... I was beyond myself. Being with 3 of 4 deareset friends in the world, how can anyone be just themselves.

I love everyone just as who they are. But most people are not who they are. They are too smart, too confident, too defensive, too caring, too just, too humble, too cool, too selfless, too competent, too well-read, too well-traveled, too well-groomed, too educated, too civilized, too polished or unpolished, too independent, too innocent, too pure, too serious, too funny, too deep, too free, too knowledgeable, too ahead, too content, too happy, too loving, too good, ... to be who they are. Most people are not who they are almost all the time....

Here is the theme of my travel stories to China--exploring the real people, and finding the few, or the many, of who they still are, in this ancient land.