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1st letter to my wife when I came to China in 2009

By Brian O'Connell (chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2011-04-08 09:56

My first letter (email) home to my wife Margo when I came to China in 2009 to study Chinese Language.

Hi Margo,

I sure love you. The trip went pretty smooth, with no hitches, and I am established in my dorm room. The worst of the plane rides was the horrible food, totally unappetizing. Thanks for making me take the bananas. There was a Starbucks in the Beijing Airport right across from the arrival gate, and just after the currency exchange. Took 300 Yuan from the Bank of China ATM today so that worked Okay too. My flight arrived at 2:00 in the morning, the taxi driver said Xian zai? (Right now?) when I told him the train station. The taxi ride was an eye opener, Beijing looked great at night.

The author (R) on a train in China. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Margo the Beijing train station was something that should be experienced by everyone. The loud crushing queue was frantic at the window, other people trying to resell their continuation ticket as soon as they heard a destination. I ignored them as best I could and bought my ticket at the window. As soon as a customer was done another thrust their money through the window hole wrapped in their fist. If hadn't pushed my way in and done the same, I'd still be in line. Except the queue was a massive pile-up instead of a line. I was looking for my fullback to lead the blocking. I was so happy to have my ticket in my hand, with six hours to wait for the train departure. The scene in the plaza in front of the train station was wild and surely one of the great experiences in my life. There were no benches. Many of us who were waiting for the morning trains sat on a wall, and dozed on our luggage. Every time I got up to walk about, I was approached by people to buy hotel a room, a map, weird snacks, who knows what else I didn't quite get the translation. People spreading out newspaper on the ground for a place to sleep. Vendors shut down for the night sleeping on their pushcarts. Troop of Public Safety Officers suddenly march across the plaza at 4:00am. You know how a smell can cement a memory? Well the public rest rooms outside Beijing Train Station have already given me a couple of memories I'll never forget.

I went inside the station about 5am and saw why there were people (not homeless) sleeping on the ground outside. The floors and hallways were covered with sleeping individuals, and piles of multi generation families. I didn't take any picture of that because I didn't want to wake people with the flash, and I would have had to take a whole series to get the full effect. After the first few trains left in the morning, space opened up and I lied down myself. Just in time for the loud 'wake-up music' at 6:00am, followed by the Aunties, nudging, clapping, hollering at people to wake up, sit up, no more lying down, dragging chair/benches around so they can sweep. Boy, did it need it.

The train ride was totally awesome, 150 Miles Per Hour, smooth, four station stops 5 minutes each between Beijing and Changchun 1000 miles, 50 bucks, six hours. Love to see that in America! My first impression of North China is that it is a lot like Iowa, except flatter and with more corn. Every farmer in North China grows corn apparently, and hybrid poplars.

Arrived in Changchun, walked out of the train station and there was the shuttle bus to Jilin Daxue. Monday is first day of classes for all the colleges and Universities in Changchun, they all had shuttle busses at the station. Great fender bender right in the street, by the busses, drivers pile out with spouses to argue right in the middle of the street. Every one else driving seemed to put their faith in the power of their car horns, rather than brakes, drove around them yelling, even the Chinese students on the bus with me were laughing at that one. I have only been here 6 hours so have not seen any pedestrians run down yet, but its only a matter of time. Drivers seem to take artistic licence with cross walks, turns, cutting off or zooming by, a little sidewalk driving, but hey! Not surprising, because people walk in the streets. I love watching the taxi drivers give a cheery little wave to the police car they have just cut off in traffic. Fun!

For me, Orientation tomorrow, classes start on Tuesday. I'll write more later.

Peace & Love, Hugs and Kisses

boc

Addenda: I have returned to Changchun this year to teach English. Still have not seen any pedestrian/vehicle accidents. Of course, I now cross the streets Changchun style - Be bold - Cross with the grannies, they know what they are doing - Swim like a fish!

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