Some Things I've Learned Whilst Living in China Part 2:
1. I am a shameless glutton for American TV. No matter what the program, I can probably sit and watch it for hours. So far, I have seen every episode of Criminal Minds, Law and Order: SVU, CSI, How I Met Your Mother, Entourage, Weeds... Even more than movies, I am a TV loser. With all the time I have on my hands in my evenings, it's good to be busy.
2. When you have a big night out, the only chance you have at being functional the next day is to have McDonald's before you sleep. It's been proven time and again. No ramen, no noodles, no pizza, McDonald's. Trust me. We have done scientific research. Even if you have to go way out of your way to get it, do it. You can thank me later.
3. If you live near the equator, it is important to have a solid collection of tank tops. You can never have too many, no matter what anyone says. For example: I have around 65/70. I'll count again when we move. I have my work tanks, my layering tanks, my dressy tanks, etc.
4. Moving is never fun. No matter where you live. Thankfully, it can be alleviated by drinking heavily and putting everything off to the last minute, which is possible in China! It doesn't behoove you to start the search more than 2 weeks before you have to move because of the high turnover rate of apartments, which is brilliant. Win!
5. Americans are not well liked outside of the States. I cannot tell you how many times I have been in or around a conversation that ends in bashing the US or some derogatory generalized statement about Americans as a population. In my friends' defense, they always qualify their statements with a "No offense" or "You're an exception". Doesn't really make it any easier to sit through, though, does it?
6. People suck and they always let you down. No matter what country they are from or where you are in the world, people are fallible. If you can get past that, you'll be fine. But if you can't, you're in serious trouble. You think you know someone, think again. You can never really know someone. Especially if they don't want you to.
7. Life goes on without you. Move 7500 miles away, and life back home keeps going. Scary, right? I always wanted to believe that I was the center of my family's world. Turns out, they miss me, but they do just fine without me. I suppose that goes both ways, though.
8. When I moved out here at 24, I thought I knew who I was. Two years later at 26, I can admit freely that I have NO idea who I am or where I'm going or where I want to be going. Do we ever really know?
9. Traveling internationally is stressful. Take a chill pill or it can ruin your vacation. Fact. On that note:
10. The world is enormous. Embrace it, see it. We have so much to learn from other cultures.
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