sorry!

I have been a very bad traveler. Life has been busy and so picture uploading has gotten away from me. Below are some links to the most recent sets I have uploaded (all pictures from Guangzhou and some pictures of my trip to Hong Kong so far...including a trip to Macau). Hope you all enjoy!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/35503188@N06/sets/72157627232685972/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/35503188@N06/sets/72157627108489759/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/35503188@N06/sets/72157627108536415/

Made it to Guangzhou!

Made it to the next city safely. We were expecting to have serious weather delays but our travel day was perfect. We are resting before dinner at the bottom of a mountain. We have wireless here (a rare thing) and I am watching 101 Dalmatians in Mandarin. So far so good.

More later when there is something to say.

-Gretchen

Especial para Chuck/Last Day in Chengdu

Ate this majorly tasty stuff called hot pot tonight. What is it? It's a hot pot put in the middle of your table that is heated and brought to a constant boil by a heating element built into the table. One part is non-spicy and the other is WAY spicy. Raw veggies and meats come to the table. You throw them in, they cook, you take them out, dip them in this bowl of oil/cilantro/garlic, eat, smile, repeat. Photos can be found in the link below. Ugh. So delicious.



Also, I got to tour around the city today with some students. They took me to this ridiculously gorgeous temple/monastery. Photos can be seen by clicking the link below...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/35503188@N06/sets/72157627028047539/

7/7 in Chengdu!

Here is a link to the pictures I took yesterday. We went to a Panda breeding center. Of course it was too hot for the giant pandas to be outside...but of course we could run around trying to find them and take their pictures through dirty panes of glass. Luckily, the red pandas got to stay outside. And if I have to say so myself, I think the red pandas are WAY cuter (and not just because they were the only ones outside). So check out the pics and let me know what you think or if you have any questions!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/35503188@N06/sets/72157627019462905/

This trip is going so fast and so slow at the same time. But whatever pace it seems to be going, I am just going to go with it. Sometimes it can be overwhelming, but there are other times where I am sure that I am in love with this place. It is weird to feel such a broad range of emotions...

...but anyway. That is enough.

Write soon.

-G

First real day in Chengdu

Here are more pictures. Yesterday we checked out of the Sheraton and went to visit a company that makes air purifiers for hospitals and sterilizers for medical equipment. Then today we had our first lecture and then went to see a company that makes wires and cables. After that, we went to dinner and saw a Sichuan Opera style variety show. While at the dinner table, I paid to have my ears cleaned and to get a head, neck and back massage. I could get used to dinner out like that...haha. ;-) The link for the pictures is below:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/35503188@N06/sets/72157627122941554/


Since my daily free time seems to be a bit short, lets try this: comment on this post with any questions you might have. I will be able to answer those much easier and quicker than if I try to sit down and do a play by play of every day.

Sorry for the Delay!

So my time here in China has been jam packed. So I am very sorry to do this to you all again...but I must re-direct you to my flickr account to see what I have been up to lately.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/35503188@N06/sets/72157627112992128/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/35503188@N06/sets/72157627113141242/




Since I cannot add descriptions for now, here is a quick Reader's Digest version:

Beijing was amazing. I cried when I left. So many nice people and a great city. Flew to Chengdu...flight got diverted to Mianyang due to weather. Hung out in the teeny airport (think of a more modern and only slightly larger version of the set on the show Wings) for a few hours. Luckily our professor found a couple of our fellow passengers there that worked for a travel agency. They were able to get us a last minute charter bus. We met a random student that rode the bus with us to help us get to the university okay. Wow. The students have been great so far. So helpful and selfless. The bus drove us the 2.5 hours to Chengdu. Once we got there, the power at the school (where we are staying) was out. So our professors decided to let us stay at a nearby Sheraton for the night. Pretty much amazing. The KLM flight crews stay at this hotel during their layovers. Checked out this morning, went on a company visit, then came back and checked into the university hotel. Its no Sheraton, but more spacious and nicer than BJTU hotel. Also there is an actual bathtub so water doesn't get on the floor when you shower. Throw in two desks with their own internet cords and you have two happy girls. Tomorrow is lecture and another company visit. Minimal details around here...seems to be the Chengdu way of life. But this city is cool and clean. Not as big and historical as Beijing, but it is growing on me. But the students here have a high standard to live up to. So far the students in these universities are so kind and generous. So welcoming...

Anyway...that's enough. I have a journal due before class tomorrow and I need to put the pedal to the metal.