—-To my friend Clayton who left Beijing for San Francisco in summer 2009, and to those who live on and off in Beijing…..
Fall in here three years ago destined you were going to be contaminated for ever;
The puppy in Zaoying Beili tried to tell you the grass you liked to lie on was his favorite spot to pee;
The icy coldness and suffocating heat in Guowang Hutong was part of your testimony;
And Min’an Xiaoqu’s neighborhood committee has always kept an eye on you for the Party;
Yet Ditan heard you cheering while you’re watching for the opening of the Olympic Games;
Ritan felt your appreciation while you’re doing the integral life practice;
Gulou and Zhonglou laughed with you at the Beijing Improv nights;
Liangmahe smiles when you’re thinking about which hot chick you want to Tango with;
Though you are leaving Beijing physically;
She will visit you in your dreams and thoughts, meditation and conversation, unstoppable;
She will be reminded of when you stand in the high rises of San Francisco and be amazed of how far you can see;
She will be reminded of when you sit in the buses in the West and not feeling crowded;
Despite the spitting here, despite the unethical driving, the street cursing and fighting, the air and water pollution, despite the food poisoning;
Beijing is getting greener because of the trees you planted;
Blue sky and pink sunset hope you would continue staying in this dramatic city with more love and frustration;
It wants to tell you:
It knows your life has been changed here, and you have changed lives;
The resilience, tolerance, hardworking and warm-heartedness of us Chinese’s people have stayed in your heart and blood, and it will always be there;
Not saying thank you doesn’t mean we are not grateful;
Not responding to your Nihao doesn’t mean, we are impolite;
We Chinese tends to keep things unsaid;
However, I want to let you know:
We, slender, sweet, sometimes sour and silly Chinese’s women are going to miss you;
Like we know you are going to miss us;
But anyway,
Bon Voyage and See you in North America!
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