Across Continents

Chapter 5 - Hello, Beijing

PARKER

That was one hell of a flight.

It's now 8:30pm in Beijing and everybody is bustling but I feel so tired. I can't wait to go home and sleep.

My father's job required us to move a lot. Last week, he got a job offer in Beijing thus why we are all here. My father, mother and siblings moved a week ago but I still had final school requirements from homeschool that I had to get done. I've never experienced a real student life and this is my chance. My father's initial contract lasts for about 5 years, giving me the chance to actually enroll in school.

As I grab my luggage, I make my way to immigration but a girl who looks like a local decides to block me.

"Hey, you!" She screams at me. I'm taken aback. Not only did she approach me out of the blue but she can also speak English. "You took my luggage!" She continues.

"Miss, I'm sorry but you are mistaken. This is my luggage." I say, putting emphasis on the words: my luggage, but she is persistent.

"No, that's mine" she continues to insist. Instead of trying to fight her, I try to sneak past her, but my efforts were to no avail.

"Why won't you just give me back my bag?! All my things are in there!" She starts ro get mad.

"Miss, why would you think this is yours?" I say, trying to be calm.

"Because that is the bag I've brought here with me." She explains sarcastically.

"Then this is ALSO the bag I've brought with me to this flight." I say, fighting her fire with even more fire.

"Fine, she says. I'll prove it to you. Let's go back to the baggage claim and see who's right and who's wrong." She seems confident but so am I which is why I say

"Okay then."

Making our way back, there are no longer people surrounding the baggage claims. It seems like the airline already finished unloading all the bags and all the unclaimed baggages were left at the side.

With what I saw, my jaw dropped. It was my bag. I knew because of the distinct name tag I put there just in case.

The girl I was with could clearly see in my expression that the similar bag from the unclaimed baggage is mine and she is right.

Embarassed, I get my backpack and claim my baggage, run towards immigration, and exit the airport immediately.

THAT. WAS. EMBARRASSING.

ANDY

Stupid boy...

I waited for my luggage until all the baggages were finished unloading but I could only find a similar bag, but then I saw that boy, dragging around my suitcase and I knew that I had to chase after him.

He was so stubborn. Didn't even say sorry for taking my bag, what an ass.

He was definitely a piece of work but I sure did taught him a lesson

The thought now makes me laugh.

As I exit the airport, I see Aunt Lucille and as she sees me, she immediately waves at me.

"Andy, over here!" She shouts and even made a welcome poster. How embarrassing.

We make our way to her car and load my bags. The drive to her house was a noisy one at that. She tried to spark up numerous aunt-like conversations, asking about college, my plans, my boyfriend, etc. but I'm not in the mood to chat with her, especially after that painful flight.

As soon as we enter her home, my cousins Anya and Eliza greet me. They were both working already.

"Andy! How are you? Welcome to Beijing!" Anya perks.

"Thanks Anya! I'm great. It's been so long." I reply, to greet them both.

"We prepared you a meal to welcome you." Eliza cuts in.

"Thank you but you really didn't have to." I say in gratitude.

Auntie Lucille then told them both. "I'll show Andy something and we'll be with you in a bit." She tells them both in Chinese.

We then make our way to a shrine filled with our ancestors. Auntie Lucille then instructs me how to pay my respect by bowing to the ancestors and lighting incense sticks.

Apparently, I'll have to do this everyday as I enter the house. Hey, the more you learn everyday.

We then make our way to the dining room where a feast of roast duck was waiting to be eaten.

"Wow, whose birthday is it?" I say.

"Nobody's, but this is how Chinese people express their welcomes — in terms of food." Anya explains.

"And this is how we welcome you, Andy. " continues Eliza.

"Wow, thank you guys." I say and we all sit on their dining room floor.

"Do you guys have any plates, spoons and forks?" I ask.

"Um, no. We don't really use those here." Auntie Lucille replies. "Andy, are you not comfortable with chopsticks?" She asks.

"No, I'm good. It's alright." I say but in fact, I've never used a chopstick before. Whenever we ate in a chinese restaurant, I always made sure to request a pair of utensils. Grandfather and grandmother, on the other hand, always uses chopsticks. Without options, I try to replicate them but I am unsuccessful, trying to hide my failure from my aunt and cousins.

Feeling full after a few mouthfuls, I try to escape the dining room early but things here are different. Food cannot go to waste so I had to force myself to stomach all the food on my plate. Afterwards, it occurs to me that Nanny Lorry is no longer here. I have to do my own dishes.

After doing my dishes, I am extremely tired. Auntie Lucille shows me to my room bit it was empty. Where is the bed?

"Auntie Lucille, where is the bed?" I ask.

"Andy, it's right over there." She says, pointing to a mattress.

You have got to be kidding me. There is not even a bed here. Why couldn't I stay in a hotel like we always do when we take a vacation here? How am I supposed to sleep in that cold, hard thing?

After Aunt Lucille shows me everything, she leaves, leaving me alone to this empty space. I prepare the mattress, making sure it's as thick as it can be. I lie down and I can still feel like hardness of the floor, pressing against my back.

If only I knew when my flight back was, I'd already be counting down the days but there is no definite day when I can come back home.

We just have to endure this for a while, okay, Andy? Who knows, if I behave, mother might just bring me back home. It's a long shot, I know.

The thoughts play in my head but it's been too long and tiring of a day which is why I fall asleep.