Today...today, I want to scream until the blue hues of my widened eyes become a savage yellow... until even my echo can shatter stained glass windows...until the world screeches to a halt in the middle of rush-hour traffic...I want to scream until I can't scream anymore....

My trip to China began in haste. I moved here..to Shenzhen--this city by the sea--with nothing. I hadn't a job, admittance to school, or a place to live. The only thing I had was a one-way ticket to Hong Kong, dwindling confidence, and a couple pieces of luggage. What I found was something more than wonderful. Landing acceptance to Shenzhen University, a two bedroom apartment across the street from the university, and a job teaching English at a high school, I felt like I was on top of the world. Unfortunately--as I quickly discovered last week--Newton's Laws of Physics exist even in Chinese sub-realities. I came tumbling from my the high point of my life and down a flight of stairs on a pedestrian bridge near my apartment one evening on my way to meet a friend for dinner. I was injured and wanted to return home. We were in a semi-remote location so it took a long time for her to flag down a taxi. I sat under the bridge waiting in pain. A police officer saw me and came over to see if I was okay. I explained that I injured myself, but a friend would help me home. He didn't understand me, and the next thing I knew I was surrounded by 10 police officers (on foot, bicylce, motorcycle, and car). I knew I had to prove I was okay so I decided to walk and demonstrate. I fell twice. Two minutes later I was in the back of the police car being escorted to a nearby hospital. They X-rayed my ankle and told me not to walk for two months, which would have been okay if they would have given me some crutches. Unfortunately I didn't have the money with me to buy the crutches, and China doesn't accept promises to repay. I took a taxi home, and I hopped the 372 steps to get into my apartment after I was dropped off. No wonder the bums use skateboards.