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[voodikon]

i've been in china about three months now, and just recently started having this recurring dream that leaves me disoriented and waking up confused as to my whereabouts every time. (when i first arrived in china i felt i had adjusted fine and never had that "where am i?" feeling when i woke up.) it's beginning to concern me, and i was wondering if anybody else has experienced something similar. here's the dream:

i have 24 hours to return home and do everything, see everybody, and get everything (like more warm freaking clothing that fits me) i need to do/see/get. every time i get to the airport to fly back to china, i realize i've forgotten something.

it's silly because when i'm conscious i know there's nothing i really need. is this just a product of homesickness? or is it my anxiety of my brother visiting in a few weeks and i'm feeling like it's my "one chance" to have somebody bring me missed things from home?

[juststeven]

Is alcohol involved?

[voodikon]

you mean, within the dream? or a cause of the dream? neither, although i did also have a dream a few nights ago during one of those "sleep paralysis" experiences in which some unseen forces were knocking the bottles of alcohol in my room all over. that was pretty creepy too. maybe my room's just haunted.

[juststeven]

My friend,
The way to get a good night's sleep is to exercise; pump iron, jog, walk, or just build up a good sweat doing 'whatever'. Don't eat a big meal before you go to bed.

[voodikon]

i'm having no trouble falling and staying asleep; it's just that i have these strange dreams.

[Atlas]

Nothing to worry about Voodooikon. When you are looking at dreams it's better to ignore the content and focus on the feelings you get from them. These are replays of the feelings you have in your day.

It sounds to me that you are really experiencing the cognitive chaos of culture shock. It will pass. Meanwhile exercise is a great way to sleep well as long as you are getting 8 hours. I can think of at least one good way to get some execise before sleep.

Pushups!

[ShapeSphere]

I had the strangest dream as well.

I was in a classroom in China; the room was full of colour and not at all drab. There were posters on the wall, money had been invested, it was colourful, and it felt warm and encouraging. There was an air of positivity permeating throughout and my spirits were lifted into unknown heights.

As I surveyed this room, I could see the open and responsive faces of my Chinese students. Gone were the blank and robotic looks, their lethargic demeanour had been replaced by a feeling that they wanted to learn and were prepared to work towards that goal.

Their fingers were not rammed up their noses as they searched for that elusive 'bogey' to flick wildly about the room or wipe surreptitiously underneath the desk.

At no point did a mobile phone interrupt proceedings or did they walk out the room to ruin pair work or any other activity, which was intended to enliven the lesson and provide them with some fun.

But my wonderful dream was disturbed by the sound of my Chinese neighbours banging a piece of wood for no apparent reason at 7 am, and it slowly faded from my memory.

All that I have left are remnants of a fantasy that linger in my mind.

[merlin]

Dreams are your unconcious mind at work.

Atlas is right in that the content isn't always as important as the feelings and that this is surely a result of changing cultures AND I'd also like to stress the importance of validating those feelings of confusion, disorientation and homesickness with your concious mind.

Say to yourself:
"Yes, I do miss x, y, z and I do find a, b, c in this culture a bit confusing and disoreinting AND I am able to excell in this environment because I am getting stronger day by day."

Validate feelings and then choose what to do about them.