audiological nostalgia kick
I listened to David Moser and Jeremiah Jenne looking back over the changes they've seen in Beijing over the decades they've lived there, and it was quite the nostalgia kick.
Jeremiah mentions a large group of expats who departed about the time of the smog crisis in the 2010s. That's me. That's what I did. Though in my case, it was more about The Child's education than the state of the environment.
Reactions after having returned after some time away - oh, yes. I think starkest in my memory is how quiet Beijing's streets have become with all the electric vehicles on the roads these days. And yes, the worst smog days on my last trip to Beijing were not even remotely close to average for the early 2010s. The environment is so much better.
And yes, I did go through a phase of mourning the Beijing that was when I first settled there, and regretting the Beijing that had become in its place. And there were some really good things about Beijing when I first moved there that I wish could've stayed. But like all living cities, Beijing is a dynamic and constantly evolving place.
I'm definitely a bit older now - that happens to everybody who hasn't died yet. I'd like to think I'm a bit wiser, but truth be told, I'm probably just a lot tireder. Last time I was in Beijing I saw some changes I didn't like, and I saw a lot of things that are vastly better than when I first moved there, and next time I'm there there will be a different set of changes to adjust to, and that's all ok. It's not just ok, it all adds to the adventure.