Catching up

I'm trying to figure out how many days I have spent in China so far... I think this is my 3rd day. I will try to get caught up with today.

I began the blog in April and knew that time would move far too quickly. I was right. Boarded the plane for Beijing at 7:15 on Friday morning. We had to leave home at 5:30 so that we could pick up Henry and take him with us to the airport. I stayed up until 3:00 a.m. packing and adding music to my iPod (which I have not used since entering China.) I was grouchy and feeling stressed but Craig was nice and tried to calm me. He chatted with Henry on the way to the airport and then waited with us as everyone arrived for the plane. (Thank you, Craig. I am grateful.)

The flight was largely uneventful. I was extremely tired and slept most of the way. It wasn't really restful sleep but I wasn't as bored as I would have been otherwise. We had to go through security connecting from Japan to China but all went smoothly in both countries and no one had any problems. We arrived at NCUT (North China University of Technology) where we will be staying while in Beijing at about midnight Beijing time. Beijing is twelve hours ahead so it makes the math much easier. I can't always remember the day but I do at least know the time.

We are staying in the international guest housing at NCUT. Henry described it as being like a dormitory but nicer. Easy for Henry to say as he is staying in the definitely nicer faculty/guest hotel down the street. There are of us. Alice, an older returning student majoring in Art History who came on the trip last year, Neil, Ron and Michelle, students at ETSU, Jessica and Aubrey, the father/daughter duo, Henry and me. Jessica and Aubrey are leaving early and another couple will come in then - Eloise and Kirk.

Michelle and I are roommates and discovered by accident that we have the luxury suite. We have a refrigerator, shelves, and chairs. Apparently the others in our building do not have all of these luxuries....

May 25 - Campus tour
We had a campus orientation in the morning and left for the Square that afternoon. The campus is not very big. Roughly the same number of students as ETSU but on a much smaller piece of land. The students are taking final exams this week and will apparently be gone next week. I need to get out and take photos of them before they are all gone. The university has given us each a debit card with somewhere from 600 to 800 Yuan. We can purchase drinks for snacks from the convenience store and can eat at any of the "cafeterias" on campus. The cafeterias look like Chinese takeout places. Ordering food is an adventure because there isn't always English to accompany the food. You can sometimes point but it's not a perfect system. I felt adventurous just learning how to order food and use my debit card.

We had lunch on campus this day and were treated to a traditional formal Chinese meal. We all sat at a round table and plate after plate after plate was presented and then turned on an elaborate lazy susan. Most of the food was good, some was too interesting for me to even want to try. I don't know what I was thinking but should have practiced my chop sticking before leaving. I have improved already and will be fine in another couple of days but I just hadn't even thought about it. The meal was elaborate and the room was very nice but there was no air conditioning and it was over 90 outside. Made for a long meal.

Tiananmen Square
There are photos at http://www.flickr.com/photos/mmyyrraa if you want to have a look. Our student guide took us through the Great Hall of the People, Tiananment Square and the Gate of Heavenly Peace. It was all very interesting but I admit that I spent more time noticing people than any of the things we looked at. None of my photos reflect it because I have been reluctant to ask for photos. It is hard to tell what they think of us. I have heard that they are very friendly and have not seen any evidence to the contrary but they do not smile when they look at you. They are openly curious and while not exactly hostile, not exactly friendly either. I have been struck by how few Westerners we have seen. Maybe a dozen.

It was miserably hot on Monday especially for people who had spent so much time on a plane the day before and gotten virtually no sleep. Fortunately, it is generally breezy here. It is definitely a dry, warm breeze but it would be stifling if not present. It is also incredibly dusty and polluted. It is hard to know which is more pervasive but both are definitely present. You would walk outside and all moisture immediately leaves your body.

We came back to the university, ate a group dinner and were in bed by 8:00 p.m. The sun rises at 4:00 a.m. here. I have not been able to sleep past 5:00 since arriving. I have a sleep mask but it doesn't seem to help. My body just knows that the sun is shining in. I am writing this at 8:45 p.m. but my body is convinced that it is 11:00 p.m. or later.

Tuesday - May 26
Absolutely nothing to report. The rest of the group learned about Chinese characters in the morning, went to the zoo to see the giant pandas and engaged in their first Beijing bargaining sessions. I went to bed Monday night not feeling well but thought I was feeling better on Tuesday morning. I got ready to go but was immediately dizzy, nauseous and broke out in cold sweats. I can say it now because I am feeling much better but I was actually a little scared. Have never quite felt like that before. My vision was even blurred. I was pretty certain that I was going to have to fly back to the United States for emergency medical treatment. Turns out I basically just needed to spend the day in bed. I slept most of the day, reviving only when Michelle (my roommate) came in to keep me updated on the day. Everyone was very sweet. Michelle and Henry provided me with good old American protein bars and Michelle picked up water and a sports drink for me at the convenience store.

Wednesday - May 27
I awoke today with a headache, blurred vision, and light-headed. I actually felt much better though and went on to our lecture session where we learned about Chinese Traditional Festivals. Jessica decided that she was tired of the Chinese food available on campus so we headed out afterward in search of the nearest McDonald's. We found one for only 15 Yuan. I had a McNugget meal and am happy to report that it was exactly the same as you would get at home (good, bad or indifferent.) It only cost about $2.50 US and included some scrumptious Thai Mayo dipping sauce.

I decided to walk back with the kids and we ended up walking for about two hours. We had fun at the Wu Mart and I picked up some delicious corn ice cream. Michelle and I separated from the guys and didn't think we would actually make it back but we did and even on time for the Capital Museum.

The Capital Museum was good. Lots of very old Chinese art. Couldn't really take pictures and my bag was confiscated at the door so I couldn't put in eyedrops and therefore couldn't see well. The dust really limits the vision. Returned to campus and had a very good meal in one of the on-campus places. The menu was in Chinese so we chose our dishes by pointing at things on other people's plates. Classy Americans that we are.

I lost a day to what I assume was exhaustion but felt much better about things today. Tomorrow is a free day and I am going with Henry to the Muslim area. Not sure exactly what we will see but Henry wanted to go and I had no other plans. I wish I knew even just a little bit of Chinese but it is still rather interesting. I have been surprised at how few seem to know English. We stopped some young men today to ask for directions and they waved us off like we had a contagious disease. The girls we asked giggled and pushed the one English speaker to the front of the pack so that she could help us. She did help us and seemed quite happy about it but they all went away giggling. I don't understand the giggle yet. More later. I am absolutely pooped and will be asleep in less than 30 minutes.

... For those of you with my itenary, it has changed just a bit. I will update it and send out again ...