The Ascent

My next goal was Panzhihua, in Sichuan province. I hitched a ride (I can't remember where) with a group who invited me to a party. I was 21 and they were like late 20s. I graciously accepted their invitation, on the condition that they would take me back to the highway a few hours before sunset.

After a fun few hours in the car, we arrive at the party destination- a beautiful plantation of rice paddies and fruit trees. I see escalades and Porsches parked along the long, dirt driveway.

Rural China is often extremely poor, even without running water. This is what made me come back from China less confident in their ability to take over America as #1.

But this place was in the middle of nowhere and very well kept, with a pool and some nice cabins.

We drink a lot at this girl's birthday party. I was used to being the center of attention by now and was quite fluent in Chinese at this time. We drank a lot of baijiu ('white alcohol"), which you must spill on the ground a little before you yell "clean cup!" and then drink.

We go out picking lychees and mangos in the mountains. I pack a bunch in my backpack for later.

Then the group graciously brings me back to the highway so I can hitch a ride to my destination.

I get picked up by an old farmer and his son. I hop in the truck a little drunk. The old farmer starts talking to me about George Washington, so I fumble a quarter out of my pocket and give it to him. He takes me straight to the center of Panzhihua.

By this time, I'm…