To Manchester, on the day I leave

17th Dec 2016, I'm officially leaving Manchester, where I spent an entire year (maybe one of my most memorable years so far) and got a master's degree. It's a very foggy day, which makes me think, according to maybe all the literatures about the UK, that I've reached the very essence of this country.

Suddenly I realise I love here despite the  fact that it is far less developed than most Chinese has imagined. All people (as strangers) that I can think of now have been so nice and kind to me. They came to me and offered me help when I was struggling yet too shy to ask for a favour; they smiled at me, called me 'my love', wished me a nice day and a bright future... all these things, I'm so afraid that one day, when I get back to China, I will forget about.

It's quite ironic that I didn't really regard Manchester as my home city when I actually lived here, yet start to feel this way when I have to leave for good. When I left the UK this summer, I couldn't wait for the flight to land since I was dying for going back to China. At that time, I wasn't very sure whether I will be back for my graduation ceremony. I missed my friends and my life here in Manchester but not the city itself. This time, I come back feeling myself a tourist and leave with deep sorrow. I think one of the reasons is that it's Christmas time - festivals enlarge the sadness of leaving; and the other is, I know it for sure that I won't be back in very near future.

Speaking of Christmas, I almost missed out the Christmas in Manchester last year. I was so busy with study and the first time traveling abroad since I had came to the UK. This time I've been to as many places, which I didn't manage to go to during studying, as I could. Looking at all the Christmas decorations throughout the city and wandering through the crowds, I feel lonely.

This sense of lonelyness, is sometimes in a bad way - in a way that I don't belong here; however, sometimes it feels damn good. I can go wherever I want, and stay as long as I wish. I came across a rehearsal of Christmas carol in Manchester cathedral. It was so beautiful that makes me want to cry. I tried the metro shuttle for the first time on which I saw a fire truck driving a Santa Clause greeting the city merry Christmas. I almost missed out a small Christmas venue which turned to be the hilight of my trip in Manchester this time. I had a warm chat with another Santa, had a selfie with him taken by Mrs Clauses ( said herself). Pretty ladies dressed as elves giving out fresh roses and warm chestnuts which I'm enjoying right now. The carol on the site and the snowy machine make it even more Christmas. It was pure magic!

Now I'm on a train slowly drifting away from Manchester, a city I want to say many thanks to. Thank you for all the delicious  cuisines that I wish I had a much bigger stomach to try them all once again before I leave you. Thank you for introducing so many nice people to me and making some of them my friends. Thank you for being the first oversea city I've ever been. Thank you for this amazing one year which makes me a better person. Thank you for sending a nice Pakistani Uber driver, on the day I leave, saying 'I wish you all the best and a wonderful life no matter where you're'. I regard it a kind wish from you as well.

Please bring me back in the future. When I start to forget the bright side of you, please remind me that there was one morning, when I was on a train leaving  you, I missed you and had so much to say to you.