I'm here in China! Yep, that's right. For one week I've now been in the most populated country in the world. 1.3 billion Chinese, a handful of westerners, and Rick.
I'm doing my best to embrace the "This is China" attitude, where odd events will occur, but you just need to accept it. The most common is the random Chinese person who clearly has the camera pointed at you/your group of Westerners because they honestly are shocked to see a white person.*my connecting flight to San Francisco was 1/2 hour late, causing me to run through the airport and security; when
*I got seated on the place next to the window behind a curtain, unable to see any of the movie on the central screen or unable to see the attendants as they passed by to request anything; when
*I arrived in Beijing late, hoping my ride would still be there; when
*None of my luggage arrived and I had to file a claim in Chinese; when
*The driver (fortunately was there) took twice as long to the hotel to pick up some other people; when
*I had to order dinner all in broken Chinese; when
*I fumbled with chopsticks as the child at the next table blatantly stared; when
*I ordered beer (to help me fall asleep and fight the impending jet lag) and it came back room temperature; when
*I finally fell asleep only to be woken by an arrogant roommate arriving at 1:30 a.m.
Up until this point, I had always send, "I'm flexible. Things will work out." I had little sleep, no luggage, some food, but was safe in Beijing with at least a bar of soap and something to have eaten.
Then da2han1.
Da2han1 = snoring
My roommate fell quickly asleep and snored louder than a raging bull in sporadic spurts, not allowing any senses to adapt and drown out the sound. Nope. That's when I couldn't stand it. Nope. I went down to the front desk and asked for a new room. Struggling with the Chinese, there was nothing they could do, but I was moved the next day, drowsy and irritable.
Fortunately, I met the other participants, ate delicious food (below, a table with a lazy susan in the middle where the dishes are set as soon as they come out and diners spin it around to take bits for their plate--I loved that idea.)
I traveled with the group on the day before the program started and we went to the Forbidden City downtown Beijing. We didn't go in, because as we neared it some soldiers were gathering and some tanks were rolling in, and the Chinese girl in our group understood a soldier sounding over a bull horn "Get everyone out of here." Well, you don't have to tell me that twice in China!
And, of course, we saw traditional Chinese architecture in stunning detail. This is the ___ temple (I can't remember... :-(
After two days in seminar, we were to fly to our home towns. I am now slowly settling in here in Zhengzhou. More to come about the apartment--a surprise (in a good sense).
Remember, fear the da2han1!
Later Days,
Rick
1 comment:
goodness. But you made it!
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