The end of an adventure

On the second day with the new family I figured out I should go, I wasn't doing anything in China. Everything I could enjoy giving the situation I already did so to stop my parents concerns I talked with Yuan and we bought the ticket to come back. She was amazing, gave me the money of the ticket and still some more for me to eat in the airport and for the bus there.
One day before my flight the government announced they would close the border with Zhuhai. Believe the irony!! I'm glad we bought the ticket before as the prices rised up to the stars... So, I came to the airport (where I'm now waiting for my flight) one day before. I didn't get any sleep this night and as I couldn't stay any longer or I would go insane.. I went to Hong Kong city against all my parents and friends advices. Even me, I was a bit scared but the truth is that in Hong Kong it's not bad, I was careful and all... That's it. I'm glad I went. Next 14 days will be passed at home once again as I have to do a period of quarentene just for precaution.
Anyway, I absolutely loved Hong Kong and it's such a shame I just had one day. There's so much more to see.. maybe next time when I come back to China. Who knows...
Hong Kong is a mix of two very different cultures- Chinese and English. You can perfectly see the English influence. They drive on the same side, you see the London buses on the streets, international people, the hurry to get somewhere... And chinese, the temples, gardens, language, cuisine and people's attitude. It's such a beautiful mixed. I was just delighted, couldn't stop taking photos at every street. It was a mixed between skyscrapers and decadent houses with chinese characters or spring lanterns that bring beauty to everything.
I found it particularly funny the quantity of cards that forbids things like "No spiting"- because yes, they spit a loooot!; "No smoking" in OPEN ENVIRONMENTS which I gotta love, "No sitting"... Ok, so next, no breathing ahah.
I stopped in a garden where a group of old men was playing a board game like chess, couldn't figure out what was it but I was there observing for a few minutes. I couldn't help but finding that beautiful. I'm imagining that like their ritual. 2 men play and the others observe without saying a word.
Also, around the city I kept on finding people working out- running or doing Tai Chi- with a peaceful aura like they don't care whatever is happening around them. I found this people in the most randoom places like a terrace, botanical garden, arbor, plaza....
So yes, really liked Hong Kong but of course, me being me... I was lost a bunch of times and it's ok, I ended up seeing other things but maybe I missed out some others. And because I walked soooo much because I was supposed to and because I got lost.. I couldn't visit more. I had to stop, each part of my body was sowred. Coming back to the airport I kept looking for some special food to bring to my family. Here they eat a lot of dry food. It's kind of smart really, they can storage it for longer... So I wanted to buy for them to try- some dry meat, dry fruit and a few chocolates Yuan gave me. I think they're gonna like :)
And that's it for this adventure. I already have agreed on a earlier date with my Australian family (20s of march) so I'm excited and I have good feelings about it!!

Something to bring me hope

Turns out changing families changes a lot the situation. For good and bad. Yuan (mum) and Hester (daughter) have a really good level of English. I guess they really just needed me to be forced to practice and to play with Hester. I'm realising now that when us, western people, say "Asian level" it's REAAAAALLY NOT A JOKE. Kids in school are taught to compete between each other, study hard to be the best and still practice whatever activities they might have after school. Hester has piano and swimming. Her coaches say she must practice 2h a day if she wants to be good. For me it's too much, kids need time to be kids and not machines. But let's face it, Hester is a really good student, great level of English, good pianist and swimmer (a loooot of medals) and still she maintains her young energy. She's super active and she plays a lot. The mother is easy going and very nice with me. We drank Belgium beer yesterday ahah. I'm guessing I'm in a good place. But she scared me. Hers and Wendy's reality are different. Yuan wants me to stay with them but she enfatizes that my health and security comes first. She would leave the country if not for her parents and she advises me to do the same as the virus can only spread. "The tickets are on me", she even said without knowing me so well. Chinese are really trusty (well, rich chinese at least ahah).
I want to give it a bit more time tho, I hope it's not a mistake. I spent a lot of money and energy to come, so I would like to learn and see a bit more. I think it's possible even if the virus is taking control. I'll be carefull and all will be ok.
Everybody is so concerned asking me everyday how am I, why am I here. I doing copy paste at this point. My parents say I should go now before they stop all the airlines and close borders. As the situation in Zhuhai is not so urgent I guess I can wait a bit more.
Even Simone asked me how I am, of course this put a smile on my face. We talked for a while, I told him I might go earlier to Australia and he was happy. He said it would be strange to encounter me in Australia but maybe we could do the same as in France. Well, this is my wish and the only thing I can think about now. Maybe my luck is about to change. Something to bring me hope.