Winding Down

It's time for me to prepare to return home. There's not really much to do yet-it's still a little early. But I am ready for it. A friend who is from Windsor and her husband have been looking into shipping for us. The 2 I contacted are too expensive. I will start with all the paper that seems to collect in one's house and get rid of all I can. I have many belongings here that will not come home with me. One friend has started taking my plants, another wants the coffee grinder, I've started thinking about what food I buy because I don't want any large containers of things like oil. My vegetable oil is almost finished but I doubt I'll buy another. What needs to be discarded will be over the next several months - like old socks and underwear, bits and pieces of things that collect, reading material, and things I will leave with the school. I'm glad to be doing this as it helps to organize my mind also. People have been asking what I will miss about China. The spas. Yesterday I indulged in the deluxe manicure and pedicure which only cost about $35.00 I had a pedicure last week and a manicure and pedicure a couple of weeks before that. I have a gift certificate for another spa that I need to use before I leave. I think about this question a lot as it makes me reflect on what this opportunity has really provided for me. Beyond the travel experiences, the new friendships, the understanding of other cultures. Maybe it is the chance to know myself. I'll miss the solitude but not the loneliness, I'll miss the meals with friends but not the cooking and shopping for one, I'll miss the excitement of the big city but not the travelling to get around the big city. I'll miss my friends, being able to hop into a taxi, my shower which is much nicer than the the one at home but I'll be glad to have a tub again, and I'm sure a multitude of other things once I'm actually at home. I won't miss the pollution, the spitting, the begging, the honking of the taxis and the crazy drivers. This is much too sad. I think I'll go read a good murder mystery.