It is profoundly strange to be in a foreign country when there's a big news story at home. Yesterday morning, as I flitted around the Internet, I saw the first inklings that Osama bin Laden had been killed by US forces, along with word that the President would be making a televised speech. I turned on CNN World just in time to hear most of that powerful speech, and as it did for many of you, I'm guessing, it took me right back to September 11, 2001 and to the fear and uncertainty I felt watching that news coverage. The news made me feel especially alone here yesterday, and because it was a holiday, many Americans I'd see on a school day were away. I wasn't in touch with any of my Chinese friends, either. I watched the coverage on and off all day, flipping to Chinese stations to see if they were covering it. They were, but not in the non-stop way that BBC World and CNN were. Without speaking the language, it was impossible to gauge the Chinese reaction. I'll ask my students about that tomorrow. I went to the western restaurant near me for dinner, thinking I'd see some Americans, but the ones I saw were so embroiled in conversations that had nothing to do with bin Laden's death that I didn't want to interrupt. Besides, all of that news viewing had made me a little numb in the ways news can do that, to me, at least. I Skyped with a friend from home later, and that satisfied my need to connect with an American and talk about the events of the day. Thanks, Jen!
Today, I got an email from the US Department of State, telling me that there was a worldwide travel alert in effect and that I should take care in traveling. I'd registered my trip with them before I left for exactly this reason--to be kept up to date on issues that could make travel problematic--but it's still a little off-putting to get an email from them in your inbox. Don't get me wrong. I'm not afraid something will happen to me. I'll be as cautious a traveler as I would have been without the warning. It's just kind of...well...off-putting. As far as my future travels go in the weeks to come, I have to say a cautious and respectful "whatever" to the travel alert (can "whatever" ever be respectful? I hope you get the idea.). I'll do all the things the State Department advises, I'll be aware of my surroundings and stay away from demonstrations if i see any, but I'll continue to travel. There's way to much of China left for me to see!
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