So this morning started out HORRIBLY early, but full of excitement! We said goodbye to the amazing hostel we had been calling home for the last few days and we were making our way to the airport! Before we knew it, we were posting our last posts to facebook (since we knew it would be blocked, people were freaking out) and boarding the plane.
Let me just say: Japan Airlines is super snazy. At least when it comes to food. SO GOOD (and no, I wasn't just hungry). The ride to Dalian was nothing like the ride to Tokyo. I guess any flight after the gazillion hours of our first flight pales in comparison. When we finally land in China, we have no idea what is waiting for us.
Turns out--not much. Dalian airport is SUPER tiny. By the time we get our luggage and money exchanged, the customs officers barely bat an eye in our direction. We scream foreign in every sense of the word. Outside of customs, students from Dalian Medical University (DMU for short) waiting for us. While some people brave the toilets, I learn that I am in for much of a culture shock. Most toilets in China are what they call "squatter" toilets, where you do just that to do your business. I may have seen these all over Tokyo, but they always had western style toilets as well. Not so in China. Plus: bring your own tissue paper and soap. Yikes, better get used to that!
After an early morning, everyone was dead on the bus. Somehow I managed a couple of pictures, but I was mostly gone. Gone, that is, until we arrived at DMU. Everyone was excited to see we were put up in a fancy hotel and that we had internet! (A major plus, even if only in the rooms.) I even got to meet my buddies already!
My first buddy I met was Ash. She is super sweet! She gave me a present right away so I went ahead and gave her one of the bears in OSU garb that I had got my buddies. ^^ Then we went to go get food at one of the cafeterias. She was super helpful and got me some pork and celery dumplings. They were delicious, but apparently the portion sizes here in China are even BIGGER than the US! (No, I too did not think that was possible.) After dinner, I went back and played cards with another girl from OSU until it was time to meet my second buddy.
My second buddy's name is Lee. I talked with her the most prior to coming here, but it was still totally different meeting her in person. We ended up walking around the campus, a mini-tour if you will, and we had a great time! She is so cool.
So today in all ended up being a long day! I can only imagine what's in store for this trip!!!
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