t_in_china

Entry #1

I still can't quite believe we're in China. What the hell do I think I'm going here?? It's crazy. For a more eloquent version of that go read Katie's entry. Either I've acclimated quite well and it's no big deal being here OR (and I do think it's definately the or) this is just so fantastical that I'm still in shock. Or both. Maybe I've acclimated myself to the shock. Who knows.

So the plane ride was very long. Very long. But we went over some of the most amazing scenery. Mum, Katie and I spent about an hour or more in the back of the plane bothering the stewardesses(/flight attendants) as we stared out the windows at the mountains of Siberia. It was so beautiful. I wasted over two rolls of film just on the rivers and plains and those beautiful, unbelieveable mountains of Siberia. I still can't believe it. And we may have even seen signs of life and civilization at one point where the rivers got remarkably straight and there were little boxy things like houses, but I have no idea.

And so we arrived in and Katie, Mum and I were ready to fall asleep in Mrs. Eldred's car. She ordered us to stay awake and although Katie failed I'm really happy I did it (for the most part, anyway). Driving into the city from the Airport in Pudon was really amazing (and I really need a thesaurus). The city starts out slow with warehouses that look abandoned, housing that looks abandoned, and housing that looks too much like the projects of America to be much fun to live in. And then the apartment buildings increase. And then, emerging from the clouds, are some of the tallest skyscrapers in the world.

"Do you see that one, with the lights on top?" -Mrs. Eldred
"The one that looks like a floating castle?" -Mum
"Yeah. That's the tallest skyscraper in the world." -Mrs. Eldred
"Myurreh?" -Me and Katie

And then the foot massage. Oh my god, the foot massage. All six of us (Mr. Eldred and Topher joined us at this point) taking up the entire space of the Dragonfly's foot massage parlor and it was glorious. They put our stinky, tired feet into these baths filled with minerals or something (and yes, I was reminded rather strongly of Spirited Away ^^;) and they started massaging our shoulders and I have run out of words. They did our shoulders first, and then our arms, and then our hands and at least Melissa knows how much of a sucker I am for hand massages. I managed to stay awake all through my left foot (more good-smelling oils and wonderful pressure) but I think I drifted off towards the end of my right foot. Katie snored basically the whole time.

And then we went back to our lovely hotel and managed to finish our research projects. I finished mine around 11 something (around 10 in the morning for you guys) and Katie finished some time in the wee hours (or the wee afternoon, I suppose). Then we slept and I think we're pretty much over jet lag. We'll test that out today.

Miss you all and wish that a significant portion of you were here.

From Pandaland with Love,

Kat



Entry #2

Oh my, we’re still in China. It’s getting more and more believable as the hours pass. Katie and I went to get Starbucks this morning and then she threw up. Not the best thing ever, poor dear.

So yesterday we walked around for a few hours. We went into these tiny little boutiques that Mrs. Eldred had VIP cards at and I found the most beautiful dress. Most things here are made to fit Katie and others with the perfect Asian physique and I’m guessing that you all know that I am not one of those people. But I found this dress and it’s gorgeous and because it’s made by an American designer the size was actually a little big. I tried it in blue and then bought it in green (in the right size). And we’ve decided that it’s my prom dress. So that’s a huge change from last year when I bought it the day before at a random department store with Sarah P. Now I just need another date. But that’s an adventure for another entry.

Then we walked around more and I was taking way too many pictures. How can I not? It’s so amazing! But Mum has made me ration my film, at least until we can find a place that sells TMax 400 or 100. The place where I finished off my second roll of the day was this enormous outdoor market. It’s filled with row upon row of little stalls all selling the same things: knockoff shirts, jewelry, bags, and knick-knacks and with lots of people coming up to all the foreigners (of which there are quite a few besides my group) and saying (with less than proper enthusiasm) “Hey lady/cool boy you want buy watch DVD bag?” Considering that we have no use for a watch DVD bag we say no and walk off. But there are a lot of the buggers, so I suppose they’re trying to make up for quality of sellers with quantity.

Before we got to the outdoor market we actually went and bought some DVDs but I’m not going to go into that because the Pandanese government is probably watching what I write and it was all less than legal.

Then we went and saw Eldred’s high school’s play. And it was terrible. Words cannot describe how utterly awful it was. And then Katie and I were made to go to the cast party (which was at a restaurant and not at someone’s house, which was very awkward all by itself) just so Eldred could show us off (or that’s what his mom said, at least). But he sat us in a corner and introduced us to a few people, but not nearly enough. And the people we saw went “Oh! You came from America? How cool!” And then walked away. It was boring and I couldn’t stand it and I felt so goddamn stuck up but we’re just so much better than them that I feel both conceited and shamed. I really don’t know how to handle that kind of thing.

Today we’re going fabric shopping and we were actually supposed to leave a little while ago, so I’m going to finish this.

From Pandas with Love