Things have changed since then. Chinese customs have become my own. They are so deeply ingrained in my daily routine that I do not think about them.

My problem now is when I go back to America to visit family. And it's not just the little things. The way I see society, government, and personal relationships have all changed.

My values and priorities have changed. To put it a better way, my adult values and priorities were formed while I was in China. The culture shock happens when I go back to America.

It has been an interesting experience to be a permanent Caucasian fixture in a conservative Chinese province like Shandong.

Walking around the streets, I sometimes forget that I look so different. I forget that I stick out like a sore thumb. I consider this my home and nothing seems foreign to me.

Then I catch people staring at me, or asking me if I can speak Chinese or use chopsticks. I am reminded that to them, I am always an outsider.