China: The Saga Begins

Okay: so I guess I forgot to make note in my first message, but some have been wondering about the time difference. We are 15 hours ahead, or one day ahead, 9 hours behind. For example, if it is 8:00 our time on the 2009 June 21 (how the Chinese write their dates,) then it is 18:00 - 6:00 pm - on June 20 2009 (written as the American date format.) Or...as someone suggested, if in China, subtract 3 hours, then switch the time of day. (I like this one better.)

And, oh! There is SO much that I want to share, but I know that if I were to say all that I want to say, it would turn out to be a book. So, I will spare you all, and leave my stories that I have for in person or other occasions.

Sunday, 14 June 2009

Left Portland on time with all of our luggage and everything, and everyone in tact. :o) Our arrival in San Fransisco was fine, a very short flight of which I pretty much slept the whole way there. Upon arrival,we had about a three hour layover. We were free to explore, have lunch, shop, or do whatever. Some decided to buy burger king, but all I really wanted was a water, since I drained my liter water bottle I had purchased in Portland before leaving. In my search for water, I came across a small group of my whole group. They all wanted to go to subway, so they ordered their sandwiches, while I ordered my water. We then all sat and chatted for some time, and then headed off to our terminal. We all boarded the plane alright and on time. Takeoff was no problem. As for me, I believe it was after the first meal was served, I fell off into a deep slumber. Throughout the 12.5 hour flight, I dozed often.

However I must say that this was the worst flight I slept on...but I slept.

Monday, 15 June 2009

We arrived at the Shanghai airport (I actually saw us when we crossed the dateline - it showed it up on the screen.) However, upon arrival, that is when the "real" fun began. As some of you may or may not have heard, since I know some have while others have not, the Chinese "health patrol/inspectors" came aboard to check our temperature because we flew in from a swine flu "infected" place. There was much trouble as they were checking a few people in the back part of the plane. Leaving out all the details, for it gets complicated, one of our group members was detained because his temp was .4 degrees

over. A passenger was, though, found to have a high enough temp (and later was declared to have the swine flu, but who knows really.) Additionally, rows 56 and up were permitted to leave, but everyone else had to go. Meaning? 2/3 of our group of students, plus four advisers were stuck on the plane and later taken to quarantine. All were - and still are - healthy, but they kept them quarantined for four days. We would later find out that after three days, they would release only four people (luckily

one adviser was with this group.) But the rest, for some reason, had to stay for an additional SEVEN days. NOBODY was happy on either end, and this HUGE dilemma has caused grief for us all. Nobody is happy about it, and we all pretty much hate the Chinese govt. and think it is ABSOLUTELY STUPID the decisions that the authorities have made. NOTHING makes sense.....AARRRGGGG. (Sorry: this trip is not turning out to not be very fun or enjoyable for us. Granted, those of us who made it out/were released are enjoying what we are doing, but we are not enjoying it as much as we could if the others were here.) - Okay, so that is more than JUST Monday, but the problem flows into half of our trip.

SO...those of us who were not detained/quarantined, went ate some amazing food at the airport as we tried to connect with those who were detained, but to no avail. to a hotel. We regrouped and discussed what we were going to do, since the following day we were to be on a plane to Nanning. We all went to bed that evening only to find that the mattresses in the hotels are as hard as the wood floors on which the mattress frame sits. (I honestly think we are sleeping on box springs.)

Tuesday, 16 June 2009

So, we had originally planned to take a tour of Shanghai, but that did not happen. (Long story.) The one student whose temp was a wee bit high had been sent to a hospital for a different kind of quarantine - the others were sent to a hotel and were stuck on a floor. They could leave the room, but not the floor. So he joined us at breakfast at the hotel, and we all eventually made it to the airport in the early afternoon and then flew south to the province of Guangxi (Gwan-shee.) About two and a half hours after we departed, we arrived, found our luggage and were greeted by a few locals who were VERY kind and welcoming. They accompanied us to our hotel where we slept for the evening.

Wednesday, 17 June 2009

Wednesday brought us three more students plus an adviser. This we are thankful for, as well as when we left the plane, we were glad that we had one advisor with us...or else there would be 7 students who were not sure exactly what they were doing. :o/ We met a few students (some of whom are originally from Guilin (Gwee-lynn) and they took us around the nearby blocks. They also helped us go to a Bank of China, were the vast majority of the group exchanged their U.S. cash, while others used the ATMs to withdraw money. Today was also the day we received our polos with "Western Oregon University" written in Chinese on the left and the company name below. The "word image" is that of a rising sun. Pretty clever if you ask me. We were also privileged with a city tour at night...well, early evening to "mid-evening," after which we went to dinner. (We always eat breakfast and lunch, but I doubt I will make note of any more of that, nor of dinner, unless something special happened.) Today was pretty laid back. Neng Yang (our "guide" and "translator"/adviser from the international office) wanted today to be a "relaxing" day for us.

I will note, though, that since arriving in Nanning, one can see the sky, and not a smog dome such as in Shanghai. Also, the humidity is SO very high in addition to semi-high temps. We all are surviving, but always seem to race back to our AC rooms. We leave the AC on ALL the time, though it probably is not the best thing to do...but none of us can really stand the humidity/heat for a very long time.

Thursday, 18 June 2009

Unknown to us, we visited some very important people regarding the education system here in the Guangxi province. We visited some of the educational directors, and we discussed our educational systems and the differences in our university - and many specifics about that - as well as other differences in each country's concept of education. We also listened to some background information regarding Guangxi, more specifically, Nanning and a number of other topics arose as well. As we left, we were given gifts (can't remember the name) but they are worn around the neck and are a symbol of love & friendship; mainly friendship nowadays.

After lunch, some of us went walking around the block/neighboring shops. Some of us wanted bubble tea/something cold to drink, so we stumbled upon a place (luckily someone spoke some English, or else we'd be in more of a world of hurt.) We each ordered something cool & refreshing and walked around some more. After lunch, we usually have until dinner to do whatever.

After dinner, we walked back to a building across from our hotel where we met and conversed with several Chinese students who wish to better their English. We do this, usually, about two hours each night, and discuss and talk about a variety of subjects. I enjoyed this first night immensely. I remember, though, one time, I was with two other American students, and we all were talking with about four or five Chinese girls, and they were asking Emily (one of the three of us) to sing a Disney song. Well, she was not too sure, so she ask me join. I did, and as we started to sing, she started laughing. Why? Because she was so shocked that I knew so many of the lyrics. Then, after we were stuck on the lyrics, another request was made. What song did they ask us to sing? The theme song from the Titanic. Yes: just like in Argentina, they LOVE the movie Titanic here as well. So....Emily and I started to sing, she faded, and I continued, and continued, and continued. It became increasingly more difficult to sing, for she [Emily] and everyone else at that table were laughing, as was I (out of nervousness & embarrassment,) but kept trying to continue to sing. I was then asked if I knew the second verse to the song, and I continued singing.....and more laughter followed. I don't think I got much further than the end of the second verse, if that because people were a) laughing and b) someone made the comment how they couldn't believe I knew the whole song. But it was enjoyable. :o) I am glad I could be entertaining.

Okay: I think that is good for now. Will try to write the rest/more later. It is getting late here, and we have another school to visit tomorrow. We have to "work" hard, but at the same time, it is not hard work at all. A lot is demanded of us, but it is nothing unbearable. Oh: and sorry if there are huge spelling errors in any of my messages. I do try to run it through spell check - and though I cannot rely on that ALL the time, I just don't have enough time to make it "publishing perfect."