Day 2: In the Beginning...
It's almost hard to believe that I have just been here two days...(although technically since it's after midnight here, its now actually June 17th). It feels like I've been HERE but not like I have experienced anything much.
Today, I had my first squat toilet experience, my first Chinese breakfast, my first Chinese sit-down dinner, and bought my first purchase (sunglasses) and my first bike--also my first bike ride through Tshinghua.
I haven't been into the city yet. That will have to wait until some other time. The bike wasn't so bad. I didn't run over anybody and I didn't fall off. Shopping was a bit harder to do. The way things are arranged I felt cluttered. And I didn't feel like I could use my Chinese at all. It was overall, a bad coping experience. But I made up enough for it later when I bought my sunglasses and the bike.
Tomorrow, we have a tour of Beijing and on Sunday we do the whole Great Wall trip. We start classes on Monday. I think I will be happy about the order that brings with it!
I hope all is well with you all at home. So far, I've finally gotten to chat with Jason, Dawn, Dave, Sara, and my Family and I've heard from and replied to Miss Becks and Jayson. I just want to say, that where we live...in SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA (or for that matter, in Virginia) is paradise, plain-straight-up-paradise. And we should NEVER take it for granted, even if we are under poverty standards.
Today, I had my first squat toilet experience, my first Chinese breakfast, my first Chinese sit-down dinner, and bought my first purchase (sunglasses) and my first bike--also my first bike ride through Tshinghua.
I haven't been into the city yet. That will have to wait until some other time. The bike wasn't so bad. I didn't run over anybody and I didn't fall off. Shopping was a bit harder to do. The way things are arranged I felt cluttered. And I didn't feel like I could use my Chinese at all. It was overall, a bad coping experience. But I made up enough for it later when I bought my sunglasses and the bike.
Tomorrow, we have a tour of Beijing and on Sunday we do the whole Great Wall trip. We start classes on Monday. I think I will be happy about the order that brings with it!
I hope all is well with you all at home. So far, I've finally gotten to chat with Jason, Dawn, Dave, Sara, and my Family and I've heard from and replied to Miss Becks and Jayson. I just want to say, that where we live...in SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA (or for that matter, in Virginia) is paradise, plain-straight-up-paradise. And we should NEVER take it for granted, even if we are under poverty standards.