It’s amazing that even in a country almost 7,500 miles from the U.S. we have created a sense of home. This weekend when we traveled to Tiantai and Ningbo, when we felt antsy on our bus ride or longed for familiarity, we most often talked about going back to Nanjing. In Nanjing we have our bedrooms, our bubble tea shop, our classroom, our new Chinese friends, our DVD store and our secret restaurants where we can buy Western food and Diet Pepsi. While I can’t speak on behalf of our entire group, I know that while I do miss people from the U.S. (don’t worry, I haven’t forgotten you guys!) Nanjing has been acting as my idea of home past 10 or so days. Here are some things that have helped me create Nanjing as my “Chinese home”:

In our explorations last week, we discovered a fruit stand in one of the small narrow streets off of the main road. There are clusters of ripe bananas, cherries, apples, and spiky fruits like Leiche (I don’t know that I’m spelling that correctly) and something red and bumpy that we don’t know the name of (it tastes like a raspberry/strawberry—it’s delicious!). It feels like home because it gives us a chance to eat something that tastes familiar. It also makes me feel part of the community by buying fruit to support something local. As places become familiar to us, we also have the opportunity to become familiar faces to others. While its likely that most vendors probably forget us, there’s still the chance that our acknowledgement of presence is reciprocal. The idea of routine is crucial in my feeling home.

Blurry B-ball picture

We have the privilege of getting to see our Chinese friends every morning that we are Nanjing. What a wonderful experience it has been getting to know them and learning about China through their eyes. Their kind and welcoming demeanors has made all of the difference in making me feel comfortable. The reciprocity in our relationships is definitely present. For instance today after class, we played basketball together (5 on 5 and knockout). We tested each others hoop skills. Even Ann joined in our game. As Liz commented from the sidelines “I didn’t know that this game would be so serious!” It was definitely competitive. Jenny, another Nanjing University student met by some of my classmates last week playing on the University’s outdoor courts, also joined us. We’ve nicknamed her “Jenny from the block”. She is going to join our class tomorrow.

(Ann and Maura under a very old tree.)

Maura, a Saint Joe’s alum and Nanjing University graduate student, has especially helped me feel home in Nanjing. She has showed us those secret Western style restaraunts that we eat at when we need “safe food” that we know will sit well with our stomachs. She has helped us find a German deli that serves sandwiches, a Burger King, and an Italian restaurant that we ate at last night. It was interesting to go to an Italian Restaurant in China. It was the first time that I knew what everything on the menu would taste like. It wasn’t a guessing game, it was a matter of desire. Although none of the Western style food we’ve found is the best, it tastes delicious when you’re craving something familiar.

I’m wondering if the Chinese students will have similar experiences with Chinese food in America. I’ve definitely learned that there is a difference between Chinese food in the U.S. and in China. While the food doesn’t always sit well with my stomach, it has grown on me. For instance this weekend we had a wonderful eggplant and bean dish and very fresh spinach (even though I usually hate spinach in the U.S.!) and something that almost tasted like a rice crispy pizza. To say the least, there are so many more types of Chinese food that I never thought existed. And Weiping always makes sure there is something on the menu for all of us.

I hope that as we continue our journey through China, we will make the new cities that we visit feel like home. When we leave Nanjing at the end of the week, I’m sure that we will miss our new found comforts and friends. Hopefully when we are back in the U.S., we will be able to help the Chinese students find a sense of home in Philadelphia. Maybe the City Ave Starbucks and China town restaurants will help them feel familiar when they are half way across the world?

Some of us at a Temple near Nigbo.  Emily in brown T-shirt, bottom.  (Photo AG)

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