Finally back at a computer (well, a computer that is in Chinese...let's call it intensive language immersion) and ready to tell of my adventures in Beijing. Oh, but first, the adventure of getting to Beijing -- that's a story in itself.
...
I flew to Beijing via Vancouver. At the time this seemed pointless since it's only a 50 minute flight, but there was a purpose for it (as there is for everything in life). I sat in 3A. John sat in 3B. He was a businessman in his 50's traveling to Shanghai to oversee shoe production. We began chatting and shared our stories of how we first came to China. Getting off the plane he offered to wheel my non-rolling carry-on on his rolling luggage since we were both headed in the same direction. We continued to chat and met some interesting people in the security line -- "The Crazy American: the next big hit on Japanese television" who gave me his card.
...
"Passport." the customs officer apathetically droned. (I can't imagine the excitement of that job.)
...
I met my new friend on the other side of security. As we rode the escalator down to the terminal he told me his tales of how he traveled right after college, same as me, but to Australia. He told me that when he first left he and his friend met an older man who helped them on their travels. "And now I get the opportunity to repay that kindness," he said to me, "I wish you the best of luck." Our gates were at opposite ends of the terminal and so I took my bag, thanked him, and went on my way.
...
I had a 2 hour layover -- it was so hard to wait. I read for while but most of my entertainment came from watching an American couple take turns running through the terminal as if they were training for a marathon...or maybe the Olympics. I wonder... I had never seen anything like it. Full running gear and breaking a sweat. Wow! I wish I had that dedication to running.
...
"Now boarding flight 29 to Beijing." This is it. I can't believe I'm going to China for a year. Definitely not where I thought I would be after graduation. I don't think I would have believed myself if I had known last fall (on my first flight to China) that I would be moving back a year later. Part of me wonders what I got myself into. The other part of me is ready for the adventure -- to bring my culture to china, learn about theirs, and take it back home. Hey, I had 11 hours to kill...I had time to contemplate life.
...
I think one of the best moments (actually an hour an a half worth of moments) was trying to make my way (by myself, mind you) from the Beijing airport to my hostel. This was the ultimate challenge in luggage maneuvering: 1 purse, 1 dense carry-on, 2 gigantic suitcases, and only 1 set of arms. Imagine, if you will, a very not-fluent-in-Mandarin American in a crowd of Chinese people (crowd need not be said because it is synonymous with China) trying to lug her belongings down and up dozens of flights of stairs because she has not 1, not 2, but 3 trains to take just to get to the general area in which her lodging is located. Clunk, clunk, clunk, clunk... People began to pity me. Or they just tired of the sound. Usually someone would stop and help me carry my bags because there are no elevators in China...of course there aren't. And don't expect to NOT be pushed out of the way when getting onto a train just because you have things to carry -- subway space is precious and pity was left at the stairs.
...
Somehow I managed to get off at the correct stop, and after climbing the 8 thousand flights of stairs out of the subway, I had the opportunity for exercise -- walking a quarter mile to my hostel. Once again, pity helped. A Chinese-Canadian noticed my luggage tags from YVR (Vancouver) and stopped to help someone who had just arrived from his hometown.
...
I checked in, dropped my bags, stood in front of the air conditioner for an hour, and then left to explore Beijing. Biggest shockers: garbage cans, recycling bins (though I'm not sure the rules of recycling are understood), and NO SPITTING! Couldn't believe it! It took me awhile to realize the sound I was NOT hearing. The Chinese government has banned it for the Olympics (gotta look good for the world).
...
More on the actual Beijing Olympics later.
Love you all!
--Julie
...
I flew to Beijing via Vancouver. At the time this seemed pointless since it's only a 50 minute flight, but there was a purpose for it (as there is for everything in life). I sat in 3A. John sat in 3B. He was a businessman in his 50's traveling to Shanghai to oversee shoe production. We began chatting and shared our stories of how we first came to China. Getting off the plane he offered to wheel my non-rolling carry-on on his rolling luggage since we were both headed in the same direction. We continued to chat and met some interesting people in the security line -- "The Crazy American: the next big hit on Japanese television" who gave me his card.
...
"Passport." the customs officer apathetically droned. (I can't imagine the excitement of that job.)
...
I met my new friend on the other side of security. As we rode the escalator down to the terminal he told me his tales of how he traveled right after college, same as me, but to Australia. He told me that when he first left he and his friend met an older man who helped them on their travels. "And now I get the opportunity to repay that kindness," he said to me, "I wish you the best of luck." Our gates were at opposite ends of the terminal and so I took my bag, thanked him, and went on my way.
...
I had a 2 hour layover -- it was so hard to wait. I read for while but most of my entertainment came from watching an American couple take turns running through the terminal as if they were training for a marathon...or maybe the Olympics. I wonder... I had never seen anything like it. Full running gear and breaking a sweat. Wow! I wish I had that dedication to running.
...
"Now boarding flight 29 to Beijing." This is it. I can't believe I'm going to China for a year. Definitely not where I thought I would be after graduation. I don't think I would have believed myself if I had known last fall (on my first flight to China) that I would be moving back a year later. Part of me wonders what I got myself into. The other part of me is ready for the adventure -- to bring my culture to china, learn about theirs, and take it back home. Hey, I had 11 hours to kill...I had time to contemplate life.
...
I think one of the best moments (actually an hour an a half worth of moments) was trying to make my way (by myself, mind you) from the Beijing airport to my hostel. This was the ultimate challenge in luggage maneuvering: 1 purse, 1 dense carry-on, 2 gigantic suitcases, and only 1 set of arms. Imagine, if you will, a very not-fluent-in-Mandarin American in a crowd of Chinese people (crowd need not be said because it is synonymous with China) trying to lug her belongings down and up dozens of flights of stairs because she has not 1, not 2, but 3 trains to take just to get to the general area in which her lodging is located. Clunk, clunk, clunk, clunk... People began to pity me. Or they just tired of the sound. Usually someone would stop and help me carry my bags because there are no elevators in China...of course there aren't. And don't expect to NOT be pushed out of the way when getting onto a train just because you have things to carry -- subway space is precious and pity was left at the stairs.
...
Somehow I managed to get off at the correct stop, and after climbing the 8 thousand flights of stairs out of the subway, I had the opportunity for exercise -- walking a quarter mile to my hostel. Once again, pity helped. A Chinese-Canadian noticed my luggage tags from YVR (Vancouver) and stopped to help someone who had just arrived from his hometown.
...
I checked in, dropped my bags, stood in front of the air conditioner for an hour, and then left to explore Beijing. Biggest shockers: garbage cans, recycling bins (though I'm not sure the rules of recycling are understood), and NO SPITTING! Couldn't believe it! It took me awhile to realize the sound I was NOT hearing. The Chinese government has banned it for the Olympics (gotta look good for the world).
...
More on the actual Beijing Olympics later.
Love you all!
--Julie
3 comments:
I am so excited to hear of your adventures!! You are a fantastic story teller! -Kristine :)
What a wonderful story! I am glad to here that you made it with all of your luggage in hand ....
Julie! I am SO proud of you! You are such an adventorous woman! Good job! You are doing awesome and I can't wait to hear all your stories and see you pictures..... Funny story with the luggage :-)
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