August 26, 2010
I’m here! I am ok, jet lag was not too bad. up early thou….. it is 7:20 am and I think it is 6:20 pm in Houston.
The motel is nice, some quirky things, no clock….! and toilet paper is minimal. I’m on the second tiny roll. Had to have our driver pull over from airport, had the runs! Went to a public pot, hovered over a trench! Ha that was interesting! Do have internet… not YouTube or Facebook at all. Skype is up. Send your Skype addresses to me. Really glad to have the internet back. This is such a treat. No Starbucks, bummer. Did see a Tea/Coffee bar a couple blocks. The town is gray, square and dank. But lots of tall interesting looking trees. Motel room has 2 twin hard as a rock beds, nice shower, but no refrig or cook-stove! TV is all in Chinese– same type of stuff like in the US. Looks like 1950 in places around the university.
People are nice, many do not speak English but are somewhat friendly. I have met an IB Physics teacher from the DC area moved here 5 days ago with wife and kiddo, they are nice. Hope to pal around with them some.
Food is ok, not great. Like I said I already have travelers poop! Weather is foggy or smoggy, can’t really tell. Huge skyscrapers, and lots of them. 2 million plus in the city. Flying in the landscape is beautiful in the suburbs, with square homes-kinda minimal European looking, very quaint. I am in town, large and like downtown Mexico city. Lots of action, accidentally bumped into a parked motorcycle walking down the street and set off an alarm! Lots of bikes and mopeds and no one watches for pedestrians. Will need to be real careful walking. Streets in town are 4-6 lanes and a huge mess navigating. Vendors selling cool looking food. Ate at the Canteen on campus, the Nanshan Motel is on the University campus. Lots of college kids, refreshing! Had tofu/green beans, cabbage, and eggs with something green like spinach, but not! All tasted rather the same and greasy, rice sucks! Tea is good, drinking it now. Had to boil my water for it. Hope that helps (boiled twice!– no more poop!) ate with chop sticks alot…. need to invest in a fork.
No specific smells yet…. I remember Mexico city smelt like chicken and bus diesel. Haven’t smelt that yet. The flight was long! I am thinking with layovers and all about 28 hours. Hong Kong airport was sheik, wish I had bought a hair dryer and iron there. Now I need to go find one today.
Laundry is interesting, kinda like yours, Sarah in Sacramento–except the washers are strange, small and old. It is on campus too.
Tomorrow I will be taken to the health doctor for a check up for my “Expert Certificate” — And in-service is tomorrow. Wish me luck.
Next thing is the bus system…. oh my that should be fun!