Life isn't as stable as it seems to be...But it's worth living it!

Moving around China is a whole new can of worms. First of all there is definitely less travelers and not too many understand my caveman conversation skills. When you have stood in line for an hour and a half to get a train ticket to find yourself still with out a ticket cause the lady behind the counter won't take the time to work with you, it is slightly frustrating. For weeks now I thought, "Wow...These people like to stare and smile at me a lot!." After a while someone says to me,"Why are you wearing a green hat? That means that your wife cheats on you." Maybe ignorant of me but I am not buying a new hat because of it's color. I have had 10 smiles a day now because of my green hat and therefore I think that makes it the perfect color. Getting around is much more difficult, but I don't care cause if I end up in the wrong place, I just make the most of where I am and enjoy myself. Since I have been in China I have found myself by myself a lot more then from when I was in Central and South America. Those of you who know me, know I like to talk A LOT. I think this is good for me to close my mouth and open my ears. It's a liberating feeling wandering around a place so foreign, no one being able to understand anything you say, knowing you are all by yourself and as by yourself as you could possibly be in this world. I really feel alive and I am completely comfortable with who I am. Being in my position would scare some people out of their mind and I have a lot of pride that my family has raised me to be such a strong individual. It is at times like this that you really see yourself in a different light and realize how comfortable you are or aren't in your own shoes. So many people come and go in ones life, and at times in life, we are all alone from time to time. I heard a quote that I really like, " Uncertainty is worst, then the worst certainty." We always fear things in life and once we tackle our fears or step way outside our comfort zones, it's not as bad as we thought. I hear from you all back home and by the sounds of it, America is really worried. Things aren't sounding on a real positive note and everyone sounds so stressed. I hope that all of you who read this take a little inspiration as I did. Igor, a friend from Slovenia was one of my favorite people that I have met along my travels. If met him your couldn't help but like the guy. He has the education of a Scholar and the build of brick house. With English as a second language and the patients of a 2 year old, he brought tears to my eyes everyday I spent with him. In his baritone voice this stocky guy would sit in a restaurant and proclaim comments like, "I do not eat beef meat." Out walking around he would say...."Let go out on the bridge that leads into the sea. You know....What is the word for the bridge that leads into the sea?" (Pier?) Anyway Igor had to go home in mid December a few days early because his Grandpa had passed away, and before he left he was making plans to meet back up with me in Nepal. It had been a few weeks since I had chatted with him and my other Slovenian friend indicated to me that Igor was in the Hospital fighting to stay alive. Come to find out, about a month after Igor got home he got an infection in his lung and in turn caused his lung to collapse. He was in a coma for a few days and lucky to survive the incident. A few days later, while still in the hospital he had a stroke at the age of 29 and found himself in a coma for the second time. Currently Igor is struggling to regain control of the whole left side of his body. Although I have had little conversation with the guy, He has a more positive attitude about his situation then most people in America do about the possibility of maybe losing a little bit of their extravagant lifestyle due to an economic downturn. My heart goes out to you my friend and I know you will pull through this! Thank you for the inspiration, the laughs, and good times. It it doesn't kill you, it will make you stronger. If it does kill you, it will make your Mother stronger...and me too. Life is not always stable, but we should all remember to pick and chose our worries in life. If your worried about driving a car that isn't as cool, or losing a little bit of your extravagant lifestyle that we have all come accustom to, step back and look at Igor's positive attitude towards life! On a further note I have also found out that my Grandfather is in the hospital and I am impatiently waiting for news on what is going on!
Uncertainty is definitely worst then the worst certainty!