I really did it!! And the food is that good

After flying for nearly a day, I looked out the window. Everything was a bit hazy in my brain…after all, I had been sleeping for quite a while. I couldn’t figure it out, but the more I looked, the more I got upset. After flying this many hours, how could I be back in LA?

As it turns out, the smog in Beijing is not unlike that of LA on a really bad day. But I’m here, coughing and wheezing like most of the cars. Our first Couchsurfing friend Sanzhar, picked us up at the airport, and the drive back was not dissimilar to an American interstate; Audi’s, Benzes and Toyotas fill the lanes of the highways and there are Chinese people everywhere. We are unpacking our stuff and showering, and going to head for our first mango pit stop before dinner. So stop worrying, Air Canada isn’t that bad of an airline.

Zack and I had our first Chinese meal at a delicious restaurant. For three dollars a piece, we started with tea, and feasted on mixed vegetables, sweet and sour pork, lion’s head mushrooms, and a bamboo dish. I couldn’t believe how tasty and cheap the meal was. Needless to say, I’m looking forward to the rest of our meals here, and can’t wait to eat as many cheap mangos as I can lay my hands on.

Its hard to get around here, nobody speaks English and my Mandarin is a bit rusty to say the least. We’ve been doing a lot of pointing and shrugging, and alas, Sanzhar speaks Chinese, although he is originally from Kazakhstan (for all you Borat lovers-no resemblance in any way). I feel like a four year old again-unable to decipher words or ideas and grinning, eyes wide open without a clue in the world. All in all, its been a long but great first day (or two-I think we left Tuesday and its Thursday night now) and we’re looking forward to more great adventures.

Late

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