Where In The World Is Evan?

As all good things must come to an end, very good things must come to an end sooner.

This morning Dong Dong and I said goodbye, as she returned to her home in Xinjiang province, about 40 hours away by train. Being the child of wealthy Han Chinese settlers her parents send her to Chengdu to study at university–Sichuan universities being considered superior to those in Xinjiang. Whilst the time we had together was brief, and we both knew this parting was imminent, it’s still quite sad to see her go. The language and cultural barriers between us meant that it was often hard to accurately convey our feelings, but nonetheless she was a constant delight to spend time with, and never ceased to make me laugh.

We had thought that we’d have a few more days together, however, her uncle insisted that she return the day after her final exam. Considering this she came by my apartment for a brief conjugal visit before heading off to the exam. Assuming I’d never see her again, I was surprisedd to get a call at around midnight last night while I was sitting about at my apartment, playing cards and smoking pot with some friends.

Her uncle apparently owns, or is the manager of, a four star hotel near the train station. As Dong Dong’s train departed early in the morning he’d put her up in a four room suite for the night. As she’d just returned from a banquet dinner and checked into her suite, she wanted me to come over. Jumping in a taxi I drove across town and snuck past reception and into the elevator. After spending the night together I needed to sneak back out before her uncle came to take her to the station. Jumping out of bed I discovered that the puppy Dong Dong had bought a few weeks ago had crapped all over my t-shirt and jeans. With nothing else to wear and her uncle due any minute I washed my clothes as quickly as possible, blow dried them for about 5 minutes, and ran out onto the street in soaking wet clothes. Certainly a parting to remember.