Well, my time in Beijing has come to a close, as I post this from the business class lounge at the airport. For the first time in my life I'm not flying economy. After figuring out that everyone else on this business trip flew business class (while I scrunched my 6'1" frame into a 5'7" seat with a bum knee), I decided that I deserved a nicer ride home. Yet another new thing in a trip full of new things.
As usual, I have to reflect on the trip, not only from a work perspective, but also from a personal one. The work side is actually easy...I know how to do work and solve those problems. The project is complicated both technically and especially politically (on both sides of the Pacific), but that's part of what I do...navigate the waters. The bigger impact is on the perspective that Beijing has given me. Funny how things that were clear a few weeks ago now are not, and things that seemed to be extraordinarily terrifying now are less so. And what is more surprising is seeing different possibilities in front of me.
There are concrete things. Beijing Language and Culture University essentially made me an offer on the spot for a visiting faculty position where I'd teach digital media (probably help them create their program) and they would also give me their intensive Mandarin program. A number of other people here are very interested in what I/we do, and would like to investigate collaborating. I'm not sure how any of this will play out, but it certainly expands my horizons.
On a more personal note the changes might actually be more profound. I'm not sure yet and I have to see how everything percolates and progresses. If anything, I hopefully have learned to trust the process, so I shall try. Discerning what is driven by what can be a challenge, but that's another thing that I'm doing by a matter of course these days. I need to do a lot of talking and visiting, and try and feel my way through this. Logic and reason has not served me well on the emotional front to date, and I've been edging towards other ways. First you have to see that they are there, then you have to believe it. Or maybe the other way around...as a John Braner song says, "you've got to believe it so you can see it."
So where will this go? I guess I'm going to find out. For now I chill in the lounge and then climb on the plane and fly back to my life. Well, that isn't exactly right. My life is right here where I am. Wherever I am. Whoever I am. I guess I'm finding my way on all those fronts. I have to thank those that have walked with me (before I even knew what that meant), and those that continue to walk with me despite the twists and turns. S especially. Wo ai ni. Xie Xie.
