A Home is Where the Heart Is

This older couple is one of many I found as I walked throughout Changzhou who seemed to be comfortable together.  The scene reaffirmed within me that it takes more than money to bring happiness into one’s life.  At home in Canada, I find too many people are caught up in upgrading their homes or the contents of their homes rather than appreciating that which they have that money can’t buy.  This is one concept that seems to cross cultural barriers, a universal concept.  As a stranger in a strange land, a laowai in China, it gives me a sense of comfort to see that some things are universal, especially relationships.  As the old expression goes: “Home is where the heart is.”

Somehow, all of us must navigate through transitions, through change, with some dignity.  It is better to keep busy and productive while waiting for change to make a place for us.  This woman is finding a way to rescue value from the process of change.  In a way, writing this blog (博客 – bókè) is my way of keeping busy while waiting for the change of returning to Changzhou, my way to get value from the process of waiting with dignity.  Soon, we will be leaving one home in Canada and moving into another home in Changzhou.  The constant is relationship.  We are making the move together and that is what makes the apartment waiting for us, a home.