Hello all, so after four weeks of class and five weeks in Shanghai, it's time to take a break from it all and head north to Beijing, the capital city of China. So for all of next week till the 28th I'll be "reporting live" from Beijing (I'll try to write lots while I'm there ala). So we get on a bus here in Shanghai at six tonight that takes us to the train station for a 7:30 departure, then we have a nice 12 hour train ride to our final destination. Fortunately the program forked up the cash to get us soft sleepers on the train so we should be able to catch some zz's on our way up (I'm actually really looking forward to the ride, never been on a train before).
So we're doing a lot of sight seeing in Beijing, I know we're going to some old emperor's tomb, touring an old Beijing neighborhood, checking out the Olympic stuff, but the part that I'm am most excited for is the day we visit the Great Wall. One of my friends here who has visited before said that it's "awesome" and "won't let you down" (of course now I'm terrified it'll let me down). But it sounds like it has a lot of the same characteristics of the Grand Canyon in that pictures don't do it justice.
We are getting on a train for twelve hours that's headed in the northern direction, so the weather is going to feel a little more like Maine rather than Shanghai where everyday it's a little more like Memphis (Probably hit 70 yesterday, starting to get a little humid too, but no rain for a while now so everyone is happy). Not everyone is thrilled about traveling back into winter, but I think everyone is excited not to worry about Chinese homework for a few days.
So I'll be writing next from Beijing, hope all is well.
-AL
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Have a great time in Beijing! Enjoy the train ride to and from -- it's not just being there, it's the coming and the going.
ReplyDeleteLove you -- Mom
That comment was from Martha B., but I am not sure how to select a profile.
ReplyDeleteAndrew, Finally got the blog address from your mom tonight and have read all your posts. Glad to hear you are enjoying your time there and exciting to read about your adventures, from basketball and weight lifting to temple visits, street food, and the lack of heating. Sounds like you got some bargains at the fabric market and I'll look forward to seeing what you bought. Your host family sounds very nice, are most of the students having a similar experience with their families? The Chinese you are learning should come in very handy this sumemr at the restaurant, I'm sure we will all be impressed with your abilities when you return. Have lots of fun in Beijing (what does Bei mean, I know now that jing means city) and we will look forward to hearing all about your time in China. (The previous comment I wrote apparently didn't post). Martha B.
ReplyDeleteAndrew, what does your host dad do for work and your sister? Does the host mom work outside the home as well as doing your laundry and the cooking?
ReplyDelete1st: Bei means north.
ReplyDelete2nd: My Host Mother and father both did work but are now retired, my sister works for the city of Shanghai (Something with comuntications, IDK).
3rd: Everybody I've talked to whose in a homestay has loved it, I think we're all very glad with our decsion to "go big."
Hey A. Regarding Martha's comment... are you the first that they have hosted, or do they host as a supplement after retirement? Does China even have a SS system? I was also under the assumption that your host sister was about your age.
ReplyDeleteOk, so how was the train? Was it night most of the time or did you get to see some of the country side? ????? Sorry. And your mom was right. It's not the destination, it's the getting there (and back) that makes it memorable.
And I had a brain storm (that means hide down here). You and Jake should apply for that tv show, the Amazing Race. I've only seen the commercials, but between your sense of adventure and Jake's sense of direction, I think the two of you would do very well. And I think it pays something. :)
ly..ala