I was struck by a tornado of feelings as soon as I got off the plane in Beijing. I felt proud of myself when I left China four years ago, having managed to effectively negotiate the challenging language, culture, and way of life there. But, as I returned, I couldn't help but feel a mix of excitement and trepidation.

Would China still be the same country I once knew? Would I still be able to easily handle its complexity? 1. China's rapidly expanding infrastructure, shifting social mores, and technological advancements have undoubtedly created a great deal of unrest during the past four years. The country I once knew was vastly different from the one I was about to experience.

As I made my way through customs, I was struck by the sheer efficiency of the process. Mountains of paperwork and lengthy wait periods were no longer an iss