So, it's only been months since I've written to you. Let me tell you, it is not for lack of things to talk about- quite the opposite. So many things are happening, and I just don't know what to tell you about. I did this once before, so I'm going to give you some short snippets of life here in the past few months.
Turbulence Candy
I once told someone that I liked turbulence because it reminded me that there was air holding up the airplane. I think I have actually told this to multiple people. To those people: I am sorry. That is a lie.
To be fair, turbulence never really bothered me, until I came to Asia. I don't know what it is. Maybe it's all the mountains, or air currents, or flying techniques- I don't know. But I feel like turbulence is worse in Asia. I just feel it more than I did in North America. Especially after the 11 intraAsian flights that I've been on since the New Year, I am very sensitive to it now. I'm like a terrified cat. It's not great.
This past year, I have also not had the best flight experiences. (This should not be terrifying to anyone coming to Asia at any point in the near future. I'm ridiculous.) I blame most of the issues I've had on language barriers.
Exhibit A- Yunnan
As Christin and I were flying out of Shangri-la this past winter, we experienced some bad turbulence. It was not good. It's high up in the mountains, so it's not uncommon. However, what did not help was that the flight attendants- in an effort to be helpful to their 2 English speaking passengers- came over the intercom and said, "We are experiencing some problems."
...Excuse me? ...Problems?
I've never really thought "I could die in this plane" until that moment. Christin and I looked at each other, and we were both thinking the same thing. The nervous laughter from our fellow Chinese passengers was not comforting.
But it was just turbulence. That's one of those "English for flight attendants" vocabulary words that slipped through the cracks.
Exhibit B- Flight to Kunming or Xi'an (Unsure, but I know I was alone, so these are the options.)
As soon as we took off, the pilot came over the intercom and told everyone something in Chinese- no English translation.
I can only assume that he told everyone, "Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen. We are going to reach 30,000 feet as quickly and directly as humanly possible. Hold on. This could be bumpy." Because, when I tell you that we shot up into the air at a 60 degree angle straight to cruising altitude, I am not exaggerating. It probably took us all of 5 minutes to reach 30,000 feet; 5 minutes of Elizabeth in silent confusion and terror, and everyone else pretty chill. I felt like I was on the Apollo space mission.
Sooooo... in order to combat this new-found fear of flying (which is super inconvenient when mixed with my love of traveling) I have invented the solution.
It's called turbulence candy, and it's brilliant, because it's so simple. It's just candy, and when there's turbulence, you eat a piece of candy. I am partial to the White Rabbit candy found in China because it's like taffy, so I don't chew it. This make it last longer- thus increasing it effectiveness.
Now, hear me out. This is based in science. It's psychological. My brain is thinking, "I'm eating candy, nothing too bad could possibly be happening. Otherwise, I wouldn't be eating candy." It's not a perfect solution, but it definitely helped me on our flight to Henan.
It's brilliant. Don't travel without it.
KTV
KTV is a cultural staple of Chinese pop culture. For those of you who are unfamiliar, KTV is karaoke. But it's karaoke in a private room with just you and your friends. It is by far one of the most popular past times Chinese people. They love it. I told some of my students that we don't have KTV in America, and they said, "What do you do if you want to hang out with your friends and sing some songs?"
It's not just college age people. It's adults. Businessmen. Anyone. KTV is for all ages and all demographics.
In all of my trips and time in China, I had never been to KTV. I like to sing. To myself, by myself, when no one can hear me. But last weekend, that all changed. I went to KTV.
It's an experience. It's just a bunch of rooms with people singing in them. The one we went to was new and fancy- I kind of felt like I was in a haunted mansion. You get 3 microphones. You have a computer of song choices. (I should never have been in charge of using said computer because I accidentally called the attendant person three times in a row- everything is in Chinese) And you just sing and hang out with your friends. It's awesome.
I went with Gloria and some of her post-grad students. They are incredibly sweet and would sing with me when I forgot how songs actually go. (Nothing teaches you how much you don't know a song, quite like singing it by yourself.) They are also very good at KTV. Very good. They know all the words and they're just good singers. I have a tiny voice that you can't hear and I'm not very good anyway- so you don't necessarily want to hear it.
But no one cares how good you are. It's just fun. I'm so glad that the Chinese recognize that singing is fun- even when you aren't Beyonce.
KTV is something. It's another world.
The Train Station Fiasco
So our MCS came to town a few weeks ago, and I volunteered to go pick him and his son up from the train station. Now- first and foremost- this is a big deal for me. I had never been to the train station. I was taking a big step in my confidence in the navigation of the metropolis that is Chongqing. Big step for me. Yay, Elizabeth! Growing as a person!
It should have been simple enough. It's a subway stop. The subway stop is literally in the train station. You get off the subway and the arrivals are right there.
But it was not simple.
So, I'm feeling great. I go down the mountain early- get Starbucks- everything is great. I'm waiting at the arrivals terminal, and he calls me. "We're here. We are outside." Oh, I'm in the wrong place. Simple enough- I go outside. He describes where they are- I figure, red-haired guy, blonde kid- they're going to stick out like a sore thumb. I'll wander, and finding them will be no problem.
They are nowhere.
Second phone call. We will meet at the subway. There are lots of signs. No problem. I go into the subway to wait. It should be noted- I'm a little uneasy at this point. The little voice of self-doubt is saying, "You've lost your MCS. Should not have been trusted with this responsibility." The random baggage people are talking to me. "Where are you from?" "Are you waiting for someone?" "Do you have a boyfriend?" "Do you speak Chinese?"
After about 10 minutes, I was quite frantic. Many times I thought I saw them- every time it was an elderly Chinese person. Honest mistake. I got to the point where I was giving the stink eye to anyone that looked like they might even think about talking to me.
Third phone call. Cannot find the subway. They are near the busses. They are in the North Square- I am in the South Square. Okay! Just need to get to the other side... No problem- I have seen signs for a bus station. I'm on the move. I have an objective. I'm on it.
It's impossible. I go out every single subway exit at least three times; for some reason expecting them to be different. I am pretty much panicking at this point. Especially after I walk the entire length of the train station trying to find the way to get to the other side. I can see where it is, but I can't get to it. "There most be a way to do this! What kind of train station is this?" I was probably quite the sight to see. Wandering around, backtracking, glaring, muttering to myself- all very attractive stuff.
It's been about 2 hours since they arrived at this point- I feel like it's been years. I'm lost and desperate and helpless. I may have cried a little.
Finally, I ask the police men, and they direct me to a local bus.
They are doing construction. They have built a new terminal. There is no direct route from the South Terminal to the North Terminal. They do not connect. Why China!?!!? I have been walking past signs telling me all this information for the past 2 hours- all in Chinese of course.
You have to take a city bus two stops to this new terminal. So I'm on the bus. I'm exhausted. I'm sweating. I am not the happiest camper on the planet. It's a 15 minute bus ride.
Finally, I get to the North Terminal. There they are. Patiently waiting. They've made friends with the passersby. I've made no friends- I've been glaring at people for the past hour and a half.
We just got a taxi back to campus.
Sometimes China doesn't make sense to me. Sometimes I want to scream and kick and sit down in the middle of the South Square and cry in frustration.
I was talking to some students about this last week. I had recounted to them- with lots of hand motions and gestures just how frustrated I had been.They were telling me that they had just found out about this too. They were explaining all of the different options for getting to the new terminal, subway stops and buses. Their advice was very helpful, but was a blatant reminder of how completely unaware of my surroundings I am.
Then, one of my sweet girls said to me, "You should have just called us. If this happens again, just call us."
Sometimes China makes me so frustrated I could scream. But sometimes China reminds me that I need to stop trying to do life all on my own. Sometimes China beats me down so that I can see the sweetness of the people around me.
Two Weeks
I will be heading back to Kentucky for the summer in two weeks. I can't believe that. This past year has been incredible and- even though this post is mostly about my misadventures- full of joy. I could not have asked for better people to share it with, and I will be sad to see some of them go.
To anyone who reads this who is going home: You have affected me more than I really know at this point. You made my first year in China wonderful, and for that, I will forever be grateful to you. I know that the new (or old) places that you are going are incredibly lucky to have you and that you are going to make a huge difference in those places. Love you.
This past year has changed me and stretched me in ways that I didn't know were possible. I could ramble on and on about all the different little pieces to that, but it all boils down to the fact that I am small and imperfect. And He is big and faithful.
This blog is so sporadic, and I really want to be better about it- put that on my to do list. It just doesn't do justice to the magnitude of this past year, and when I come home, I want to talk to you about that.
Dear all at home- I want to see you. I want to talk with you about your life and how you have been stretched and changed this past year. I want to share the many many other stories about China and my students and the love that I have felt. I love all of you tons, and I cannot wait to see you.
