Day 1: January 3, 2013 One Long Day!

My first day in China was interesting to say the least. After landing, tracking down our luggage, and getting through customs, we had another 45-minute bus ride to add on to the already 15-hour flight. Once we finally reached our destination at the SJTU Faculty Club Hotel, check in went smoothly as we received our new school ID’s and books. We got all of our stuff up to our rooms and took a minute to figure out that you must put your room key in a slot to make any of the lights turn on. With a quick scan of the room we realized that we were going to have trouble storing our copious amounts of luggage as there are no dressers and only 4 hangers in what they call a closet. Also the door continues to beep when we close it for a still unknown reason. 

My hotel room

We then took a tour around campus in the snow (I was told it would only snow like 2 times while we were here so I guess were halfway there). No one could really catch their bearings because it was already dark so we decided to wonder off and grab some dinner. We found a restaurant called Yoshinoya and decided that the prices looked good and the food at least looked somewhat edible. We awkwardly stood in the doorway for about 5 minutes mustering up the courage to order without knowing what anything was or even how to describe what thing on the menu we wanted. My first try was a failure because they apparently don’t take the credit card I had (which I was told would work here) so luckily my friend had 100 Yuan on him that a Chinese friend from home sent him with, which could cover both of our meals. The food turned out to be surprisingly good even though none of us had any idea what we were eating other than the pepsi that came on the side. There was even a little taste of America with Celine Dion and Nelly playing in the background.

My first meal on Chinese soil at Yoshinoya

 On the way home from dinner we stopped at the Family Mart and I bought my first Chinese beer which I have yet to try. Finally after a long day I was ready to shower and crawl into bed, which did not go as smoothly as expected. The shower was ice cold and our room must have been literally 40 degrees or 4 degrees centigrade as they would say here. I slept in the warmest sweatpants I have with leggings underneath and two shirts and a sweatshirt and socks and was still freezing. Not the best end to the day, but at least I survived day one!

My first Chinese beer: Asahi