Chillin in China

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July 22nd 2007

Published: August 25th 2007

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td impulse

John & I

We´re here!

Hello, hello,

So after a long, long ferry (30 or so hours), we arrived in Shanghai and were shocked by the pollution. Now, I have heard from many sources about the pollution in China, but there is nothing that could prepare me for the physical shock to the system. Half way from Kobe to Shanghai, the dense yellow cloud loomed ahead. As we approached, we could feel our lungs and eyes struggling, and wondered how it was possible. Of course, that was nothing compared to the shock of the sun - you see, mid-day, sun high in the sky and not a cloud around, you could stare straight at the sun and not only were your eyes okay, but the enveloping layer of smog actually made the sun so foreign, one would swear it was the moon!

From Shanghai to Beijing, there wasn´t any improvement, in fact I dare say the quality worsened and we constantly contemplated how the local athletes were able to train and how they could feasibly pull of the 2008 Olympics... that one still baffles us... all I can wonder is that if training in heat and/or elevation improves performance, can the same be said

A glimpse of China

Nice change from Japanese temples...

for pollution??? If so, I´ll bet on China taking all the golds...

The pollution certainly proved a bit much for all of us... we were hacking like the locals in no time, and our eyes and lungs were burning. Julie and I made the mistake of trying to get out in the morning for a jog and were horrified... then we made our way to the great wall, opting for a hike along the wall from one section to another, and continued to be disappointed as none of the distant walls showed up in our photos because of the constant haze that is the air in China.

It was also captivating for me to meet a local on the bus ride from Shanghai to Beijing. I was able to sit by a local and have the most interesting conversation. It started when the fellow suddenly turned to me after about 20 minutes of sitting in silence and stated "I think we should have a short conversation now!". Of course, I had noticed as I sat down that he was trying to catch my eye and that he was acting like a 13 year old boy who had never

John & Julie

Shanghai to Beijing....

asked a girl out before. He was jumpy and nervous, sweating and constantly trying to wipe the palm of his hands on his thighs.... So, with this bold, blurted statement, I figured that he more than deserved the conversation - what I did´t expect is how much I would learn from it. The comments saturated in a history of communism and a nation on the rise were compelling and intriguing. So, as it turns out, this PHD student was one of 17 to be chosen for an exchange this coming month, and it will be the first time he has ever left China. Oh, and did I mention, I was the first foreigner he had ever spoken to?!?! And he was going to Amsterdam!!! We had a few interesting exchanges, indeed!

Mind you, between the forbidden city, the great wall, the temples, and amazing array of incredible food, we were more than happy to suffer the air quality and enjoy the rest. We had pecking duck, shanghai noodles (and my favorite part was watching the chef kneed, stretch, twist, flip, and thread the dough through his fingers in a matter of seconds into flawless, fresh, fantastic noodles!)

Finally,