J+302 Coming home. 回国！

I can't describe the pain it is to leave my friends here. 

But I can't describe how much I look forward to hug my friends and family .
There isn't one day without memories popping up, they all made my heart so rich. 

I am coming.
I love you all so much. 

See you 后天、21号。

J+300 My departure approaching

I will leave Nanjing very soon, in 3 days 差不多，I feel excited and depressed at the same time.
I feel I have lost so many occasions here, and now time is rushing, people count every hour, saying "this is our last Saturday, Friday together".

I guess in some way it is more painful to leave my friends here, for two reasons: first, there is an incertitude regarding to the next time I will see them, then because they are totally different from anybody I know. They complete me, and have completely changed me.
I have found true friendship here too, in China. And it is beautiful.
Some of my best friends parents have prepared a room in there home, and told me it was mine, for "when I come back"

These days, my mind is totally empty sometimes, I just keep walking, staring at places, with my good memories constantly popping back everywhere I go, staring in the emptiness and keep walking, listening to some music. It's funny how music is powerful to me.
There are some songs, I just listen to them and I travel right back to the place I used to hear them frequently. I can take a trip to Moscow with one song, it's enough for me.
For Nanjing, I probably have 300 songs.
Nanjing has become my home.

On a normal day, when I go out in the morning, on my way, I know everybody, and we greet each other so warmly. It is slightly different from France isn't it...
If one day I don't appear, the next day, they will ask me "你怎么了？昨天没来＂ " what is wrong? I didn't see you yesterday.."

I have to say I am quite different from the foreigners here in Nanjing.
I do not stay with them, but I am constantly with my Chinese friends.
I came here to learn the culture, I believe this is the way to accomplish it.
I feel so glad because I have successfully managed to change their opinions about "外国人＂, foreigners.
I made them understand the difference between foreigners, we are not "ONE BIG GROUP", as China considers the rest of humanity but we are distinct small groups. An American is fairly different from a French, German, latino or British, in many ways.
Then, I could not tolerate the way Chinese stereotype westerners. In one sentence: "you people are so OPEN" .
They mean it in a negative way, Chinese deeply believe that western people do not mind, and are quite willing to show inappropriate sexual behavior in public places.
I am relieved I changed a lot of them, opened their eyes, wiped off the steam on their glasses. Unfortunately, I do see some westerners, on a daily basis ruining my efforts, and contributing to building up that bad image. Chinese say they have "no face" , meaning they can't even lose face, they are so low, they don't have one.

I keep walking, walking, these days. It is driving me potty. I walk like a ghost in these streets I love like my hometown, shopkeepers ask me "how is your sister?", I smile at them, with tears running down my pale face.
The truth is that I miss my family, Charlotte, my parents, my grandparents, aunt, cousin, everybody. I miss my best friend.
But I also have more than what people can imagine here.
I am confused. Feel empty, but want to explode at the same time.
My friends here have tears whenever we go out, and everybody is speechless.

I have changed so much this year. It is probably unimaginable to people who knew me before.
I know myself more than ever before, and I know what I want, what I don't want in life. I know what I stand for, and what are my values.
I will never forget what the Chinese have taught me.
China is a positive nation, that will never stop attracting me.
I am in love with this country.
And Nanjing will always welcome me back, I know this.

J+300 Friends goodbyes...

My attempt to tomboy style:

J+300 Family goodbyes...

Some "goodbye" photos. Family ones...

A worker at the restaurant , we get on very well together:

My aunt and I:

Sister, my aunt and myself:

 Family photo, at home:

The present they sent me, on the table: 

Our family, at my fathers restaurant:

My beloved sister:

My sister has become so elegant , in one year :

j+293 Dinner with nanjing VIPs

I had dinner yesterday with some very important men in Nanjing, Lisa's brothers acquaintances.
Politic, chief of security, chief of the district, businessmen;

They all explained to me how "it works here in China"
-if you are willing to do anything by yourself, then ¡forget it, you need support. You need to know higher people and everything becomes possible.
It is your acquaintances who will make things easy for you.
They all told me I had their support. And we exchanged a lonnnnnng ceremony of standing up, toasting each other.
I started with the same white whine as them, after three glasses I figured out that yogurt was a safer choice for me; how wise> this drinking standing up lasted for about 1:30h ..!

J+290 Wonderful dinner

Evan and I went for dinner at a beautiful restaurant with a superb view on Nanjing... On the 45th floor of a tower.

The food was very delicious , a buffet... We both were "full to die" after a 5 course meal..

J+286 My big surprise

My classmates and my head teacher had prepared a surprise for me.

I am deeply touched, still 3 days later.

They had practiced some French songs, and sang all together, then every student stood up to say a few words about me, and good memories we have together.

They had a PowerPoint presentation with some photos and private jokes, we were all crying.

To be honest, I was in a total mess. I had mascara on, and looked like a panda because of my tears. I have some true friends here, and it is just too difficult for me to imagine not seeing their smiling faces, positive attitude regardless of what situation they have to face. I admire them so much.

They all wrote on my uniform and covered me with presents, letters, and tears.

J+284 Classmates goodbyes...

Here are a few photos , more to come soon....

J+283 Elders university

Today as planned, I met my 80-year old friend, at the park. 

He took me to the elder's university. 

Such an amazing place! I was amazed by the number of elders who decide to study all sorts of subjects!
I attended the English class, the level is astonishing! We played a game, I was on the stage, we dialogued : they in English, I in Chinese.
It was such an interesting experience.
I have always particularly enjoyed communicating with older people, I believe we all have so much to learn from them. 



These are the works from the drawing lesson:




English classroom: 




They were all very curious about "what European retirees  are up to"
Hahah... The conversation got interesting.
They didn't understand how come, European retirees don't dance in the street every night.. This is outrageous to them!
" And they don't sing in the street?!"
They can't imagine the way young generations in Europe would judge them if they were doing their moves on a public square..

The other night I took a walk.. And my attention got caught by a familiar club song. By Akon and David guetta (French DJ) ~ ok, the name of the song tells a lot : "Sexy bitch"
I was walking in the street when I heard it.. I must admit it got me quite intrigued ! I followed the sound back to the source. And when I got to it, I almost fainted. 60 elders twisting and shaking " everything they've got" to the rhythm.. Completely ignorant of the meaning  of those lyrics..

J+282 After the class

我和Lisa 在一起

My teacher and I after class



Tomorrow I will go to meet a group of elders in a park, they have decided to learn English together and warmly invited me tocome and see their lesson! I will take some photos and give you details ! 

J+280 Our little school breaks...

It is hot to die! 

People from different grades gather together to play basket ball. It's the most popular sport here , without a doubt.
And some students "cutely attempt" to order cold drinks from outside, and discreetly get them delivered through the fence.. But they get caught every time, it's quite amusing.

J+274 Short weekend break in Shanghai

I took a short trip to shanghai, a weekend break. It was more like an "escape plan" for my school mate..

Shanghai has changed a lot since the last time I was there, 7 years ago !

We went to the Shanghai Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum, and stroked a few poses with the stars, since the weather was unfortunately really bad.. Heavy rain!

Here we go: Yao Ming, Einstein, Monroe, Poutine, Chaplin... 

We took the fast train from Nanjing to Shanghai, and stayed in a small hotel in Nanjing road. (Central place)

J+231 In desperate need of nature...

India and myself met up again, to search an empty far away place... Calm..

 

J+222 清明节 ~ Qingming festival (tomb sweeping day)

This festival is devoted to the memory of the ancestors. It's a traditional Chinese holiday , usually occurring around April 5th of the Gregorian calendar. Chinese people visit the graves or burial grounds of their ancestors, bring some fruits, dishes, clothes and shoes (made of paper), wine, and burn the gifts, with some fake money and golden paper.

On Qingming people go on family outings, start the spring plowing, sing, and dance. Qingming is also the time when young couples start courting. A popular  thing to do is to fly kites in the shapes of animals or characters from Beijing Opera.

Another common practice is to carry flowers instead of burning paper, incense or firecrackers.

Some paintings illustrate the qingming festival, such as "Alongtheriver QingMing"

Luckily, I have some photos to show you of a typical ceremony :