Schell of a Man

He is known by many a name here, Bryan, Howie, Hau Wai Lua, David Beckham, and not the least of all, my brother. He is Bryan “Howie” Hauwiller. I can’t say what a difference having him here has made. He has been my partner in this crazy, psychedelic adventure. Now, in less than a few days he will be heading back to the states, back to be with a girl he, apparently, likes more than me. It's cool, to be sure, but I will still miss him.

Top Five Howie moments:
1. Number one definitely has to be when I was sitting in a van on the way to Hangzhou in the first week after spending four days in my room with almost no human contact. All of a sudden there is a tall Lao Wai who I recognize. Man, no box of macaroni and cheese can compare to that (still, much love to those who have sent me Mac’ an Cheese).

2. Sitting on the balcony of his old apartment in Minneapolis while talking about coming to China. He said, “You think you know me, but don't worry, we will be friends in China. And don't worry, you won't see me that much.’ I think about that now after seeing him every day for five months. What am I going to do when I don't have my American brother to complain to after a bad class? What a scary thought.

3. After seeing his first apartment, which was (to be nice) less luxurious than the one I was living in, I told him he didn't really want to come up to see my place. He really didn't. I thought he was going to cry. It all worked out, though. We are now further along (materially) than either of us could be alone, but, man, was that an awkward moment when he walked in…

4. Tanquery gin and tonics, the only bottle that has ever reached Shaoxing. We drank a cocktail while looking out at the lit-up bridge across the canal near our house. And for the first time since I got here, I had that feeling that every thing is really going to be okay.

5. The hair wash. Wow. Top of the roller coaster for sure. Never has a Lao Wai, a gringo, been so happy just to get a little attention of the cosmetic kind. And never has a couple of gringos needed a little cosmetic care.

I could go on and name a hundred more, but I will stop here. Now, my brother is leaving Shaoxing, and I have nothing but best wishes for him. He is onto the next adventure. I wish him the best of luck. He is a friend with more depth and dimensions than I could have ever imagined, regardless of the pony tail. It is probably good that we are not coming back together, since the sheer amount of inside jokes we have between us would surely drive everyone else away. But here's to you, DB. Ring-a-ding-ding, buddy, Ring-a-ding-ding. I am going to miss you.