It’s only when you have friends to visit that you see a place through fresh eyes, like you saw them when you first arrived. It was a visitor that pointed out that there was a man living under my stairs when it hadn’t occured to me that it was strange. Yes, I suppose it is unusual, but I had got used to it.
My Birmingham friends were quick to remind me about strange things I have taken as normal for years. Like, for example, people looking at their mobile phones… all the time. To be honest, I do it myself these days. It’s a bad habit but one that’s hard to break, especially when in China, EVERYTHING requires you to look at your mobile phone.
It’s not only the negative aspects of life in Shanghai that’s easy to see vicariously through fresh eyes. I was reminded, on a trip to the Bund one evening, of the magnificence of the Shanghai skyline. And on the last evening, sitting upstairs in Kartel looking out over the city, it’s good to remind yourself why you have been here for so long.
But the time has come to head off and it’s only three weeks until I get on a plane to the Dark Continent. I can’t wait for a new challenge and Uganda is a fantastic place.
I have no illusions though. Yes, it’s not as safe, not as bright and sparkly in Kampala and there’s no Apple Store (oh no!) but Uganda has a few things lacking in China. It has beautiful green countryside which is easily accessible and everyone speaks English. I have become fed up of struggling to make myself understood in Chinese. I’m ok but I’ve become bored with being rubbish at it and too lazy to do it properly.
So thanks to my visitors for making me see the reasons I stayed so long and the reasons I am finally leaving.