Liquid

Our first day of traveling was filled with delays, but we were grateful mechanical problems could be repaired and no disembarking was necessary. If not an omen, changes in schedule were a test, preparing us for the many changes in plans or expectations we would soon encounter. Students were surprised by squatty potty dorm bathrooms, small hard bunkbeds, and shared showers at the Beijing Foreign Language School where we stayed our first two nights in China. I was surprised by the way my stomach rejected Chinese food at breakfast, and by how strongly I was affected by disconnectedness to the USA.

We did receive promised calling cards, but many students had phones which rejected the calling ocdes or cards that had expired. They were a thoughtful gesture from gracious hosts, but didn't provide the international contact everyone desperately needed those first few days as foreigners. We were lost like Desmond between two time zones and having a hard time staying grounded without familiar contact. Our plans for posting blog content daily fell through when we learned we wouldn't even see a computer for about five days. Students are finding separation from family, facebook, t.v., and video games harder than imagined, and I find myself preaching flexibility and the power to be liquid fluidly moving where we're told, when we're told no matter how off the established track, so that we can find our way into the circle of communication which surrounds us.

Preface

Seven days ago I dried off my shampoo bottle, slipped it in a ziplock bag, and packed it away last. I zipped my upright, secrued the turquoise ribbon I hoped would ensure I saw the bag at the end of a 13 hour flight, and 20 minutes later hugged my sister good-bye at the Tulsa airport. At 5:30 am, we had our complete Tulsa group through security sitting at our boarding gate sizing up each other, uncertain about what the next 21 days would hold.

One thing we did know was that we had hours and hours of traveling ahead. Cabin fever set in early, but we all arrived in Beijing at 4:40 pm local time on Sunday July 13. And are now, a week later, filled with authentic Chinese food, packed with experiences to process, sore with muscles used to climb ancient walls, famous squares, and modern stairs in classroom buildings and dorms, and are settled into a remarkably fast paced schedule at a boarding school on the rural outskirts of Xi'an.

With limited internet access, I'm posting in a journal, and typing online as soon as possible. Read on. And see photos at www.picasaweb.com/jentufts26.

Ok we arived in China so far the only plane that didn't have any delays was the one from China to Xi An. They accually serched my bag in China b/c of a pill bottle full of quarters. We spent a total of 15 hours on that plane from Chicago to Beijing! We are having fun and seeing a lot of cool places here in Xi An. We have classes and also some Tai Chi and caligraphy and Chinese waist drums and Chinese ink painting and Chinese songs and more. I've taken tons of pictures also.

bye for now