I never wanted to move to China — it was never even on my list of places to visit. When my husband first brought it up, a million different things went through my head:
- Are there Muslims in China?
- Am I going to be able to find a job?
- What if we hate it?
Despite the prospect of adventure and a fresh start, I couldn’t wrap my head around the positives. Instead, I was stuck on the “what ifs”. Although living in Saudi Arabia wasn’t my dream scenario, life in the Saudi Aramco Residential Camp was tolerable. Instead of spending my time worrying about the possibility of moving to China, I decided to simply let things unfold.
Enter Christmas vacation.
Months earlier, we had booked tickets to the U.S. to visit my family for the holidays and I refused to change plans.
“What if the China office wants me to join them in the beginning of the year?”
“They will wait for you. I told my mother we’d be there for Christmas.”
“What about your job?”
“I have vacation days.”
I couldn’t let it go. I was determined to make it home in December. Christmas time came and went. After a few weeks with my family, M boarded a plane back to Saudi while I stayed behind. I felt rooted in position. Days turned to weeks. Weeks turned to a month. I felt inexplicable untethered. Getting on a plane back to Saudi seemed impossible. I just couldn’t do it.
After weeks of waiting for confirmation, my husband sent me a message.
“Your plane leaves February 21st. We’re going to China!”
In a moment’s time, my world was turned upside down. I wouldn’t be returning to my job or the Kingdom. The next plane I took wouldn’t be to the Dhahran, but to Shanghai — a total journey of sixteen hours. Our apartment, cars, jobs, and friends would all be left behind. Thankfully, while I remained in the U.S and panicked, er I mean packed — my husband was busy shipping our belongings and cat to China.
When I landed in Shanghai a few weeks later, I was reminded of my first time landing in Riyadh. Twenty-four years old, a travel virgin, and alone — I’d made the trek to Saudi for a promise of a better future. Clueless to the breadth of life experience that lay before me, I glided through the airport doors into the desert night without a shred of hesitation. Mountains lie in between those days and I.
When I handed my passport over to the man behind the counter, my hands shook with anticipation. All the unknown beyond.
“Are you here for work?”
“I’m just … here.”
The stone-faced immigration officer handed my passport back. He waited until I stuffed my documents into my purse and stepped into the crowd before muttering…
“Welcome to China”.
The cacophony swelled around me. I had joined a sea of people and had to swim to the other side. Shuffling along, I located the baggage claim area. M had promised to meet me there, his flight arriving from Dubai an hour before. It was the top of his head that I spotted before anything else, rising above the rest of the crowd. Walking against the current of bodies, I inched closer. It wasn’t until he fully came into view that I exhaled.
When the exit doors of the airport opened, I hesitated. This was real — gray sky and fat raindrops, honking taxis, and a whiff of car fumes. I decided right then and there to let hope and possibility again persuade me. The unknown no longer belonged to only me. It belonged to us. And we were home.
♥
Looking forward to reading about your adventures in China!
This must be a real adventure for you all! Can’t wait to see what comes next! I heard that China is a beautiful place. My uncles takes a vacation to China frequently and he loves it there!
Wow, that’s one big adventure! I personally take a long time to adjust to any new surroundings, moving away from what I’m used to builds up my anxiety and honestly scares me a bit! only after a couple of weeks and familiarising to the new place I get to feel myself again. I can’t imagine how you first felt it must’ve been uneasy.
I hope you embrace the changes and get to live your dreams, make new friends and discover the beauty of China!
China is definitely on my list of places to go. Safe journey!
Beautifully written. I can completely understand why you were so anxious to go. Leaving everything you know behind to start again in a new country is frightening and you’ve done it twice! Best of luck with your new adventures.
I know moving from one country to another is a really difficult decision and there are so many things that come to our mind. I’ve experienced moving not just different countries but even cities and I’m quite used to it now, even through I hope I won’t have to move to another country now. Hope you’re having a great time in China.
I loved the way you have written. The scene comes infront of me. I know you will write your China adventures waiting to read them in shaa Allah
I hung onto every word, very interesting.
I pray your stay in China proves to be fruitful.
MASHALLAH very nice article… 😇 I’d love to read more about your experience in China….
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MashaAllah great article. Our lives have followed similar paths. I worked in Riyadh as a teacher and am headed to Shanghai in the fall. Can’t wait to read your posts about the place.
wow! We will have to get in touch when you arrive! Shanghai is a great city — I’m sure you will love it!
Black on black in the Charger I’m creepin’ Rub me the right way, you might get a genie B.o.B, black Houdini
i am impressed