Photo Album & Day One

I'm working on getting a photo album up and running to update frequently. The first few pictures are up, and more will be up soon! Check it out on the link to the right called, "BEIJING TRIP PHOTO ALBUM!"

The residence hall we're living in compares in many ways to the ones at Purdue. Two beds, a dresser, two desks, and a TV fit in just perfectly with little room to spare. Each room has its own bathroom... but don't get too jealous. The toilet and the shower are one operation. It's hard to explain, so make sure to check out the photos in the album. It's completely impossible to shower without drenching the entire seat, back and bowl of the toilet. I can literally sit on the toilet seat and have my head in the downfall of the water.

Day one brought some good adventures here in the capital city of Beijing. We had no responsibilities today, just some time to explore. Six of us ventured outside the university's walls for lunch but quickly returned after struggling to find anything that looked edible. We had a nice meal at the little restaurant attached to our building. On the menu? Spicy beef and green onions, chicken and hot peppers, and a tub of rice. When I ordered bottled water ("Shooa") for each of us, the waitress brought out a two-liter of Coke. My communication skills are amazing! Lunch cost 90RMB, divided by 6 people is 15RMB apiece, or $2.18 American. Not too bad!

After configuring my computer and talking with Mom & Dad online for a bit, the 11 of us that were here headed off to find the train station. I was completely and totally impressed with the Beijing subway system. It was cleaner, easier to use (even in Chinese!), more efficient, and better organized than the comparable Chicago CTA rail that goes to Wrigley Field. I couldn't believe how awesome the train was!

Tienanmen Square and the Forbidden City were right on the rail line. We came out of the subway station right in front of the huge gates to the FC with Mao Zedong's (here forth known simply as "Mao") portrait. I was SHOCKED at the pure giganticism of the structure. We've all seen photos of this structure, but you would never imagine the mass of it. The portrait itself had to have been two stories tall.

We also explored Tienanmen Square and the Mao Mausoleum. Yes, Mao's remains are on public display at Tienanmen Square. He is fully visible during the day in a crystal coffin, and at night, they stick him in the refrigerator to keep fresh. Unfortunately, all attractions are closed on Mondays, so we will have to venture back again soon. I HAVE to see that body!

We perused a few shops, but I was reluctant to purchase anything. I'm just still trying to get my feet on the ground, so I want to scope out the whole situation before making a commitment to souvenirs. We made it back to CUC late in the afternoon and made dinner plans for 5:30pm at the dining hall on campus.

Tonight we had a quick meeting with Jane, our study abroad professor from Purdue. She outlined our insurance information and talked about trip logistics. Tomorrow we have a campus tour and more exploration time!

Talk to you soon, and in the meantime, check out my photos!

XOXO