Jun 08

tired, hungry and therefore grumpy we get off the train, elbow our way through the crowd, get hassled for our tickets (cause you need them to get out of the trainstation. . . don't get that) and onto a waiting bus. andfor no apparent reason we stay on the bus not moving for about 20 minutes . . . I was really tired and there was a lot of talking going on so I may have missed the perfectly apparent reason. We're told that it's a forty minute drive and there wont be any food when we get there, everythig will be closed ( I guess it was around 9/10) so we all pile off the bus to get us some, wait what's the only thing open in China at 10 oclock at night next to a trainstation, you guessed it KFC. no joke. I ate it and it was welcome but I don't eat KFC in the States so no comparison to give. A forty minute bus ride, just bumpy enough to keep me from sleeping, later we arrived at the university. I remember getting off the bus, walking the 10 ft in the rain, finding my luggage magically in the lobby, and getting a key so now I'm bunking with Charlotte and not Brittanie, I love Brittanie, but I think I talk to much for her she's quiet and Charlottes like me so it works. and then sleep, wonderful wonderful sleep.
5/17 On Campus Orientation and Campus Tour. The next morning we are shown the dining hall, or halls there are three, and its soo cheap! That afternoon we are taken to the building next door (where we will have all our classes) Here we meet out Zhengzhou student buddies I had a great girl named Roxanne, sadly this is the only time I hang out with her, becasue I spilled coke all over the card she gave me and was unable to decipher it. *tear* After the Orientation (most of which I couldn't hear, and I'd gotten lost cause I wasn't paying atention and had no idea how to get back to our building) we were let loose with our buddies and they took us on our tour. I'm not certain how long we hung out only that at one point it looked like it would rain so we went to her dorm building to get an umbrella. I waited outside then she came running back and asked me to come meet some of her roommates (3 of them, she lived with 7 other girls - thats right 8 to a room-eek) We talked for ages, then it got pretty late and we went to eat at alittle restaurant on campus. we had Indian Sandwiches and she insisted on paying because I was her guest, I understood but it felt wierd. Afterdinner we waded through the storm and made it back to my building, I had to call her back as her friend had lent me an umbrella and she was about to leve without it. I'm really glad I did because otherwise I'd still have it an feel just awful about stealing it. It got late I took a long hot shower (Each room has it's own little water heater, and I loved it so) nice and cozy in my PJ's I talked with Char about our amazing day and decide I'm going to love Zhengzhou. ( and I do I really really do!)

Okay I know my lips were swollen and I could barely smile, but the food in Xian was amazing! the first day we ate a big buffet style meal, my fist experiance with dumplings actually made in China, and let me tell you I'm hooked, don't know how I'm going to survive in the states without them, but I'll manage. Besides the dumplings there was this man who was making noodles, really making them, fresh, it was fascinating to watch but better to eat! By this point I'm confidently telling te servers I don't need a fork. (In mimic sign language because I don't know how to say it in Chinese - YET!) The noodles, and dumplings alone could have filled me up, but there was a whole buffet and I made certain to sample everything. (but the dumplings were the best) That night to our suprise we went to the same restaurant. but it was soo much better! Not that I don't like the buffet but when you get to sit and have food brought to you it's better, especially when you don't have to worry about ordering. Now I kid you not it was a six course dinner. and best of all a show! It was the Tang Dynasty show they did amazing songs and dances, and this one guy played a flute like set of pipes that sounded like birds, apparently he's really famous, I could see why! When I get my pictures and movies to upload I'll share. Alhough I am on my own computer right now, the internet is being finiky about uploads, don't know why. And I know I talked about the Muslim sector already but really the food was amazing. All over China where ever you go you see vendors with the most amazing smelling food, it's not the hotdog guy at the park (Yes dad I know what your thinking, very funny.) For anyone whomissed that last line Dad was probably thinking something along the lines of me actyually eating a hot dog. Anyhoo just wanted to let you guys know how much grea food your missing out on. Also a complaint that I don't have my notes anymor, they got left in a cab and all I have left is a schedual of events. I'll try my best to fill in the gaps. Next Entry - Zhengzhou University!

Alright so I've arrived in Xi'an, I am very tired and make it to a bed some how. the next morning we wake up and get on the bus, it's about this time that my friend informs me that my lips are not burnt because it looks wrong. I don't have my notes on what happened in Xi'an with me so i'll tell you the high points. we visited the Wild goose pagoda - it was fabulous we saw some amazing statues and paintings later that night we return to the hotel, i'm given a Benedryl of some kind and by night my lips are almost the right size! yay! The next day is a blur of activities, I'll have to come back and fill in the details, but that night is extremely memorable. we went to the bazaar near the Muslim sector. it was little narrow passages lined with stalls, you could find anything there, cloths, food, nick-nacks, electronics, anything!!! at the end of the passages we found the entrance to the Mosque, after obtaining a ticket we entered, it was near dust, we saw the men praying and there were birds all around, and they seemed to serenade the area, it was almost impossible to imagin you were in the middle of a busy city surrounded by people selling, buying, and generally living their hectic lives. we met a young boy who had missed evening prayer because he was late arriving. we spoke with him about the statues and he explained a lot to us, all in Chinese, we were lucky to be with Dr. Renolds, or Renda as the Chinese call him, because he is a very fluent speaker. in the end we gave him a crisp American dollar because he was interested in it, I'm not certain how we got onto that topic, i couldn't follow the conversation exactly. from here we went out to the Muslim sector and found somewhere to eat. we found this little shop where you gathered as many skewers of whatever that you wanted and they brought out boiling water that was on a burner so it remained hot. after you cooked it and were finished eating the waiter came and counted the skweres. to feed five of us it cost about 12 US dollars, including drinks! As we left the store we wondered around a little more and decided to go home, I was being a bit of a girl and wanted to go to bed. Unfortunately we spent the next 2 hour wondering the streets of Xi'an lost, we were glad to have a native speaker or it may have taken even longer to eventually find our way back. one more half day left in Xi'an we went to the city wall (this may have been the day before, again I need my notes) on the wall we got to ride bikes all the way around, or the sissy's rode in the electric car. Me and Charlotte rode a tandem bike, that was amazing!!! although Patrick overtook us and beat us back to the starting point. i can't remember how far around we went just that we did the entire circuit and it was really hot! Alright back to the hotel pick up our bags back on the bus and to the train station we're off to Zhengzhou University!