I have written two articles this year about why I love living in China, and the other day I received a message that expresses better than I can, why it is that I do love living here.

In my Previous articles I have written:

• Staying Sane in China. Jun 10, 2007
  http://www.magic-city-news.com/R_P_BenDedek_33/Staying_Sane_in_China8139.shtml
• Recently a person in my family wrote and asked why was I continuing to live in China. It was suggested that my life in China is nothing more than a form of escapism from my previous life in Australia. The observation would have had merit, had my intention to come to China been specifically related to my previous life at home. It was not too long after my arrival in China however, that I discovered that I felt comfortable in this culture.
• Finding Myself in China: Shan Tang Sheng Ji Aug 26, 2007
• One of the things he said was that no matter what your philosophy in life (religious or secular), every human being has a need to have a purpose. He pointed out that many people who strive and struggle to 'arrive' at their destination, often do so, only to find that they are not happy. They failed to understand that happiness lies within a person, and comes from their daily living experiences.
• I love my life so much, that returning once a year just to spend an hour or two in polite conversation with whomever can get free from their busy schedules, is simply not what I want to do.

I guess it is hard to get inside a person's mind and emotions, but as you read the following message to me, imagine how you would have felt receiving it.  This is what keeps me in China. 

My dear teacher

Are you all right? It's been a long time I don't write to you. I'm so sorry, but I always go to your website.

I've seen a lot of pictures of you. I found that you have a  very good life at SuZhou and you have gone to a lot of places. Sometimes when I see your new photos, I will send them to my other classmates. Some of the photos are really so interesting.

I found that most of our classmates miss you so much. We are already grade 3 students now. We have a lot of new classes,it's very tiring for us. We also have a lot of new teachers.

Sometimes I found some student always tell the new teacher something about you. I know they also miss you very much.

One time in one of our English classes, we have a discussion in our class, The topic is : If you have a chance to speak to one people, who do you want to speak to? I'm so surprised that so many students said that they want to speak to you because you have taught them so many things.

I know we are all very sad at that class because we all miss you very much at that time.

Now I am not very happy because I have lost the TEM4 examination. So many people lost this examination and we have only 1 chance to pass it. If we failed again we can't get the degree at last. So sometimes I feel very depressed, but I know I will pass it.

I have my own band in our school now, we always have a lot of perfomances in our school and now I am very famous in our school, just like a super star. I will spend a lot of time to practice because we have a big concert at the end of this month. But it's really a pity you can't see it.
 
I wish you know I always miss you very much. I hope you can always be very healthy.

If you can have a chance to go back to Wuhan, please remember to find us.

Whenever I get a little overloaded or frustrated with my life or work in China, I usually just sit down and remember all the wonderful things I enjoy here, that I did not have in Australia. 

It is nice to be loved and appreciated!

It just takes my students a little time to realise how dedicated to them I actually am. heheh!

R.P.BenDedek

Email: rpbendedek@hotmail.com