China, Really?

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I arrived in China two days ago? Kind of. The jetlag didn't really get to me very much, though I was incredibly tired my first night here. After making through the 13hour flight I made my way though the airport where i got in the entry line, titled Foreigners. Unfortunately half way through the line the title changed and became Chinese Nationals, which i am not. Once out of the airport, where i very easily (thank god) found carl, we made our way back to his homestay. I don't think they understood that when it was mentioned that i speak No Chinese, that meant ZERO chinese. The father was convinced that if he spoke slowly enough, that i would understand. Of course, that didn't work as he had hoped. The following day I saw Tian'anmen square, which is incredibly large, bigger than any movie/documentary had depicted. It was so neat to be standing there, on this enormous square, where people are kept from really congregating, and have seen it in so many historical documeted things. Neat. Then over to the Forbidden City, which is also ridiculously large. I never really pulled out a map, so it was more or less aimless wandering through the immense winding walls, and buildings made museums. Interesting, some of it. I found a room of a TON of pottery. It was all in little fragments lined together accordings to all kinds of times and places and relevant creation information. There was So much of it... and much of it was so different.

Today we got up much earlier to head off to the great wall. It took about 3hours and some interesting haggling to get upt there at a reasonable rate, but it was more than worth the trek. It's another Huge thing. I guess i haven't really seen anything that wasn't impressive in size... funny. Where we went, Simatai, the section of the Great Wall, was really nice. It has been very reconstructed but it was not crawling with people as some of the other sites are claimed to be. It was great to have a picture of the wall without a million other people standing on it. It was horribly hot yesterday, and not quite as bad today though i managed a small sunburn. This evening we had dinner with a girl who's been studying here since August, and plans to stay here until this August. She was really fun, and when she asked me how i like China.... i could only respond that Sometimes its like "Oh man, i'm in China" and sometimes it doesn't even fully register. I hope that doesn't change much about what i experience out here. It's been interesting and Impressive, though as i said, China Really? I mean what more of a brick to the head does one need than a 13hour flight... i figured i'd get it by now. But i guess not. I think i'm coming around. The more i see the more i realize that this is certainly China, REALLY!

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Comments

[Saly]

CHINA! welcome.
yayayayay! wo ai ni! ^_^

[Kris Kular]

A friend of your mom
This is so cool that you get to do this. Tell your mom to keep sending the updates

[Charlene]

Living China through you!
Lizzie, I'm having so much fun traveling through China with you! Have fun!