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Q: What do you notice about yourself when leaving China?
It's really surprised me the changes that have come over me since leaving China two weeks ago. Here's a short list:
1. There is no stress-related tension in my shoulders. It's magically vanished.
2. I am putting on weight and have actually rediscovered an appetite.
3. I don't have five cases of the runs a day (not a single one, it's blissful).
4. My sense of humour has returned; I actually smile sincerely.
5. The mood swings that made me explode at minor things have stopped completely.
6. My language has changed: instead of constantly using the words 'stupid,' 'retards' and 'idiots' I'm saying 'happy,' 'nice' and 'beautiful'.
Does China have this effect on everyone or do you think it's just not a good place for some people?
My situation has been the opposite!
Since coming to China, I have gone from 73 Kg to 61 Kg (I stand at 1.68 Mt), my reflux has vanished, my rosacea has cleared (unless I eat spicy food), I have discovered a sense of humor and I no longer mumble "f*uck" when the alarm rings in the morning.
Oh, and I have finally learned to understand and use the metric system!
This does not mean I don't have my BCDs or that I wish some things were different, but overall, I am much happier here in China and am about to begin my sixth year here. I guess we all have different experiences here...
I'm always pretty giddy when it's time to leave China. But then after 2-3 weeks in the states...I'm kinda ready to go back. A bit of a Catch-22 I guess....if you want the rockstar status, gotta put up with all the shit that comes with it 
I don't think I ever got the rock star status treatment. I'm going home soon again, as much as I miss my home and pets, I do not want to go home. Last time I went home, same thing, I sat up all night drinking beer on my balcony because I did not want to miss my last moments in China.
Only my nose gets the runs (again)
When I go home I feel like a rock star on vacation.
OP I'm glad you feel better. All I can say is maybe eat different food in China to avoid complications, and relax. I think you can just release all the tension you seem to have.
Anyway I'm not a doctor ...
I hope everyone enjoys the summer wherever they are.
Since I was only in China for 10 months, coming back feels almost like I never left, and I'm just picking up where I left off, except for a few changes. China stressed me out for a few reasons, which is why I won't be going back. I do like living in another country. Perhaps living in a third tier city was too much on my first try. I myself do not really feel different, and I'm a little less stressed. I'll be much less stressed once I fully adjust and finish the paperwork to apply for a job in Korea. Otherwise I'm just plain bored, because I don't have my own car like I did before I left for China, and even if I use another car, it's not the crappy old car I had so I can't drive it to certain places. I do enjoy the food more. I like the minimal oil use, the baking, the cheese. I haven't been home long enough to miss China.
I don't know. I'll tell you when I get back in mid-July.
I immediately began losing weight and my skin cleared up away from pollution; I instantly felt happier and had more energy and am recovering my old optimism and personality. All positives.
Jnusb416:
I started losing weight too. I think it's just the sanitation and normal amount of protein and salt that did it. I love my carbs, and I can control my weight eating them. But Chinese food always gave me trouble.
MissA:
It's weird, all the girls I know stacked the weight on, all the guy expats I know lost a stack of weight when they arrived in China. Weird, and deeply unfair! I think the oil/carb/salt/massive portion combination is deadly.
