June 11, 2011
*Throughout the journal comments made in real time, while on the ground in China, are designated in italics. Everything else was written after returning. Side notes are random thoughts I had that do now particularly fit in anywhere.
Most of the day was spent on the plane, in my particular case, sleeping. My intention was to get all my schoolwork done while in the air, I got through about half of it before trying to sleep.
Landing and getting through customs was surprisingly easy. I expected the airport to be a mad house and customs to be difficult. Instead I was welcomed to a large, white, humid room with few people and quick moving lines. My customs officer was a kindly looking woman who smiled at me and processed my paper work quickly. When she handed me back my paper works she pointed to a small device on the counter. There was a message in Chinese and English that asked to rate my experience. I could choose one of four buttons: 
in green, 
in green, in red, and 
in red. I chose She let me in the country and that’s all that mattered. As a side note there was a lot of use of the word “foreigner” on signs everywhere. In the states we use that as almost a put down, but it doesn’t have the same context, it isn’t supposed to, but I think that’s how they feel about us.
I’m kidding… mostly.
Once through, the journey to the hotel was a quick bus ride. The roads were practically empty. I expected more traffic on a rainy Saturday Night, but apparently not. Our tour guide, Lina, said it will be much busier during the week. We soon arrived at the hotel and were quickly checked in. As a group the Professor has some words for us, mostly about being on time, but eventually he asked for a volunteer to take care of gathering tip money each day for the bus driver and Lina. I took the job… I have a feeling this is going to cause me a great deal of headache on this trip.
I walked into the room around 8:45pm and flopped down my luggage. Several folks were going out to explore the city, but I didn’t really feel like it, all I wanted to was brush my teeth and take a shower, which I did.
That was of course after having to call down to the front desk because I couldn’t figure out how to work the shower. After a very nice woman came in and laughed as she showed me how the whole operation worked I bathed myself.
Side note: I was later criticized for not being part of the group, because I didn’t go out to dinner with the vast majority of folks. Personally, all I wanted was a shower, some food and a beer. I also wasn’t looking for an adventure that evening. I had my food, my beer, some decent conversation, I felt it was a complete evening.
I got changed and went down to the second floor to get some dinner and a beer. I was unaware that there wasn’t an actual “bar” to sit and order food from so after some confusion and three waiters and hostess I was sat at the breakfast bar with a beer in hand, but no food. Sarah and Chris M. came in shortly after where we got a table and ordered dinner. Caitlin eventually joined us and the rest of the evening was spent talking and drinking, generally enjoying the company and the hotel.
Not a bad first day here in China. Alright, time to sleep. Here’s to no jet lag!
