I'm often asked, by both Chinese people and by other laowai, why I have stayed in China so long. I rarely give the correct answer. I claim that I am waiting for the statute of limitations to run out or some other joke answer, but now I can reveal the truth (
).
I know its illogical, but I'm terrified of flying. And it's a long walk home.
I fly when I absolutely have to, but that is all. So today's news that a Beijing - London flight crash landed at Heathrow has probably sentenced me to another decade or three in the middle kingdom. This picture had me twitching and almost in tears; I was on one of these only a couple of months ago.

(BTW, I reckon the pilot should be sanctified immediately. He glided the plane in and no one was seriously injured, never mind killed. That is one big glider!)
"I'm often asked, by both Chinese people and by other laowai, why I have
stayed in China so long. I rarely give the correct answer."
Fair question Canrun. However, I'm not sure I can answer. Many complicated
reasons. And I don't feel it's as bad as you seem to think.
I must admit I am VERY relieved at the prospect of many more years of your
Blog. I have gone from wondering at how ANYONE in their right mind could
get addicted to one to being completely enthralled by yours.
Might I present you at some future time with a copy of 'The World's
Greatest Air Disasters' should you start dreaming of the green green grass
of home? : )