After work, a group of us went to a restaurant as a good bye celebration for one of the teachers. It’s a big place with multiple dining halls and rooms. It’s packed and everyone is living their own trance. There is a continuous clinking of kitchenware throughout the different rooms, like waterfalls of silver and glass.
We find our seats and among the 12 of us there is a constant sprouting of gestures in-sync along the streteched table. Sitting at one of the ends, I’m taking in the atmosphere and turn to the friend next to me and ask, “do you ever open your eyes and find yourself at a restaurant in China, look around and recognize all the faces but you don’t know how you got here…” The two friends near me giggled and said, “I know what you mean.”
In that moment I was complete.
Next day I’m at Zoo Coffee working on my computer. I turn to my left and see a little Chinese girl hugging a stuffed panda like she just made a new best friend, its’ head leaning over her shoulder. I smile and tears gather my eyes.
Take that Freud.