new semester.

Just like my every other spring semesters, this semester also began in a cold winter. Came back from my hometown for almost half a month, I still could not forget the appetizing taste of my mom’s cooking, and the chocking smell of my dad’s cigarettes. I was not supposed to be so homesick like this since it was the 3rd time I leave my family for another half a year, but this time, I felt extremely sad when I hugged with my mum and waved my hand saying goodbye to her at the airport. Thinking of the past two years I studied aboard, I came back to China only at the summer breaks except for this time. Winter at Illinois was wet and freezing, but it was dry and windy at my hometown. Because I had not been at my hometown during winter for such a long time, my skin on my hands and feet cracked and peeled off when I was at home. Mum laughed at me when she saw it and she said my hometown was regarding me as a stranger. I knew she was joking but may be she was right. I was really getting further and further away from my hometown and becoming a stranger. Dad’s job changed so I could only see him once a week. Even at the New Year’s Day evening, he had to be on extra work at his office according to the policy. He was as delighted as every other time when he saw me came back. He said he was so gratified when he could tell from my behaviors and the way of talk that I got different and matured up, but I could not be as pleasant as him. The difference I could see from him was the longer and deeper wrinkles on his forehead and besides his eyes. Underneath the rest of his black hairs, the gleaming gray hair roots sharply hurt my eyes. Aging and tiredness was wearing him out. Dad’s only wish was all our family members could be all together at the Chinese New Year eve, but the reality was so cruel that me and them had to celebrate this reunion festival in three different places. I miss you Mum and Dad and I wish you a happy new year.