Oreos, 12 yuan.
Saturday, December 25, 2004
Day Two (Friday, Dec. 10th)
(Here in my Journal I wrote a lot of detail about the exchanging money, the panda phone, and breakfast, and who cares, really?)
At ten, we went to the Temple of Heaven. I stood on the center stone and shouted "something." It was beautiful. The center stone is a place that makes your voice resonate. I especially enjoyed watching the groups of Chinese people singing, dancing, playing cards, knitting, and playing ball.
As we left the Temple of Heaven, Chinese men and women swarmed around us trying to sell their wares. "Rolex! Five American Dollars!" "Beijing Book? Beijing Book?" "Kites! Hello! Kites!" One little old Chinese lady came up to me, touched my arm, smiled hugely, and said "Fat!" She looked for all the world like a child, amazed at a circus animal, saying her first word. And then she and others laughed. Our little group was followed to the bus by the insistent vendors.
We ate lunch at a Thai restaurant. The table had a big, spinning, disk in the center where they placed large plates of food. You would just spin the disk around to get something from each disk. We had rabbit (gross), chicken (not terrible but not good either), beef (tasty, but probably not beef), and duck (very good). I even tried the tea.
Before we left, we all flocked to the restroom. To our horror and amazement, they had squatty potty's with just one western style toilet. I waited for the toilet.
After this, we headed to Tiananmen Square. The Chinese there openly stared at us as we walked by. We also encountered more vendors and beautiful kites soaring overhead.
At the entrance to the forbidden city, our coordinator went somewhere and we stood waiting for her as people began to gather around us, just staring. Brenda food a picture of the people staring at us, and they just stared more. They kept point to my hair. Some crippled men came over begging for money. It was heartbreaking. They got so close and would not leave. It was just amazing to be stared at like that. Inside the forbidden city, some teenagers began posing in front of me and taking pictures. When we left the forbidden city, one man stood next to me while a woman took our picture. It was strange and a bit scary.
As we walked to the bus, we encountered a woman and two children begging. It was all I could do not to cry.
When we arrived back at the hotel (4:30) we immediately fell asleep ( as we found out later, so did the rest of the group), the jet lag still clinging to us.
Oh yes, on our many bus rides, I saw McDonald's, KFC, Fridays, Subway, Starbucks, and Pizza Hut.
(I know I have only typed out day two, but it is five a.m (stupid jet lag) and my fingers hurt from typing so much. I'll add some more tomorrow. Love you.)
Sarah Jo
At ten, we went to the Temple of Heaven. I stood on the center stone and shouted "something." It was beautiful. The center stone is a place that makes your voice resonate. I especially enjoyed watching the groups of Chinese people singing, dancing, playing cards, knitting, and playing ball.
As we left the Temple of Heaven, Chinese men and women swarmed around us trying to sell their wares. "Rolex! Five American Dollars!" "Beijing Book? Beijing Book?" "Kites! Hello! Kites!" One little old Chinese lady came up to me, touched my arm, smiled hugely, and said "Fat!" She looked for all the world like a child, amazed at a circus animal, saying her first word. And then she and others laughed. Our little group was followed to the bus by the insistent vendors.
We ate lunch at a Thai restaurant. The table had a big, spinning, disk in the center where they placed large plates of food. You would just spin the disk around to get something from each disk. We had rabbit (gross), chicken (not terrible but not good either), beef (tasty, but probably not beef), and duck (very good). I even tried the tea.
Before we left, we all flocked to the restroom. To our horror and amazement, they had squatty potty's with just one western style toilet. I waited for the toilet.
After this, we headed to Tiananmen Square. The Chinese there openly stared at us as we walked by. We also encountered more vendors and beautiful kites soaring overhead.
At the entrance to the forbidden city, our coordinator went somewhere and we stood waiting for her as people began to gather around us, just staring. Brenda food a picture of the people staring at us, and they just stared more. They kept point to my hair. Some crippled men came over begging for money. It was heartbreaking. They got so close and would not leave. It was just amazing to be stared at like that. Inside the forbidden city, some teenagers began posing in front of me and taking pictures. When we left the forbidden city, one man stood next to me while a woman took our picture. It was strange and a bit scary.
As we walked to the bus, we encountered a woman and two children begging. It was all I could do not to cry.
When we arrived back at the hotel (4:30) we immediately fell asleep ( as we found out later, so did the rest of the group), the jet lag still clinging to us.
Oh yes, on our many bus rides, I saw McDonald's, KFC, Fridays, Subway, Starbucks, and Pizza Hut.
(I know I have only typed out day two, but it is five a.m (stupid jet lag) and my fingers hurt from typing so much. I'll add some more tomorrow. Love you.)
Sarah Jo
(VERY LONG) Day One (Wednesday, Dec.8 and Thursday, Dec. 10th)
Our first day started at 2:45 a.m. After getting dressed and dragging the luggage our to the Durango, we headed towards Jeanie's house. About halfway there, (running late at this time) we were pulled over for rolling through a stop sign. The police officer was very suspicious of us, but he let us go with a warning. We then picked up Jeanie, Lauren, and Elisabeth, and Jeanie drove us to the airport. We checked in, got our boarding passes, and said our goodbyes to the girls.
At security, we had to remove our shoes and coats and jackets. We both walked through the metal detector and into the wrong line. We went to the line for people who made the metal detector beep, so they had to wand us. My shirt had rhinestones on the front and kept making the metal detector go off when the wand was near my chest. Because of this, the lady had to pat me down. Later, I told Joanie that I always thought the first person to touch my chest that way would be a boy. Okay, stop laughing at me.
I began to get nervous as we were waiting at the gate. I had never flown before. When it was time, I walked onto a VERY small jet. The seats were two on each side of the aisle, and if you sat by the window, you had to tilt your head because the wall curved up toward the ceiling. The flight was not scary at all and very short.
We arrived in Chicago at 6:30 a.m. Chicago time (the same time we left) (7:30 a.m. our time) and our next flight was not until 5 hours later. The next plane we boarded was extremely large. There were two aisles down the plane with three seats on each edge and four in the middle. The flight was going to be 13 hours long. This flight (Japan Airlines) was much better than our united flight earlier. There were t.v. screens in the back of every seat with movies, games, a map of our flight, and out side camera views. I watched elf. I discovered I really like the Japanese juice, Yuzu.
The flight was SO long. About five hours into it, my legs were burning with the need to move. I felt like I was in a cage. I NEEDED to stand up. I HAD to walk around. But, eventually the flight was over, and the flight was just a memory.
We arrived in Tokyo on Thursday at 4:30 p.m. (4:30 a.m. our time, I think) with only an hour layover. By this time, we had met everyone in our travel group, and we all stood together at the gate.
Our four hour flight to Beijing is still a little vague because I was drifting in and out of consciousness the entire flight. I was SO tired. (By this time, it had been more than 24hrs. Since I woke up in Ohio.)
At the Beijing airport we had to go through customs. I was very amused to stand in the "foriengers" line. After customs, we met our coordinator, Genie, and took a bus to the hotel. We arrived at Hotel Kun Lun at 11 pm China Time (10 am our time.) The room was very nice, but I did not get to appreciate that very much as I fell into an exhausted sleep.
At security, we had to remove our shoes and coats and jackets. We both walked through the metal detector and into the wrong line. We went to the line for people who made the metal detector beep, so they had to wand us. My shirt had rhinestones on the front and kept making the metal detector go off when the wand was near my chest. Because of this, the lady had to pat me down. Later, I told Joanie that I always thought the first person to touch my chest that way would be a boy. Okay, stop laughing at me.
I began to get nervous as we were waiting at the gate. I had never flown before. When it was time, I walked onto a VERY small jet. The seats were two on each side of the aisle, and if you sat by the window, you had to tilt your head because the wall curved up toward the ceiling. The flight was not scary at all and very short.
We arrived in Chicago at 6:30 a.m. Chicago time (the same time we left) (7:30 a.m. our time) and our next flight was not until 5 hours later. The next plane we boarded was extremely large. There were two aisles down the plane with three seats on each edge and four in the middle. The flight was going to be 13 hours long. This flight (Japan Airlines) was much better than our united flight earlier. There were t.v. screens in the back of every seat with movies, games, a map of our flight, and out side camera views. I watched elf. I discovered I really like the Japanese juice, Yuzu.
The flight was SO long. About five hours into it, my legs were burning with the need to move. I felt like I was in a cage. I NEEDED to stand up. I HAD to walk around. But, eventually the flight was over, and the flight was just a memory.
We arrived in Tokyo on Thursday at 4:30 p.m. (4:30 a.m. our time, I think) with only an hour layover. By this time, we had met everyone in our travel group, and we all stood together at the gate.
Our four hour flight to Beijing is still a little vague because I was drifting in and out of consciousness the entire flight. I was SO tired. (By this time, it had been more than 24hrs. Since I woke up in Ohio.)
At the Beijing airport we had to go through customs. I was very amused to stand in the "foriengers" line. After customs, we met our coordinator, Genie, and took a bus to the hotel. We arrived at Hotel Kun Lun at 11 pm China Time (10 am our time.) The room was very nice, but I did not get to appreciate that very much as I fell into an exhausted sleep.
Friday, December 24, 2004
Sunday, December 19, 2004
I dreamt I was a figure skater.
It feels so strange to be in the minority. People gawk at us in the streets and beggars flock to us. I guess that because we are americans, we are rich or something. Shopkeepers leave their shops to try to coax us inside. People take our pictures. This is all so strange to me.
Right now I am enjoying a good cup of hot chocolate. I miss milk though. I cannot drink the milk here, its not pasturized. Oh, and ice. Never thought I would miss ice.
I do try to take everything in. I go on every outing offered us. Why would I come all the way to china to sit in the hotel?
Today I bought a jade necklace for 380 yuan. I thought it was worth it. Our cooridinator, Genie, says jade is supposed to protect you from harm. I shall wear it until I get home.
I have been sitting here in the cafe for far too long. Time to shop some more! I find I do not get so homesick if I keep myself busy, and that I shall do.
Still missing you.
Sarah Jo
Right now I am enjoying a good cup of hot chocolate. I miss milk though. I cannot drink the milk here, its not pasturized. Oh, and ice. Never thought I would miss ice.
I do try to take everything in. I go on every outing offered us. Why would I come all the way to china to sit in the hotel?
Today I bought a jade necklace for 380 yuan. I thought it was worth it. Our cooridinator, Genie, says jade is supposed to protect you from harm. I shall wear it until I get home.
I have been sitting here in the cafe for far too long. Time to shop some more! I find I do not get so homesick if I keep myself busy, and that I shall do.
Still missing you.
Sarah Jo
Saturday, December 18, 2004
Hello! Kites!
Im getting homesick. I miss everyone so much. I am having a very good time here, but its just not home. I want a hug like a physical ache, and from someone who'll squeeze me tight, like Dad or Betty. Right now, Im at the white swan hotel in Guangzhou. There are many little shops around here that I can buy stuff in. THe locals all speak english very well, and there are more americans with chinese babies than there are chinese people in the hotel. Well, I havent much time, but I just want to say I miss you all and I love you and I cant wait to see you again!
Tuesday, December 14, 2004
Ni Hao
I woke up this morning with a fever blister. As if I did not look wierd enough to the gawking chinese people, with my red hair, blue eyes, and freckles, now I have a swollen, protruding upper lip. I stared at it in the mirror this morning, it looks like the inside of a behive underneath the first layer of skin. All right, I know you dont care about the anatomy of my fever blister.
Did you know that chinese diet coke is called Coke Light? Or that you have the stick your room card in a slot in the wall for electricity in your hotel room? Or that Chinese Chips Ahoy are different? Or that nearly everyone here speaks english? Or that they smoke EVERYWHERE, like even in the elevator? Or that you can fit nearly twice as many people in an elevator if they are chinese? Or that it is not at all uncommon to see a westerner with a chinsese baby? Im sure there are more things, but I cannot think of any just now.
Im telling you these unimportant things because Im adding a Journal when I get home. Well, Im off.
Sarah Jo
Did you know that chinese diet coke is called Coke Light? Or that you have the stick your room card in a slot in the wall for electricity in your hotel room? Or that Chinese Chips Ahoy are different? Or that nearly everyone here speaks english? Or that they smoke EVERYWHERE, like even in the elevator? Or that you can fit nearly twice as many people in an elevator if they are chinese? Or that it is not at all uncommon to see a westerner with a chinsese baby? Im sure there are more things, but I cannot think of any just now.
Im telling you these unimportant things because Im adding a Journal when I get home. Well, Im off.
Sarah Jo
Sunday, December 12, 2004
I hope this works.
Wow, everything in my browser is in Chinese. Okay so, when I typed out my journal to add here, the browser closed and I lost everything I had typed. So I am going to add things here that Im not putting in the journal, and then I'll add the journal when I get home to a familiar computer.
Today (Sunday) we flew from Beijing to Changsha. It was so beautiful flying over china. The mountains looked like they were covered in wrinkled suede. Oh, when we got on the plain, Joanie and I could not buckle our seat belts. When we asked for seat belt extenders, they moved us to the back of the plain. It was very embarrasing for all of those around us to know that we could not buckle our seatbelts, but the benefit was having an entire row to myself for the flight.
We walked about three blocks to the grocery store today. The traffic here is terrible. The people just walk and ride their bikes out in the road, weaving in and out of the swerving cars. Until this trip, I never knew you could fit so many bodies or so much stuff on a bicycle. So many of them, and so many cars. To avoid crossing the road on major intersections, there are stairs that go down into a tunnel that runs under the street and then stairs up again. It is like an underground cross walk. Very nifty. But, in the one we went in today, there was a begger boy that grabbed Joanies shirt and would not let go of her. There are beggers everywhere in Changsha. It just breaks my heart, and it scares me too.
The other day we ate in a Thai restuarant. The table had one of those disks in the center that spun the food around to everyone. They put all kinds of things one it and we tried a little of each thing. I really liked the duck, of all things.
Im having so many new experiences here, but they are good. THe culture shock did not set in until Changsha. Beijing is just so modern, much like an American city. I am most impressed by the conservation effort here. They conserve, save, recycle, everything. It is amazing and I think we have a lot to learn from them.
Well, if I say much more, there will be no need for the journal. When I add that, I will have a day by day list of events.
Until then, know that I am safe and happy and having a great time. I would love to hear from you if you want to drop me an email or a comment.
Goodbye and Goodnight. (Or goodmorning for you!)
Today (Sunday) we flew from Beijing to Changsha. It was so beautiful flying over china. The mountains looked like they were covered in wrinkled suede. Oh, when we got on the plain, Joanie and I could not buckle our seat belts. When we asked for seat belt extenders, they moved us to the back of the plain. It was very embarrasing for all of those around us to know that we could not buckle our seatbelts, but the benefit was having an entire row to myself for the flight.
We walked about three blocks to the grocery store today. The traffic here is terrible. The people just walk and ride their bikes out in the road, weaving in and out of the swerving cars. Until this trip, I never knew you could fit so many bodies or so much stuff on a bicycle. So many of them, and so many cars. To avoid crossing the road on major intersections, there are stairs that go down into a tunnel that runs under the street and then stairs up again. It is like an underground cross walk. Very nifty. But, in the one we went in today, there was a begger boy that grabbed Joanies shirt and would not let go of her. There are beggers everywhere in Changsha. It just breaks my heart, and it scares me too.
The other day we ate in a Thai restuarant. The table had one of those disks in the center that spun the food around to everyone. They put all kinds of things one it and we tried a little of each thing. I really liked the duck, of all things.
Im having so many new experiences here, but they are good. THe culture shock did not set in until Changsha. Beijing is just so modern, much like an American city. I am most impressed by the conservation effort here. They conserve, save, recycle, everything. It is amazing and I think we have a lot to learn from them.
Well, if I say much more, there will be no need for the journal. When I add that, I will have a day by day list of events.
Until then, know that I am safe and happy and having a great time. I would love to hear from you if you want to drop me an email or a comment.
Goodbye and Goodnight. (Or goodmorning for you!)
Monday, December 06, 2004
Describing the color of my snot to a man with letters at the end of his name.
And now Im one some uber strong antibiotics because apparently I have a sinus infection. Eww. AND, if I have a fever when we reach China I will not be permitted to deplane.
In other news, what other news? All I think or talk about is China. My gosh. I have one more exam, and one more night in my bed, but not in that order. Ill sure miss my bed. And you of course, but I sleep with my bed every night. . .
You think theyll have internet cafes where I can write to you in China? I sure hope so. Two weeks without blogging? That sounds like a sin.
Im excited and nervous and stressed and over-studied and tired and sick and behind schedule. This is a pretty sucky goodbye.
In other news, what other news? All I think or talk about is China. My gosh. I have one more exam, and one more night in my bed, but not in that order. Ill sure miss my bed. And you of course, but I sleep with my bed every night. . .
You think theyll have internet cafes where I can write to you in China? I sure hope so. Two weeks without blogging? That sounds like a sin.
Im excited and nervous and stressed and over-studied and tired and sick and behind schedule. This is a pretty sucky goodbye.
Saturday, December 04, 2004
I Heart Walmart
House-sitting means lots of things. First, I do not use the computer all night. Consequently, I do more constructive things, like homework. Second, no cigarette smoke, no brothers, no noise. Ashley and I are house-sitting together, so I get to spend lots 'o time with her, and that makes me happy. Also, the T.V. stays off like all the time. I sure hate television. Its like playing grown-up for a few days. Nice. Bad things: I smell like animals. I am starting to like the animals, scary. I miss my mommy. You really begin to appreciate a person after not seeing them.
I got my hair cut today. I mostly like getting hair cuts because someone plays with my hair for a good fifteen minutes. Beautiful. And I got stuff to pack for China, but I don't think I'll go into a list of them. Anyway, James helped me pick things out and that was fun. We went to Kmart first, and they didn't have what I wanted, but Walmart did and now I heart Walmart.
Soon, I need to pack up my things that I will take with me on the trip and then I need to leave for Lindas house, because Ashley gets off work at seven and I don't want her to have to sit there by her lonesome self. So. . . goodnight. Love ya lots.
I got my hair cut today. I mostly like getting hair cuts because someone plays with my hair for a good fifteen minutes. Beautiful. And I got stuff to pack for China, but I don't think I'll go into a list of them. Anyway, James helped me pick things out and that was fun. We went to Kmart first, and they didn't have what I wanted, but Walmart did and now I heart Walmart.
Soon, I need to pack up my things that I will take with me on the trip and then I need to leave for Lindas house, because Ashley gets off work at seven and I don't want her to have to sit there by her lonesome self. So. . . goodnight. Love ya lots.
Wednesday, December 01, 2004
Past, Present, Pish-Posh
Sickness, and the guilt and stress of procrastination weighs on me. And I have a headache. But, I am happy.
Went to see Surviving Christmas with Ashley and James. Then went to Barnes and Noble for the book Prodigy, but they did not have it, so I got two-book set of books from Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, and Quidditch Through the Ages. Ashley and I purchased it together. We shall share. I got Fantastic Beasts first. Pretty cool because it has little notes in the margins that are supposed to be from Harry, Ron, and Hermione. Thats awesome. Well, I did not need it, but I found myself in a bookstore with money and I could not walk out empty-handed. The problem was, you see, that all of the books I wanted were on my Christmas list so I could not buy them today, lest I should get another copy on Christmas day, you know? So this is how I have books from Hogwarts but not a single Harry Potter book. Funny Stuff.
I'm typing really well tonight and this makes me proud of myself and I just want to type more but I do not have anything of any import to say. I could tell you how I feel, but thats just temporary and, in this blog, over-documented. I don't want to repeat myself but I don't want to just list my days activities either. I want to be real and honest, but if I am to be real, than I cannot be interesting all the time. People are boring sometimes, and so am I.
James and Ashley and I just sat in the living room talking about memories and good times today. It was really nice, remembering. It is also nice, anticipating. I do not think I spend enough time just enjoying the moment. Like at work the other day when I was standing on the side of the road in an elf suit, laughing, that was beautiful and fun. One day I will mourn for today, so I should make the best of it now.
Alas, I have soo much homework to do that the thought of it makes me feel sick. I cannot believe I waited this long. A good evening to you all.
Sarah Jo
Went to see Surviving Christmas with Ashley and James. Then went to Barnes and Noble for the book Prodigy, but they did not have it, so I got two-book set of books from Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, and Quidditch Through the Ages. Ashley and I purchased it together. We shall share. I got Fantastic Beasts first. Pretty cool because it has little notes in the margins that are supposed to be from Harry, Ron, and Hermione. Thats awesome. Well, I did not need it, but I found myself in a bookstore with money and I could not walk out empty-handed. The problem was, you see, that all of the books I wanted were on my Christmas list so I could not buy them today, lest I should get another copy on Christmas day, you know? So this is how I have books from Hogwarts but not a single Harry Potter book. Funny Stuff.
I'm typing really well tonight and this makes me proud of myself and I just want to type more but I do not have anything of any import to say. I could tell you how I feel, but thats just temporary and, in this blog, over-documented. I don't want to repeat myself but I don't want to just list my days activities either. I want to be real and honest, but if I am to be real, than I cannot be interesting all the time. People are boring sometimes, and so am I.
James and Ashley and I just sat in the living room talking about memories and good times today. It was really nice, remembering. It is also nice, anticipating. I do not think I spend enough time just enjoying the moment. Like at work the other day when I was standing on the side of the road in an elf suit, laughing, that was beautiful and fun. One day I will mourn for today, so I should make the best of it now.
Alas, I have soo much homework to do that the thought of it makes me feel sick. I cannot believe I waited this long. A good evening to you all.
Sarah Jo
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