Jet Lag and Other Things
July 15th, 2011 | Categories: Life | 5 CommentsI feel like I am the only person in the US who did not go to the midnight premiere of Harry Potter last night, but I don’t even mind because I know that if I had gone I would have just passed out from jet lag while waiting in line before the movie even started. I hope the movie is good though, because I do have plans to see it in the coming week.
Having said that, I almost am recovered from jet lag. Which is nice, because I am not even close to recovering from the reverse culture shock. One thing after another, I guess. Although, weird as it is to not be in China anymore, it is good to be home. I’ve seen my best friend, I’ve gone to Chipotle, and I’ve watched the Food Network. Maybe today I’ll even bake something.
I miss China terribly already, as I knew I would. It’s not that I feel a part of me is missing; it’s that I feel there is a huge part of me friends and family won’t (possibly ever) be able to 100% understand.
Tags: china
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Hi, I'm Manda. I'm a college student studying communications and languages. I like to read, shop, bake, and travel. I have a tendency to listen to my favorite songs on repeat for hours on end. Sometimes I catch myself thinking in a language other than English. 
I didn’t see Harry Potter last night. The HP era ended when the book came out for me, the movies are balderdash.
I get what you’re saying about there being a huge part of you that nobody gets and I think everyone feels it in some regard, as we age. When I go back to my hometown, it boggles my mind that some of my friends have never been to NYC, which is such a huge part of me, and something that can only really be understood by living in it.
Hope you enjoy the final HP movie when you get to see it! I don’t want to ruin it for you since I already saw it, so I’ll end here. Enjoy!
Welcome home, I suppose! I’ll bet it’s quite surreal being in the US again after all that time abroad. I’m not looking forward to when I have to go back to Canada again, despite how much I love and miss it, of course. It’ll just be kind of weird. Like I’m not supposed to be there or something, which I’m sure you’re also feeling a bit now.
I live in Puerto Rico, but I spent many years living in Connecticut and New York. Most of my friends here have a concept of the States – and NYC culture in particular – which isn’t necessarily accurate. It’s something that they won’t understand unless they live there!
I’m currently in Toulouse, France, as part of a 3-week “study abroad” sort of thing. The jet lag kicked my ass for pretty much the first week over here but it has been worth it! I’m in love with the lifestyle; it’s so peaceful, quaint and friendly. I’m experiencing a sense of freedom that I simply can’t find at home. I leave next Saturday though, so I’m gonna have to shift mindsets pretty soon :P
I know exactly what you mean about having a huge, new part of you that some of your closest friends and family won’t ever be able to understand. There’s only so much you can share about your experience abroad, and the sad part is that while others may listen excitedly or attentively, they just won’t be able to fully grasp the enormity of the experience.
I remember my first night back at school the semester after studying abroad. I spent the first part of the night catching up with old friends, but meanwhile my study abroad friends and I were texting back and forth about meeting up since we hadn’t seen each other in about a month, when we had returned from abroad in December. I ended up separating from my roommates (who I hadn’t seen since last summer) in order to hang out with my study abroad friends — because they were the only ones who understood how much I was missing Costa Rica.
I feel like I will only grow closer to my friends who also studied abroad Beijing back at school because no one else understands what it is that we miss about Beijing. Hopefully my roommates will be able to understand better than others, though!