August 17, 2011, 7:00 AM, Central Standard Time

Well...things have already been off to a rough start. I got my stuff together a lot slower that Iｓｈｏｕｌｄ　ｈａｖｅ，　ｓｏ　ｗｅ　ｇｏｔ　ｔｏ　ｔｈｅ　ａｉｒｐｏｒｔ　ｓｏｍｅｗｈａｔ　ｌａｔｅ．　Ｕｎｆｏｒｔｕｎａｔｅｌｙ，　Ｉ　ｍｉｓｓｅｄ　ｍｙ　ｐｌａｎｅ　ｔｏ　Ｃｉｎｃｉｎｎａｔｉ　ｂｙ　ａｂｏｕｔ　ｔｗｏ　ｍｉｎｕｔｅｓ！　Ｌｕｃｋｉｌｙ，　ｔｈｅ　ｍａｎ　ａｔ　ｔｈｅ　ｇａｔｅ　ｗａｓ　ａｂｌｅ　ｔｏ　ｓｗｉｔｃｈ　ｍｅ　ｏｎ　ｔｏ　ｔｈｅ　ｆｌｉｇｈｔ　ｔｏ　Ｍｉｎｎｅａｎａｐｏｌｉｓ．．．Ｉ　ｇｏｔ　ｈｅｒｅ　ａｔ　ａｂｏｕｔ　６：３０，　ＣＳＴ．　Ｍｙ　ｆｉｒｓｔ　ｔｉｍｅ　ｆｌｙｉｎｇ　ｗａｓｎ＇ｔ　ｔｏｏ　ｂａｄ．　Ｉｔ　ｗａｓ　ｃｏｏｌ　ｔｏ　ｆｌｙ　ａｂｏｕｔ　ｔｈｅ　ｃｌｏｕｄｓ，　ａｎｄ　ｗｅ　ｇｏｔ　ｔｏ　ｓｅｅ　ｔｈｅ　Ｍｉｓｓｉｓｓｉｐｐｉ　Ｒｉｖｅｒ　ｏｎ　ｏｕｒ　ｗａｙ　ｄｏｗｎ！　．．．Ｔｉｍｅ　ｔｏ　ｇｏ　ｔｏ　ＬＡ！

Ａｕｇｕｓｔ　２０，　２０１１，　９：００　ＰＭ，　Ｃｈｉｎｅｓｅ　Ｓｔａｎｄａｒｄ　Ｔｉｍｅ

Ａ　ｌｏｔ　ｈａｓ　ｈａｐｐｅｎｅｄ　ｉｎ　ｔｈｅ　ｐａｓｔ　ｃｏｕｐｌｅ　ｏｆ　ｄａｙｓ．　Ｗｅ　ｊｕｓｔ　ｇｏｔ　ｂａｃｋ　ｆｒｏｍ　ｃｌｉｍｂｉｎｇ　ｔｈｅ　Ｇｒｅａｔ　Ｗａｌｌ　ｏｆ　Ｃｈｉｎａ－－ｍｏｒｅ　ｏｎ　ｔｈａｔ　ｌａｔｅｒ．　Ｉ　ａｒｒｉｖｅｄ　ｉｎ　Ｌｏｓ　Ａｎｇｅｌｅｓ　ａｔ　９：１５　ＡＭ．　Ｍｙ　ｂａｇｓ　ｗｅｒｅ　ｓｔｉｌｌ　ｅｎｒｏｕｔｅ　ｆｒｏｍ　Ｃｉｎｃｉｎｎａｔｉ，　ｓｏ　Ｉ　ｈａｄ　ｔｏ　ｇｏ　ｔｏ　ｔｈｅ　ｈｏｔｅｌ　ａｎｄ　ｗａｉｔ　ｔｏ　ｇｏ　ｂａｃｋ　ｔｏ　ｔｈｅ　ａｉｒｐｏｒｔ　ｏｎｃｅ　ｔｈｅ　ｐｌａｎｅ　ｇｏｔ　ｉｎ．　Ｉleft the hotel at about 10:30 and got back at 12:30.
After we ate, we started the orientation. There were a lot of cool people there; we had the kids who were going to Japan, too. Things were interesting...but I just wanted to get to China! haha
We got up at 2:30 and left for the airport at 3:30. The baggage check at LA was actually shorter than in Grand Rapids--Iｗａｓ　ｒｅａｌｌｙ　ｓｕｒｐｒｉｓｅｄ！　Ｔｈｅ　ｆｌｉｇｈｔ　ｗａｓ　ｓｈｏｒｔ－－４５　ｍｉｎｕｔｅｓ．　Ｓａｎ　Ｆｒａｎｃｉｓｃｏ　ｗａｓ　ｆｕｎ　ｏｎｃｅ　ｗｅ　ａｌｌ　（１１　ｏｆ　us）　ｇｏｔ　ｓｅｔｔｌｅｄ　in。　We　ｈａｄ　ｔｈｒｅｅ　ｈｏｕｒｓ，　ｓｏ　ｍｏｓｔ　ｏｆ　us　in　ｔｈｅ　ｇｒｏｕｐ　ｒｅａｌｌｙ　ｇｏｔ　ｔｏ　ｋｎｏｗ　ｅａｃｈ　other！　I　ｒｅａｌｌｙ　ｌｉｋｅｄ　ａｌｌ　ｏｆ　ｔｈｅ　ｐｅｏｐｌｅ。。。We　ｗｅｒｅ　ｆｒｏｍ　ａｌｌ　ｏｖｅｒ－－Houston　ｔｏ　St.　Paul，　Brooklyn　ｔｏ　Portland。
The　flight　ｔｏ　China　ｗａｓ　alright；it　ｗａｓ　very　ｌｏｎｇ－－１２　Hours！　My　ｃａｍｅｒａ　ｄｉｅｄ　ｒｉｇｈｔ　ａｗａｙ，　ｓｏ　I　ｏｎｌｙ　ｇｏｔ　ｏｎｅ　ｐｉｃｔｕｒｅ　ｏｆ　ｔｈｅ　Pacific.　（Sorry!)　It's　ｗａｓ　ａｌｒｉｇｈｔ，　ｔｈｏｕｇｈ。。。ｔｈｅ　ｓｔｅｗａｒｄｓ　ｍａｄｅ　us　ｋｅｅｐ　ｏｕｒ　ｗｉｎｄｏｗ　ｂｌｉｎｄｓ　ｃｌｏｓｅｄ　（ｔｈｅｙ　ｗｅｒｅ　ｐｒｅｔｔｙ　mean！　ｈａｈａ）．

Ａｕｇｕｓｔ　２１，　２０１１

Ｃｈｉｎａ　ｈａｓ　ｂｅｅｎ　ｇｒｅａｔ！　Ｔｈｅ　ａｉｒｐｏｒｔ　ｗａｓ　ｍａｇｎｉｆｉｃｅｎｔ－－ｂｅａｕｔｉｆｕｌ　ａｎｄ　ＨＵＧＥ！　Ｉ　ｏｎｌｙ　ｋｎｏｗ　ａ　ｌｉｔｔｌｅ　Ｃｈｉｎｅｓｅ　ｒｉｇｈｔ　ｎｏｗ，　ａｎｄ　ｔｈｅｒｅ　ａｒｅ　ｍａｎｙ　ｎａｔｉｏｎａｌｉｔｉｅｓ　ｈｅｒｅ．．．ｓｏ　ｉｔ　ｗａｓ　ｈａｒｄ　ｔｏ　ｃｏｍｍｕｎｉｃａｔｅ．　Ｔｈｅ　ｍｏｓｔ　ｕｎｉｖｅｒｓａｌ　ｔｈｉｎｇｓ，　ａｌｔｈｏｕｇｈ　ｉｔ　ｍａｙ　ｂｅ　ｃｌｉｃｈｅ｀，　ａｒｅ　ａ　ｗａｖｅ　ａｎｄ　ａ　ｓｍｉｌｅ！　＝）
Ａｆｔｅｒ　ｗｅ　ａｔｅ　ｓｕｐｐｅｒ，　ｗｅ　ｄｉｄｎ＇ｔ　ｄｏ　ｍｕｃｈ．　Ｗｅ　ｗｅｒｅ　ａｌｌ　ｐｒｅｔｔｙ　ｔｉｒｅｄ　（Ｉ　ｏｎｌｙ　ｓｌｅｐｔ　ａｎ　ｈｏｕｒ　ｏｎ　ｔｈｅ　ｐｌａｎｅ），　ｓｏ　ｗｅ，　ｍｏｒｅ　ｏｒ　ｌｅｓｓ，　ｗｅｎｔ　ｒｉｇｈｔ　ｔｏ　ｂｅｄ．
Ｏｎ　Ｓａｔｕｒｄａｙ，　ｗｅ　ｗｅｒｅ　ａｂｌｅ　ｔｏ　ｓｌｅｅｐ　ｉｎ　ａ　ｌｉｔｔｌｅ　ｂｉｔ－－ｂｒｅａｋｆａｓｔ　ｗａｓ　ａｔ　７：００.　Ｉdidn't sleep very well, off-and-on, so Ｉ　ｅｎｄｅｄ　ｕｐ　ｇｅｔｔｉｎｇ　ｕｐ　ａｔ　ａｒｏｕｎｄ　５：１５.　Ｔｈｅｒｅ　ｗａｓ　ａ　ｓｍａｌｌ　ｏｒｉｅｎｔａｔｉｏｎ　ａｆｔｅｒ　ｂｒｅａｋｆａｓｔ，　ａｎｄ　ｔｈｅｎ　ｗｅ　ａｌｌ　ｇｏｔ　ｒｅａｄｙ　ｔｏ　ｇｏ　ｓｅｅ　ｔｈｅ　Ｇｒｅａｔ　Ｗａｌｌ！　Ｉ　ｄｉｄｎ＇ｔ　ｔｈｉｎｋ　ｗｅ　ｗｏｕｌｄ　ｇｅｔ　ｔｏ　ｓｅｅ　ｉｔ，　ｓｏ　ｉｔ　ｗａｓ　ｒｅａｌｌｙ　ｃｏｏｌ　ｔｈａｔ　ｗｅ　ｄｉｄ．　Ｓｏｍｅ　ｏｆ　ｕｓ　ｒａｃｅｄ　ｔｏ　ｔｈｅ　＂ｔｏｐ，＂　ｗｈｉｃｈ　ｗａｓ　ａ　ｌｏｔ　ｏｆ　ｆｕｎ．　Ｉｔ　ｗａｓ　８５　ｄｅｇｒｅｅｓ，　ｔｈｏｕｇｈ，　ｓｏ　ｔｈｅ　ｊｏｕｒｎｅｙ　ｗａｓ　ｑｕｉｔｅ　ｈａｒｄ！　ｈａｈａ
Ｔｈｅ　ｖｉｅｗｓ　ｗｅｒｅ　ｄｅｆｉｎａｔｅｌｙ　ｗｏｒｔｈ　ｉｔ，　ｔｈｏｕｇｈ－－ｔｈｅ　ｗａｌｌ　ａｎｄ　ｔｈｅ　ｍｏｕｎｔａｉｎｓ　ｗｅｒｅ　ｓｐｅｃｔａｃｕｌａｒ！　Ｗｅ　ｄｉｄｎ＇ｔ　ｈａｖｅ　ｍｕｃｈ　ｔｉｍｅ　ｌｅｆｔ，　ｔｈｏｕｇｈ，　ｓｏ　ｗｅ　ｈａｄ　ｔｏ　ｈｅａｄ　ｂａｃｋ　ｄｏｗｎ　ｒｉｇｈｔ　ａｗａｙ－－ｔｈａｔ　ｗａｓ　ａ　ｃｈａｌｌｅｎｇｅ，　ｔｏｏ！　
Ｏｎｃｅ　ｗｅ　ｇｏｔ　ｄｏｗｎ，　ｗｅ　ｗｅｎｔ　ｔｏ　ａ　ｒｅｓｔａｕｒａｎｔ．　Ｔｈｅｉｒ　ｆｏｏｄ　ｗａｓ　ａ　ｌｏｔ　ｂｅｔｔｅｒ　ｔｈａｎ　ｔｈｅ　ｈｏｔｅｌ＇ｓ，　ｓｏ　ｗｅ　ａｌｌ　ａｔｅ　ａ　ｌｏｔ！　Ｗｅ　ｗｅｒｅ　ｐｌｅａｓｅｄ　ｔｏ　ｋｎｏｗ　ｔｈａｔ　ｔｈｉｓ　ｗａｓ　ｔｈｅ　ｒｅｇｕｌａｒ　Ｃｈｉｎｅｓｅ　ｆｏｏｄ！　ｈａｈａ

Ａｕｇｕｓｔ　２２，　２０１１

Ｉ　ａｍ　ｉｎ　Ｃｈａｎｇｚｈｏｕ　ｎｏｗ．　Ｗｅ　ｌｅｆｔ　Ｓｕｎｄａｙ　ｎｉｇｈｔ　ａｆｔｅｒ　ｈａｖｉｎｇ　ａ　ｒｅａｌｌｙ　ｇｏｏｄ　ｄａｙ　ｗｉｔｈ　ｆｒｉｅｎｄｓ－－Ｉ＇ｍ　ｇｏｉｎｇ　ｔｏ　ｍｉｓｓ　ａｌｌ　ｔｈｅ　Ａｍｅｒｉｃａｎｓ　Ｉmet.
The train was a sleeper-train, so there wasn't much room. There were two bunkbeds that were three high。 I got the middle, which didn't make things any better. The train ride was from 7:30 PMｔｏ　７：３０　ＡＭ－－ｔｏｏ　ｌｏｎｇ　ｆｏｒ　ｍｙ　ｌｉｋｉｎｇ！
Ｍｙ　ｈｏｓｔ　ｆａｔｈｅｒ　ａｎｄ　ｂｒｏｔｈｅｒ　ｍｅｔ　ｍｅ　ａｔ　ｔｈｅ　ｓｔａｔｉｏｎ．　Ｔｈｅｙ　ｔｏｏｋ　ｍｙ　ｂａｇｓ，　ｍａｋｉｎｇ　ｍｅ　ｆｅｅｌ　ｕｓｅｌｅｓｓ，　ｂｕｔ　ｔｈｅｙ　ｗｅｒｅ　ｊｕｓｔ　ｂｅｉｎｇ　ｎｉｃｅ．　Ｉｔ　ｗａｓ　ａ　ｑｕｉｃｋ　ｒｉｄｅ　ｔｏ　ｔｈｅ　ａｐａｒｔｍｅｎｔ，　ａｎｄ　ｔｈｅｒｅ　Ｉ　ｍｅｔ　ｍｙ　ｈｏｓｔ－ｍｏｔｈｅｒ，　ｔｈｅｉｒ　ｄｏｇ，　ａｎｄ　ｔｈｅ　ｇｒａｎｄｐａｒｅｎｔｓ．　Ｅｖｅｒｙｏｎｅ　ｓｅｅｍｓ　ｒｅａｌｌｙ　ｎｉｃｅ．．．Ｉjust feel awekward right now. :-/ We have had breakfast and lunch so far, and my host-brother and I played a game on the computer. He seems very nice...we've tried talking to each other a bit so far.
I really miss my family, though. This “in China for a year” thing is really starting to sink in Since I had to leave so quickly，I didn't really have a proper goodbye with my family--that's been really hard。 I love them all so much， so it‘s going to be hard to be away for so long。
Before I go, I'd like to make things positive and say that Iｔｈｉｎｋ　ｔｈｅ　ｍｉｎｉａｔｕｒｅ　ｓｃｈｎａｕｚｅｒ　ａｎｄ　Ｉhave really hit it off! haha