Goodbye CMC!

(We haven’t had internet for a few days, pics will come later)

17/7/2012

Sitting here in the airport on our way to Gansu province, our last travelling before going back to Denmark on the 25^th. These days have been hectic: a lot of packing, last goodbyes (except that it’s not goodbye, but “see you”) and struggling to get our 4.200 kuai* deposit back. The last thing is probably not happening since the agent claims never to have said or written anything and the police says that we have to sue them. We might have a chance if they find a new tenant to pay a deposit before we leave, but even then it’s not sure. The good thing is that our roomies and landlord are in a pickle as well. They can’t pay the rent by themselves, so this time they’re finally on our side!

One of Mikkel’s friends who is going to Denmark for studying is helping us a lot with both deposit and accommodation (at her friends’). I guess she is helping us partly because we will be useful when she comes to Denmark, but it is kinda how everything works here. “I scratch your back, you scratch mine”. In the beginning I really hated thinking like this “what do I get in return/what do I have to do in return”, but actually it’s very frank in a way and it doesn’t feel bad to ask people for favors since you know that it’s understood that you will owe them a favor then.

Well! Yesterday, in the middle of panic-pack-attack we decided to go swimming with a couple of friends in Tuanjiehu Park. We live so close and have never been there! And it was very nice. Except that it was a bit expensive and rich-people’ish. There was a lot of Chinese with tattoos! Really nice Chinese style ones, but it’s also the hip, rich, young elite, so it probably doesn’t represent the majority. Also it was very old school with all those men smoking in their speedos.

And today was the last day and I still can’t realize. I had something stuck in my eyes a few times I must admit, but except of the awesome ECD leader I was the only one. Strange. Either it’s not okay to cry in public, they are sure we’re going to meet again or they aren’t that bothered that we’re leaving. I’m going for one of the two first explanations; at least that’s what I want to believe. We got a “We will miss you” at least! Aww.

(*Should probably have explained that the Chinese currency is called RenMinBi (=people’s money) and that the official way of saying 4,5 RMB is 4 yuan and 5 jiao while the non-formal way is 4 kuai and 5 mao.)