Where In The World Is Evan?

The last three months for me have been an experience that I will not easily forget. I have gone from the painful lows of contracting endemic typhus in Cyprus to the euphoric highs of partying in Amsterdam. I have experienced amazing extremes of temperature, attempted to communicate in 6 languages that I cannot speak, and countless other noteworthy challenges.

Despite the hardships that I have endured during this time, and indeed in part because of the challenges successfully met, when I reflect upon the last 99 days it is clear to me that I have been happier in this time than in longer than I care to remember. As such my 9:45 am flight from Beijing to Melbourne departed this morning without me on it. The last two weeks that I have spent here in China have been so exciting and fun that I have decided to defer my studies and live here in China indefinitely. This is a country of such beauty with a people who, despite the financial poverty of their lives, have an richness and enthusiasm for life that is truly infectious. No doubt I will miss you all during this time much more than I already do, however, this is a choice that I feel compelled to make as too much of my life back home seems hollow by comparison.

My love and best wishes go out to you all, and with hope that we will meet again soon.

Check out the Beijing, Shanghai, Xi’an, and Chengdu photo galleries.