At the present date, we've been in Xi'an, China, for a little over two years, and, frankly, we don't want you to jump into something you have no idea about. So, we'll start at the very beginning now.
Reason for coming to China: To study a new culture and learn the language.
We got to LAX on Wednesday (August 4th) at 7pm for a midnight flight to ensure that all of our twelve suitcases got cleared to board the plane. It took a lot of artsy rearranging from luggage to luggage at check-in so that we could avoid weight penalties. Pretty successful, minus one (rather hefty) fee on one piece of luggage.
The next challenge: a fourteen hour flight to Guangzhou. Rick, Cheryl, Abby, and Emma all got one row, but Jenna had to sit two rows behind with a group of teenage boys. Cheryl immediately felt claustrophobic due to the poor spacing of the seats in the economy class. Luckily, she was to sleep on this long flight with some "help". Jenna took her "sleep-helper" and slept eight and a half hours straight, followed by two power naps ranging from 30-40 minutes. The girls received maybe five hours of sleep, but, to everyone's joy, were not cranky at all. Rick was just Rick - can sleep wherever.
All of us ordered lactose-free meals for the flights. Four of the five of us got a vegetarian meal and Abby received a low-sodium meal . We were all very grateful to get the vegetarian meals, because none of us were really feeling like having the curry-flavored mystery meal.
We arrived at Guangzhou Friday at 6am local time, Thursday at 3pm Californian time. (Side note: China is fifteen hours ahead of CA, not twelve, like we thought.) We had a three hour layover where we filled up on Goldfish crackers and Luna bars, and threw a few "would you rathers?" back and forth.
The flight from Guangzhou to Xi'an was a breeze. Our seats were all scattered but the flight attendant had people move so Cheryl and the two girls could sit together. Rick was about three rows away from them, and Jenna was assigned to the back of the plain - typical. The food was great, or maybe we were just all really hungry. Again, Jenna slept for the majority of the two hour flight.
Our welcome to the Xi'an airport was a swarm of Chinese people pushing and shoving. It was scorching hot. Jenna and Rick were put on luggage duty, and Cheryl was in charge of guarding the laptops. The girls were told to just look pretty and not to get lost.
Some friends met up with us who had a tour bus, waiting to bring us to our apartment. yes, a tour bus, where there were about seven seats left after loading in our luggage.
We were expecting to have to go searching for our own apartment, but were pleasantly surprised to find that our friends in China were allowing us to stay in their fully-furnished apartment on the fifth floor with a view of two old-looking houses across the way. Said friends were also preparing us a home-cooked meal - an authentic Chinese soup.
Then, jet lag, ah, beautiful jet lag, settled in. Rick, Cheryl, and Jenna all took showers, then crashed on their beds.
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There, now, reader, you are prepared to start on our journey with us, as it lies presently.
