The wait in the airport of Sichuan's provincial capitol of Chengdu was inexplicably long. The time I had to wait before I could check in dragged on for what seemed like hours. I was nervous. I had no reason to go to Beijing except for to see my girlfriend. No work, nothing but serious hang out time and what I hoped would be a solidfication of our relationship. I sat in the airport in Chengdu imagining the possibilities. The biggest thing that stuck out in my thoughts was the fact I knew I'd only have 10 days to spend with her. Less important was the fact it meant I'd only have 10 days to see the city of Beijing. In the air I tried my best to casually sip whiskey and cokes. The short two hour flight finally landed in Beijing. Meandering through hordes of people and escolators, I found myself at the baggage claim and the exit. The exit where I was to be met with the object of my desire, the unseen thought that had basked in the glow of my brains tiny  synapsis but could not be held or talked to, was there. The meeting. The smiles. The caresses. We made the drive to the city to meet a friend who I had rented an apartment from for the time I'd be in Beijing. It was so sublime to be in her presence after the months long seperation. During my the ten days we'd spend all of our time together. We saw the sights of Beijing: The Summer Palace, The Zoo, hung out on Wanfujing, Tiananmen. It was a truly fantastic ten days, and a period of time I still look back upon and smile at. The solidification manifested, and it was mutual. I was happy. After my time in Mianyang...I was happy. The dreaded departure came way to soon. Promises, oaths even that I would return were made countless times. In the ten days I was in Beijing, a transformation occured. My outlook on my China experience brightened into favorable expectations. It became personal. Instead of waiting and hoping for revelations of Chinese culture, I was given a gem amidst the vague, teeming masses that China seems to represent. However, my ten days were up, and the beginning of an arduous yet satisfying long distance relationshop began. I was given orders to be in Shanghai. I left, with an incredibly heavy heart and resentment. The summer was approaching and I'd be cast into storm of three week mini-English camps throughout Zhejiang provice.