China Blog 1
(See below each post for larger photos)
Laura Ford Hall
First of all, I must say that I cannot believe I am in China… I never dreamed I would be across the world in such a different culture. Though I have been out of the country, I have never experienced anything quite like China, and the trip getting here was long and tiresome.
Today (Sunday, Oct. 11), the Sister City Delegation from Pikeville made the trek across the world to China to meet with officials and visit our Sister City of Ankang, China. Somewhat like an exchange program, the Sister City program allows business, city, economic, and industrial leaders in a community to visit a community in another part of the world that has many similarities. During the visit, the delegation will share ideas with the leaders from the Sister City and will hopefully gain knowledge and build relationships to make our global community stronger. Ankang is a coal mining community much like Pikeville, similar in size, etc.
The Pikeville Delegation includes (pictured in the group photo) Governor Paul Patton and First Lady Judi Patton, Greg May and wife Manette, Walter E. and Pam May, Hobart Johnson, Debbie and Donovan Blackburn, Jimmy and Kim Carter, Brad and Laura Ford Hall (I am not pictured because I was taking the photo).
The day began as we left from Downtown Pikeville at 5:30 a.m., to board a plane in Lexington at 9:30 a.m. From Lexington, we flew to Chicago on a 90-minute flight. Then, after a short stop at the Chicago O’Hare Airport, we boarded a Boeing 777 for the 13 hour and 34 minute flight across the globe to get to China. Though I have flown many times, it amazes me that I was flying over Alaska, Russia, Siberia (see Siberian photo). WOW!!!
Flying over Siberia
The plane ride was tough. After about 9 hours, everyone was getting very tired. Wishing I could afford first class (rumored to be $15,000), I was stuck in economy… this is the only time I am happy to be short. Being 5-foot-1 is fine during times like these.
When we got off of the plane in Beijing, our temperature was examined, but we all successfully made it through the Health and Customs Inspections. We were picked up by the Mayor of Ankang and a representative of the Ankang Government in a nice tour bus. While riding along, I learned two very important things: I was glad I was on a big bus because there are no road rules in China except this… the bigger the vehicle you have, the more right-of-way you have. I definitely learned that the more you honk the horn, the better off you are… if you are a big bus, you’ve got it made, if you are in a small car… watch out, if you are on a bicycle… well, I wouldn’t even chance it!
On some roads, there were some guide lines (similar to our double yellow lines), but on many roads, there were no lines and people just drove wherever, trying to maneuver in and out of the way.
One exit we stopped at was crowded because it was the end of the work day, and because of the traffic jam, I noticed people just getting out of the car and talking to one another… especially taxi drivers. This was very weird to me. We were stuck in traffic, but instead of waiting patiently and listening to music, drivers were just getting out of their cars, socializing, smoking a cigarette until the traffic started moving again.
When we arrived at the hotel, we were greeted by a welcoming party of very nice guest associates. Our rooms are beautiful and more high tech than any hotel I have stayed at in America… everything, including the “Do Not Disturb” notice or “Please Clean My Room” notice is controlled by buttons beside the door that light up outside and notify the front desk.
All lights come on and off when you enter or exit a room. Quite disturbing, however, were gas masks found in the hotel closet. I am not sure why we have those, but I was alarmed to see them. Quite surprising and wonderful was I found a Bible in our hotel room. I was told that I should not bring a Bible into the country. However I “snuck” one in only to find a beautiful leather bound, silver lined Bible in Mandarin Chinese and English.
Once we got to our rooms, we quickly changed to go to a Seafood Restaurant… I do not know its name, but I do know that what I had heard was true… the food is brought to you live and cooked in front of you.
Tanks of fish, shrimp, crab, lobster, shark, and other swimming creatures I had not seen before were in beautiful aquariums. I felt like I was at Seaworld, only to realize that the poor things were there for people to select to be eaten. Now, I am not a vegetarian in America… but for the next two weeks, I definitely am… we were all sent to beautiful round tables where we were brought dish after dish placed on a round table that we would rotate from person to person. We had no idea what we were eating, so I was able to use the most important word I had learned in Mandarin Chinese “Rusu” (Roo-soo) which means “I am a vegetarian.”
So, I have concluded so far that China is beautiful… all of the buildings are decorated so artistically with bright and beautiful colors. I can’t wait to see more. The flight was long, but I believe it was worth it to get here. Although, for my last thought of today, I must say “China is a lot like weight loss camp.” : )
I believe I will come back about 20 pounds skinner, which is fine with me. I’ll let you know how my “China diet” progresses.
Laura Ford Hall
