Homesick?

The cicadas mechanical hum fills every ounce of the heavy air around me. The sun drifts higher and higher in the sky and the occasional sun shower brings just enough moisture to the ground to make it difficult to breathe in the damp, dusty air. Big drops of sweat form as I sit and eat a bowl of noodles trickle down my nose and catch them just before they land in my dinner. We walk from house to bus, bus to shop, to bus to house, and out again. The methodical days move by in a sluggish daze and I know, this is summer.
…………
My timelines on Facebook and WeChat fill with pictures, posts, and stories of summer. The lazy days  on the island, the cool summer drinks, the advertisements for National Flip Flop Day, half-price milkshakes at Sonic and 3 dollar gelatos at Rita's. I see the signature sweet tea cup from McDonald's and can almost smell the hot wings in the oven, macaroni and cheese on the stove and warm chocolate chip cookies cooling on the counter. The occasional sun showers in Xiamen remind me so much of daily  showers we would get in Lehigh. The mechanical hum of cicadas brings me immediately to my room on the south side of our house, and the humidity hangs just low enough to remind me of sultry games of basketball on the street outside my house.
I want my Mother's Pasta Fagioli (Regardless of how hot it is outside) in a big bowl on the couch in front of Wheel of Fortune. I want to drive to Sun Harvest for a Key Lime/Chocolate Twist ice cream and drink some of the best lemonade you've ever had. I want to go to the fish market with my Dad to get a fresh grouper sandwich with seasoned thick fries in a paper bag and a massive Styrofoam cup of sweet tea. I want to go by the deserted soccer fields and play a game of pick up with whoever happens to be there that night.
I find myself desperately missing summer in America.
………..

I torment myself with the memories of what was and almost forget to embrace the what is.
I used to hate the heavy air of Southwest Florida, the mosquitos, the heat, the monotony of life. Filling time with going on an evening outing to Kohls or Bed-Bath-And BEYOND got tiresome to me. When the biggest thing that happened was when you noticed your neighbors actually cleaned out their back yard…but now that all of that is so far away, I want nothing more than to embrace it all again. Like an old, familiar friend, embrace it and spend as much time as I can there.

So I have to ask myself. What is it about this life I now lead that I will miss whenever I leave it? This is the art of remembering to embrace wherever you are in life. Always remembering that your situation will never be forever, no matter how long it seems, and one day, you will miss the hair sticking to your forehead, not because you're sweating yet, but because of the sheer heavy moisture in the air… One day, you will miss trips to Bingo to get the Mangua Yizu zhi Bing Xia (fresh mango smoothie with coconut milk). Just as much as you miss the Pinapple, Mango, Coconut Gelato with vanilla yogurt from  Rita's or the Cherry Limade from Sonic. One day you will miss the 45 minute drive home through the country and yet you will miss the 45 minute bus ride it takes to go 12 city blocks.

The point is, we never know how to appreciate what we've been given until we realize it's gone. After the celebration of what we call "freedom", we find ourselves melancholy for what was. So break the cycle! Embrace today. It's all you get today!
Embrace today and eat something you won't regret not eating, tomorrow. :)

Update

Wellll, Summer's here!! And so the sultry Xiamen days continue. The entrance of summer brought a move to a new part of town and many new, un-had adventures.

School finished suddenly with my head English teacher me telling me last Friday, that it was to be my last day teaching for the semester. I was quite surprised, but as finals were rapidly approaching, I knew my days were numbered- I just didn't know how numbered. :P
I was incredibly sad to leave my 800 students without so much as a goodbye, but I will be able to go back and speak to each class after finals and give them my "Jai you" speech as well as get some final class pictures. (stay tuned for those! :)

I will be teaching a summer camp for a week in July for all of the teacher's kids who want to attend an English camp. I will be the only teacher for the week, but contrary to the 50 students per class I had all year, I will only have 15 students all week! I'm excited for the smaller numbers and anticipate watching Daddy do something cool with these kids. :)

Unfortunately, I will not be going to the USA this summer as finances and scheduling did not allow it, but lately my heart has been yearning to go for a long walk in a field, a long ride in an orange grove and a good meal at Rib City. While I will not get any of these experiences here this summer, I know that He has something much more exciting planned here.

Like I mentioned earlier, my roommate and I recently moved away from our home for 2 years to the other side of the island. The rent was sky rocketing as many foreigners and tourists were flocking to that area and it was no longer a practical place for us. The area we moved to is much more quiet and friendly. We are already making new contacts and friends and really sense a peace and assurance with the decision to move. We readily see His blessing in this move and are excited to continue watching Him work in new ways! I am also excited to continue exploring the new area. We are only a block away from the beach and got our first typhoon to welcome my first days of summer. Only a Florida girl could really enjoy something like that! :P

With the new move came many expenses. In China it is customary to pay rent by the year or in 3 month increments. This plus a one month extra deposit has brought it's financial difficulties. Please pray with me that Daddy will continue to provide as he always has. I confess my faith has been greatly tested recently with regards to finances, but something keeps me holding strong that my God will never forsake me and always provides for what He orders.

Also please remember us as we are meeting many new people, that Daddy's light and love would not return void- as he so wondrously promised! Already, I sense that he has a grand plan for us in this new place and I am so excited to be a part of it!

I have re-signed for another year at my middle school for next year and have been informed that I will not be able to move up with my class of 800, but will have another 800 new students next year in 7th grade. I am sad, not to be with my co-teachers from this year or my beloved students, but am honored that I have been given the opportunity to teach 800 new students.


Looking forward to the summer months and a less hectic work schedule as well as some sun time and juicy summer fruit. I'm starting the P-90X Extreme Yoga program soon in my living room, so that should give me something to do this summer! :P
Grace and Peace be with you always!
=)