After facing some challenges and doing some rescheduling these past few weeks, we finally got onto the plane Monday morning and started our journey. Before leaving for the airport, a group of friends showed up at the house to send us off. You know that they must be very special friends to come to your house at 5:30AM on a Monday! One of them, Susan Power, successfully negotiated the Atlanta morning rush hour to get us the airport in plenty of time and was gracious enough to take Timothy back to GA Tech – thanks again Susan!
Our four flights went well (Atlanta to Minneapolis to Tokyo to Beijing to Kunming). We had to stop overnight in Beijing between connections to accommodate the schedule. Capital Airport hotel was OK, but as usual we needed to insert our “Thermarest” pads into the traditional Chinese beds to soften the hardness. We were also assigned a room with twin beds and felt we would not be able to explain to the front desk that we’d rather not sleep separately!
In addition to the free airport shuttle, the hotel rate includes a breakfast. The options for breakfast food are interesting in China, and often include things that many Westerners might not want to wake up to, including green veggies. This is further evidence why we brought a few dozen instant oatmeal pouches for use during our first weeks of the relocation process.
When we finally got to Kunming, we were met by Angie, a very helpful new teacher in our city who has already lived in another part of China for two years. She took good care of us, getting us safely to our hotel and setting up dinner with some more new friends. It’s great to know people that speak English AND Chinese!
On Thursday, we joined a friend in an 8th floor apartment to get internet access (yeah!). While reading e-mail, the room began to sway back and forth. We looked nervously at each other, remembering the recent devastation by the earthquakes just north of here, motivating us to quickly descend the stairs and head for lunch. Based on the news report, it was caused by a 5.1 magnitude tremblor 75 km away (http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2010-02/25/content_9505930.htm).
Thursday night, we joined some Kiwi friends (Stephen and Janet) for dinner in their downtown apartment. In a departure from traditional Chinese fare, Janet prepared a Greek dish for our enjoyment (Moussaka). They moved to Kunming from New Zealand 18 months ago and still remember what it’s like to be newcomers, so we appreciate their kind assistance as we get connected with the culture. As you can see from the photo of our evening bus ride over to their apartment, things can get pretty crowded, so it’s good to plan your exit a few stops ahead of time so that you can start squeezing your way to the back door. The price is right (1 RMB each ~= 15 cents), but the taxi fare (~$2) that we paid to get back can be well worth it if you’re on a tight time schedule (or still recovering from jet lag).
Good to see Mom smiling on the bus!
We are glad to know you made it safely! Just reading about your adventures. We see you are already shaking things up!!! Normally they say to get in a doorway, would that be any safer? Maybe you will need to retro-fit all your doorways to Prac Jack standards.
Glad to hear you arrived and traveling was uneventful. Since you know how much I like to eat veggies, the idea of starting my day with a bowl of green plants would not be very appealing. Professor Mark – let us know how the start of the classes go. We think of both of you often. Mark & Regina
The only vegetable I ever have with breakfast is corn (grits). Great to see you made it safely to China. Thinking of you often.
Glad to hear you arrived safely. You know that what you are going to do there will be important just based on all the trouble you had before leaving.
We were able to purchase foam (cut to size) for a topping for our beds in Taiyuan. A friend helped us to find it in the city. It wasn’t expensive.
David will be leaving on March 3 for more than 3 weeks in Asia, mostly in China. He’ll be traveling to 5 cities in China for presentations at fairs there.
Thinking of you often.
Kathy for the Edgrens
So glad to get this update…love being able to follow your adventure on the blog.
You eat omelets with spinach, onions, tomatoes, etc. so you can eat veggies for breakfast I bet. Still, the idea is a little hard on the stomach. Great sources of fiber early in the day. We are so proud of you!
You really can’t get that much food on those chopsticks – which sometimes is a blessing!
Good to see your smiles, and we are thinking about Stephen. With love, The Randolphs.
Wow, an earthquake-Scary! That must have been a unique feeling…Love you!
What a beginning! You’re already shaking things up there!
It will be worth everything, as you are gaining what what you cannot lose.
I am so glad that you made it, I think I would like a taxi next time. Love ya and missin ya.
So good to hear from you…we have been thinking of you both and your family and will continue to do so. Take care…who knows, you might even learn to like “green” for breakfast. Sounds a lot like our experiences when we visited Japan, including the shaking building.
Lots of love.
Is it my imagination or do the beds look short?
You two are very adventurous. I really like hearing about all that you are doing.
Good to see you standing and smiling!
I know you guys must be in the right place cause boy do you know how to make an entrance! Your very own EARTHQUAKE!!! WOW!!!
So glad for the news of a good trip and new friends to help in the initial adjustment process.
Hey bro, have you finished your outline yet? Remember, slow down your speaking speed by a factor of 0.3 and don’t drink any coffee the first two weeks. It’s good to see Susan enjoying the transportation system. It’s tax time at our house this morning so it can only get better after that. Dixie said we could do something fun after that. Any suggestions? ( hello Schneiders)
Chris, if tax time is particularly generous, you might consider spending some of your refund on back surgery (or a flight to China, whichever seems more pleasant).