From a momentarily working computer

I've arrived in Wuhan, the city that used to be three cities (and is consequently huge and sprawling). I arrived last night after a four hour bus ride from the place where the boat dropped me off.

The boat ride was certainly an experience, not so much for the scenery (though it wasn't bad), or the tourist attractions along the way, but for the interactions with vacationing Chinese families. I shared my third-class cabin with a retired Chinese couple, who acted like my surrogate grandparents for the duration of the journey. They would make sure I woke up for the sights (at which we often arrived at six in the morning), tell me not to walk around in my socks, and give me tea when I was feeling sick. They were full of all sorts of Chinese theories, telling me that the reason I didn't feel good was that I had eaten fruit before noodles in the morning.

I was initially hesitant to eat in the slightly overpriced restaurant on the boat, but during my first meal there, eating by myself, I was beckoned over to a table where a family of ten or so Beijing people were eating. They ordered me food, gave me baijiu (Chinese rice liquor) and complained when I didn't drink it all. The next afternoon, I was invited to have lunch with a family whose two kids -- an 11 year old boy and a 9 year old girl -- had taken a liking to me. The kids were very sweet, despite their endless questions about how much money I made and how much my things cost. I think they were about the same age as the kids I'll be teaching, which made me excited to start. By the end of the trip, I couldn't have a meal without being conflicted about which of my new friends I should sit with.

And now, photos. The first one is the family I just mentioned, minus son:


The boat:


Some cartoons at the monastery in Chengdu explaining basic principles of Buddhism. I really like these...

Chengdu, city of the color blind man's nightmare:


Also at the monastery in Chendu:


A red panda at the Chendu panda center (this one's for you, Adrian):




Understand panda, understand life -- the video:



That's all for now. Tomorrow I arrive in Nanjing and start my teaching job, so much of interest will certainly follow...