Finally here...

So we’re finally here and settled.. It only took 10 hours to get from Seattle to Tokyo, an hour layover there, 2.5 hours to get from Tokyo to Shanghai, and then a 3 hour bus ride which included a trip across the Yangzi River by ferry boat- well more like a mini barge that carted us and a few other trucks across the river, all while dodging other boats because there apparently wasn’t any sort of navigation for them to move about the river. It was then that I had my first understanding of what people meant by ‘lots of pollution’ in China. The air quality is just horrible.. everywhere. I got off the bus on the boat to stretch my legs and get fresh air but the fresh part didn’t really fit into the picture. It was also on the boat (or the rest stop prior) that the majority of the students encountered the oh-so-fabulous Turkish Toilets. I knew to take advantage of the airport so luckily I haven’t had to squat over one quite yet, but that’ll only last so long..! While the trip was lengthy I sadly didn’t get much sleep.. so I have no idea how I am even awake right now because I think my longest nap was about an hour.. yea, meaning I watched 3 whole movies on the painful 10 hr flight and on the bus I attempted to sleep but instead listened to the amazing Death Cab for Cute while staring out at nighttime in China.

We got to Nantong University around 1am and there were staff waiting up to check us in. We have the 10^th floor to a dormitory all to ourselves which is really nice- and I got lucky and happened to be placed on the side that has a balcony, larger room area, and a separated toilet/bath (the other half of the floor has theirs together in one stall… talk about getting to know your roommate!).

So it’s now 3am here and I need to get up at 9 to take a cold shower (there are certain times we have hot water.. and yes tonight was one of them but I don’t have a towel yet so I’m using my roommate’s and thought I would take a shorter shower if it was a cold one anyways.. I’m having a feeling I might appreciate cold showers with how humid & warm it is here, even at this time of night). Then around 9:30 we’re supposed to get our meal cards from Professor Bintong and then don’t have to be ready until 11 when we meet our “China Buddies” who are showing us around. We have class then at 2pm which they promised would only take an hour each, so after that I’m looking forward to sleeping but I have a feeling there will be other activities planned once the group has had all of this initial touring and getting to know the campus better… SO, I should get some sleep so I can be as well rested for my first day in China as possible!