This post is long overdue, but when you have that much fun, you are left with no choice but to live your life until you find time to catch your breath and tell the world about your previous days… right before you dive back into your merry time… So yes.. I hitchhiked a ride to the mysterious orient; not only to uncover it’s mysteries, but also to find something about myself, for the best way to find yourself is to be lost first. And boy did I get lost at the start of my journey.
I am officially an expatriate in China, in Dalian City to be exact. The first thing I noticed when I arrived there is that English is a rare currency here, and I could not use it much. Thank god at least I own a smart phone like most of the modern men and women; with just a rub on the screen, the smart phone genie can teach me or speak on my behalf. Though I really felt embarrassed when I found out that I was saying ‘Nice to meat you’ “Wo hen gaoxing rou ni” instead of ‘Nice to meet you’ “Wo hen gaoxing renshe ni”. I said that to three people on different occasions; they looked at me in surprise and just smiled and nodded… I didn’t know they were confused, I thought they were impressed with my Chinese. But I learned eventually, and gained a funny story to tell.
So why did I went Magellan and decided to go away from home? Well… Initially I planned to continue my education after working for a while. But why China? Because everywhere I got accepted at was expensive; who knew studying in Manchester, Toronto and Chicago will be too expensive? I mean its 180,000 a year for Orthodontics in Canada.. and that’s just for the tuition. That’s when China came in. They have a very good educational system, and my major is clinical Orthodontics, so it all depends on me. The experience and the inspiration that I’m getting is just a valuable bonus.
My initial thoughts about the people of Dalian is that they are very private and not social; when I lived in Egypt for five and half years, people were staring at me whenever they see me because I’m a foreigner, I expected the same treatment here especially since – profile wise – I look a lot different from them, but they didn’t react much to my abroad countenance. But then I learned that if you just start a conversation, they immediately become very social and very helpful. I would like to share everything about my trip… but I missed blogging a lot, I don’t want to pour it all out in just one setting. So I will give you a preview of what is happening lately through a couple of photos.
Until next time 🙂
My first view of China.
My first night in China.
My first morning in China… no photoshop.
Mastering the art of chopsticks.
My shame…
Giving a lecture about Oral manifestation of systemic diseases… something doctory..
One of my colleagues was late… had to give him the look…
My first snow experience… I’m smiling under the scarf.
My new writing place… an amuse well if you will.
Captured my ghost.
Watching the sun set.. or should I say; watching the sun rise somewhere else.
ahamin 
Wow, what a huge jump from north Africa to east Asia. I hope that your experiences are enlightening and your studies are successful.
I too am an expat and about as far geographically from my home as I can be (living in Trondheim Norway, from Canberra Australia) but culturally and linguistically it’s not a big jump. You are definitely braver than me!
Thank’s mate. I actually have an uncle who resides in Norway, and my brother lives in Perth. I guess the world is getting smaller. I believe being away from home is always hard at first, but as long as you find the right company and a project to work on things will be easier. For me now, home is where the WiFi connects automatically :).
Thank you for visiting my blog and taking an interest, and I will soon email you my novella. It does also have elements of the expatriate life.
Cheers mate,
Amin