The Arrival
Roommate Spike buying fireworks at a street stand near campus
I have succesfully arrived in Beijing! I can’t believe that I am halfway accross the world in an entirely new country and culture. I wrote before I left that I was experiencing an unprecedented mix of emotions — that has by no means gone away. I have gotten better control of them, but each day thus far has brought back that mix. Each feeling is amplified by 1,000 now since I am actually here. I wish I hadn’t waited a week to write my first blog from here as so much has already happened. I will write in installments that will hopefully all be up today or tomorrow. This first one is a quick recap of my arrival:
My plane ride was realtively easy. I had a direct flight from Chicago to Beijing on United Airlines. I sat in Economy, but paid a bit extra when I purchased the tickets to sit in Economy Plus (the extra legroom was WELL worth it). It is truly a surreal experience to be in a plane for 13 hours! When we arrived in Beijing, I discovered that there were a handfull of students in the program on my flight. It was nice to have a few companions as I attempted to navigate a foreign airport, however, Beijing’s airport is mostly straightforward and not too confusing.
It was about 5:00 PM when we met up with one of our program directors and were led to a van that would take us to Beida (Peking University). As we drove, we passed the Olympic sites — the Bird’s Nest and the Water Cube. The highways were strangely empty. Our driver explained that it was still the Chinese New Year and nobody was out.
We arrived about 45 minutes later at the doors of Shaoyuan 5 where another director of the program distributed room keys and our new student IDs. Most of us were on the 5th floor of the dorm building. Shaoyuan doesn’t have elevators, so we all complained that we brought far too much as we lugged bags up to the fifth floor. Once at my room, I proceeded to attempt to get in. As I began to turn the key in the door knob -SNAP!! The key broke in half. I’m completely out of it from a 13 hour flight with no clue where I am and I don’t even know if the director is still here. It all turned out okay, I got the key that was supposed to go to my third roommate, who wouldn’t arrive until the following morning.
With bags tossed into the room, a group of us exchanged names and went exploring outside the East Gate of Beida. We ventured to a local restaurant constantly in awe as people filled the streets setting off fireworks mere feet from the sides of moderately sized, multi-story buildings. When we sat, Bobby, a student from American University, helped us order a slew of dishes as he was the most advanced in Mandarin it seemed.
Below is a video I took of some fireworks on the Beida campus:
We finished the meal and returned to the dorms to meet more people as they arrived. I quickly got tired and had to sneak off to bed. The first night was successful.
More to come on the past week in the next couple days: namely, our short trip to Changde and the Great Wall; my first days at my new internship; night life in Beijing; and random excursions around the city…
Stay tuned! Zaijian!
Hey Matt,
Glad to hear you’re safe and sound and having an experience of a lifetime! Dave and I can’t wait to hear all you have to tell about China and your internship (?). You’re not missing much here is Chicago. We’ve all been trying to stay warm and keep the effects of cabin fever at bay. I think most of Chicago is a little stir crazy . . . including our beloved ex-govenor.
It is just now starting to warm up and people are venturing out in lighter jackets sans earmuffs and gloves. The snow is melting and if this keeps up, the daffodils will start popping out. But . . . the weather man says more winter weather to come late next week so this is a short lived dream but oh . . what a nice one.
Love to you,
Dave and Kim