OK...so I am writing this blog post Beijing, China. I kept a journal while I was gone and I will be relying on this to recount my adventures. My last night in Seattle and I was actually packed and ready to go by mid afternoon which was amazing considering I am the girl who tends to pack a few hours before I crash into bed for a few hours and catch a flight. I started to buy and gather things for this trip weeks in advance and kept it all on my dining room table. It was actually quite genius of me as when I went to pack I knew exactly what I needed to put in my luggage and I was able to check it to my carefully crafted list.
So I was able to spend my last night in Seattle stress free. A few friends and I headed out to Sushi and just chilling and then a great friend stayed at my house and kept me up all night. I had decided it would make sense not to go to bed before flying to China as then I would be more apt to fall asleep and slide into their time zone better. So we stayed up and my alarm went off at 2:30 reminding me to jump in the shower before my mom got here.
The check in and flight process was pretty uneventful. The flight from San Francisco to Beijing was by far the largest plane I have ever been on and wow. I did indeed appreciate the isle seat I had though I found myself practically doing yoga in the isles. I think at one point I debated a downward dog to stretch out my back :) I slept much of the flight and sadly due to audio troubles watching movies was a difficult option as in one ear you got Chinese and the other English and then the audio would come and go. So I slept and read. I managed to read both a guide to culture of China and fluff book :)
We arrived in Beijing on time at 2:20 PM after crossing the international time line and got through customs and it was pretty uneventful. What we didn't know at the time was as we were taxing to our gate a major earthquake had just occurred in Sichuan, China (2:28 5/12/2008) about 950 miles away from Beijing. I found later that members of the rest of our group were waiting for their luggage and felt it.
Side note the rest of group basically came from Erie, PA or around there. The trip was an educational experience through the Economics Department at Gannon University and was open to the community members to attend. So my mom and I flew separate and on our own and met up with the rest of the group.
1st impressions:
1. Oh yes. It is indeed smoggy here.
2. The buildings seem very dreary and very tall compared to the buildings in Seattle and much different than the close in of New York city buildings. Much more spread out.
3. I have seen more bicyclists than I think I have ever seen in a populated area. There are dedicated bike lanes with their own traffic lights. Most bicycles seem to have a second seat for side saddle sitting. No one seems to wear helmets.
4. Cars seem to play chicken a lot and traffic is downright scary. I am glad I am not driving.
Day 1 Pictures~
1. The top picture is of my cat Lucy who decided my suitcase was a perfect place to chill. I guess she didn't want me to go.
2. Our very spacious hotel room. The beds looked inviting but seriously were quite a bit harder than we are used to. Just about a step above sleeping on the floor. Surprisingly I slept pretty well.
3. Our first meal in China. The center dish is lemon duck and was amazing.
4. Me just after arriving at the hotel and before dinner. I think I was very very tired.
