actually am back home.

Last night I went to Starbucks to study Chinese. I ordered a Dulce de Leche frappuccino and settled in for a few solid hours of studying. I remember Finals Week of so many semesters, when my friend Cathi and I went to Starbucks and spent the entire day studying there, outlasting every single person in the store, including employees! I didn't go to Starbucks often in the States, because it's expensive and I prefer little hole-in-the-wall places, like Coffeehouse, The Mill, and MoJava, and I don't go to Starbucks very often here because it's more expensive than it is in the States. But every once in a while, it's nice to go there and feel like I'm closer to home.

On Sunday afternoon, 5 really good friends are coming to visit. I'm so excited to connect my world back home with this world that I'm in here, to introduce them to my friends, to show them and let them experience life here for a week. It's humbling that they would take time off work and spend money and time to come all the way to China. I feel sad that I am missing their life back in the States, because I really can't fully understand what it's like for them since we all jumped into completely new circumstances after college. It won't feel at all like I'm at home in the States when they come, but it will be good to be with them, a huge reason why home was home.

Although I have always loved it here, and continue to enjoy it more and more as time goes on, there is the reality that I do miss home. If I was anywhere besides there, I would miss it. But if I really think about it, I have to admit that even if I went home, or never left, I would still miss that chapter of my life, because life continues and people and their circumstances change, so it will never be the same (which is a good thing). Thunderstorms and Starbucks and friends coming to visit are good reminders that I do have great memories from before I came to China, and everyday adventures here help me remember that this is home for me right now...I am experiencing today what will become great memories in the future!