The US embassy

Our visit to the US embassy marks the completion of our journey in China.
We've filled out all the necessary forms and paid all the required fees. We've had things notarized, certified, and translated. Shawna has her Chinese passport. And, today.. she received her US visa.
I'm ready to go home. I miss Dan, Seth, and Sara. I miss 'normal' food and 'normal' bathrooms. I miss instantly knowing what day it is... I find myself asking that question many times per day. I am looking forward to brushing my teeth with water from the tap, rather than having to boil it first. I'm tired of having to divide the cost of everything by 6.7 in order to adjust for the yuan. I can't do that math quickly in my head. And, I am really looking forward to sleeping in my own bed. I could go on..but I won't.
You see... I could spend twenty more minutes listing all the things that I miss and all the reasons that I want to leave. And, I really am ready to leave ... I am just saddened by our upcoming departure. Not for me, but for Shawna. Regardless of the insane public urination issues or the fact that the eat pig intestine, China is her home and her hertiage. Its all she's ever known, yet she'll never remember it. She'll leave here on a Chinese passport as a chinese citizen with a US visa. Once the plane lands on US soil, she becomes a US citizen! But... she will simultaneously relinquish her Chinese citizenship. Yes- I can think of a thousand reasons why I want to go home and why our home is a better place and a better way of life. I can think of a thousand reasons... I just hope that Shawna can too.
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry