What America did to me?

On my way to Australia now.

At last, I don't have to spin around preparing for the move non-stop. I'm moving.

Sitting in my home state airport, for the last time (at least for a while, I definitely want to come back for a visit sometimes). The first question came to my mind was, what my six years of life in the USA meant to me?

Independence.

Before coming to the States, I had never left my home city for more than two months. I had never lived alone. I even hadn't taken a flight before that point.

I did all these during the six years, plus a lot more.

For example, six years ago I tried very hard to "blend in", because in China that was the safest way to survive, at least traditionally. So I wore a Nike T-shirt, jeans, and runners the first day I arrived. I was very satisfied when a guy in our group commented, "You look just like an American student."

Soon after I realized that wasn't necessarily a compliment in the States. TO SOME EXTENT, people in fact appreciate difference and diversity. That was where I started to wear my Chinese clothes once in a while.

Change of clothes is a lot easier to observe then those changes inside me. Believe it or not, I don't procrastinate as much nowadays, after I figured out nobody could help me out other than myself. This is because in China the minimum unit of survival is a family. Your family will help you no matter what. Though this is still the case for my family, I live on the other side of the Earth and that's well beyond their territory.

In the U.S. the minimum unit is an individual. Nobody even a family member can pose his noses in your life and on the down side, they do not always rush to rescue you either. For my last two years staying in the U.S. I lived alone and that experience is probably the most precious experience that I have ever had in my whole life. I learned things such as to plan ahead, including getting food before getting really sick.

Of course I harvested a lot more in addition to independence during this six-year period. My degree, and a whole suit of philosophy as well as knowledge base related to my PHD work and study. Last but not least, a sweet silly and smart bear to hug all the time :) !


P.S. The picture is a painting by Roy Lichtenstein named "Painting with Statue of Liberty". I took it during my trip to the National Museum of Art in DC.