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Published: December 31st 2006
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Snow!
The view from my bedroom window After all the hype (of about 4 years!) I am actually here - can't quite believe it.
After a sleep deprived flight, I touched down in Beijing in the snow - Lizzie and I were squealing like 5 year olds. Well, to be fair, I was probably doing more of the squealing, but she was pretty excited too. Amazing. _Proper_ snow and everything! Apparently it's the first time it's snowed properly here for ages, and it should go on for a while longer.
Hou Yanling, my host 'mum' picked me up from the airport - she had to wait 2 hours because of the late flight, but she she wasn't even a little bit annoyed - she also paid for the taxi on the way back, which was super kind. When I got to the flat I was welcomed by her father (who I can't remember the name of - really should ask that soon, or it's going to be too late!), and her elder sister, Hou Yanhua. Unfortuantely Yanling had to rush out to work, so I didn't get to talk to her much, but Yanhua was an absolute legend! She showed me to my room, which is
great - I've got a double bed - score! And plenty of room, and very helpfully, an internet connection. Oh, I am being extremely dull - I apologise! One lovely feature of the room is that the blind is a lurid, technicolour view of tulips, a lampost, trees, grass, a butterfly, a lake, some islands and snowy mountain peaks - quite a special feast for the eyes! I shall take a photo of it. The real view is so much more exiting though - snowy :D
Oh, Yanhua - so she cooked me dinner - five different dishes, which she tried me to get me to eat most of, not really helping me lose the christmas fat lol, but it was awesome. I was later given 4 oranges to eat by grandpa hou (I'm going to call him that for the time being), because they were all different types, so I obviously had to try them
all then.
Was exhausted after dinner, having been up for 35 out of 36 hours, so crashed out for 12 hours sleep - mmm - it's been a long time.
Woke up to find Yanling gone, but Yanhua back in the house - she doesn't live here, she lives near the university with her husband and her 19 year old son. Oh, and over breakfast (which she cooked me, again - really have to find out what the deal is with cooking here - totally confused!) I met her younder brother Hou Zhuanshou (I think that was his last name...), who also lives here. I think he's moved out of the room I'm in - eek! They seem happy to have me here though, so I don't feel bad (well, a little bit). They are all wonderful - will describe them all later, when I know them better.
Was taken to find Shaoyuan at Beijing University, where I will be studying, to get my bearings - it is frigging FREEZING outside! I was wearing a vest, thermal top, t-shirt, fleecy jumper, fleece and coat, and I was just about okay - I think it was about minus 5 - the thought of being in Harbin in minus 20 terrifies me! I think I won't shave until after I go - that's an extra layer! The Uggs are FANTASTIC though - my feet were very toasty - perhaps I can order
a giant UGG to walk around in at the Ice Festival. Yanhua was clinging to me as we trudged through the snow and slush, constantly telling me to 'man, man zou' (carefully, carefully!), and 'it's slippery here, be careful, don't slip!'. Had a ridiculously large lunch bought for me (pattern emerging...), and bearings on the way to being got, returned home - found a great running route on the way back - perhaps I'll wait til I it's less likely that I'll slip over and crack my head open before I venture out though.
More food! Again, Yanhua wouldn't let me help, but she let me watch lol - I told her I wanted to learn how to cook Chinese food, so she says she will help me 😊 - I've now got 5 recepies written down in my travel journal - hooray!
Finally saw Yanling again this evening - we are going to learn how to play the guzheng (a Chinese string instrument - the pretty harp like one, not the horrible screechy I'm murdering a thousand cats one) - tomorrow going to do more sorting and investigating - hopefully I'll find out more!
Oh -
have been chatting entirely in Chinese too! Not entirely sure what's going on some of the time lol, and know I'm making tons of mistakes, but the family are all helping to teach me, and they are super patient.
All in all, everything is great. Thinking a lot about people from home, in a good way.
Oh - only one small disaster - Wikipedia doesn't work here! How will I find anything out!
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