What a crazy start to our day. We were ready for the shuttle, but people here push and line cut and they got on the shuttle and the driver said there wasn't room for us. I knew we had to get on in order to make our flight, so I pushed on, cleared bags out of our seat and set down with Jaclyn and put Jared in my lap and Janaye in hers. My legs were on top of luggage. It was miserable but we made it. Once at the airport, we made our way upstairs to find out we were at the wrong terminal. The correct terminal required a bus ride. Not like one at dfw, but more like a 15 minute ride. Once we got there and stopped to ask instructions many times, we made our way to security. It was packed! Once it was our turn, we were scrutinized. Even my coins in my wallet were a problem. I was so nervous. We were running late to our flight and they kept taking things out of our bag and sending them back through. I just knew something was going to go missing. Once we gathered our things, we took off running. We made it to our gate about 10 minutes before takeoff. We had the back row of the plane. That wouldn't have been a big problem, but it was the only bathroom. People stayed lined up throughout the flight, even pushing to get by each other. Our three hour flight had a meal service. However, an 8 AM flight served noodles with beef and a side of carrots and onions. Everyone was digging into it like that was normal breakfast fair. I'm hoping not! The girls and I had nothing to eat because of our gluten allergies. ~Suzanne
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Once we landed, we found our luggage and took advantage of one last western style toilet (we've learned that you need the handicapped stall). We found the bus ticket counter and tried to buy our ticket. We had instructions in Chinese for a 1:30 ticket. They kept telling us that time had passed. I kept saying no because it was only 11. They finally pulled out a paper and showed me. They had a 13:30 bus. I guess we do military time now. We bought our tickets and they escorted us to a waiting room. ~Suzanne
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While waiting, I went in search of food. I found a KFC and was able to order us food by pointing! I am so proud of myself. Things are so cheap here. The food for all four of us was about $10 and six water bottles were $1.50! I took the food back to the waiting room to eat. I was anxious about how we would know when and where to go for our bus. I noticed an employee would come in and yell and people would get on the elevator and leave. Once it started to get close to our bus time, I had Jaclyn go show our tickets and she said no. When our bus was there, she signaled for us to get on the elevator, but we had no idea where to go! There was a man on the elevator that told us to follow him (well, actually he just kept motioning). He then pointed for us to get on the bus. No one else was on it and I was nervous. Did we just get in a car with a stranger? Others started getting on which brought peace. I felt even more comfortable when they came and took my ticket. We are riding along now and I hope we end up at Ping Xiang. Since I don't even know how to say this word, I can't ask! I've been talking to Him a lot! ~ Suzanne
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Day 3 Thoughts of Jaclyn- we got up at 5:30 to catch a 6:00 shuttle bus to the airport-the most uncomfortable ride of my life! The Chinese have no respect for personal space or the concept of lines. We ended up sitting cramped by the luggage with Jared on mom's lap and Janaye on mine. It was awful. Then we got to the airport and got off at the wrong terminal. We went up and down escalators and elevators trying to follow different instructions until we finally got on the shuttle to the right terminal...40 minutes later. We're trying to keep from crying. Also, we think we're stupid for taking this on. I hope we change our minds by the end of the trip.
Wow...we finally made it onto the plane. I thought that would never happen. There are so many people at this airport and they all push and shove. It made me feel better when we saw a white man in a Wisconsin shirt with his dad and the look on his face was the same as mine I'm pretty sure. Pure panic. After getting our boarding passes, we checked all our suitcases to make it easier to get through security (luckily). Security was chaos and just ridiculous. I don't want to experience that frustration ever again. But after running to the gate, we are finally safely on the plane at 7:54 AM. Now if only we can navigate getting us to our next bus we should be smooth sailing (fingers crossed and talking to Him).
11:25 AM- we officially obtained bus tickets and are waiting in a lobby for the bus. Whether or not we actually get on is a whole other story. We also found a KFC and my wonderful mother was able to point to the pictures of fries and chicken. It was heavenly.
1:11 PM - We just followed a random stranger that speaks no English to a bus we hope is ours.
Luckily, the bus led us safely to our destination. We met a nice lady (a student at a university outside Beijing) who was worried about us because why on earth would white people want to go to Pingxiang, China?? After the bus dropped us off in the middle of the street she tried to help us find Abraham. She called him from her phone for us and he magically appeared waiting for us. We then got in his 'car' (a four seater with only two seat belts and no AC) and drove about half an hour to Luxi. I was scared for my life back there. Once we got to the orphanage, we met all the staff including Hope and the American couple Ryan and Rachel. It was definitely comforting to hear their English-in her case with a nice southern accent. We got settled into our room equipped with one full bed (box spring instead of a mattress) with a mosquito net, two bamboo mats, and a sheet. Luckily there is a fan too, but no AC. Then we went and talked with Hope, Ryan, and Rachel for a while. They are all really sweet and helpful people. After that, we introduced ourselves to the kids who were all very excited that mommy and I could do math and intrigued that Jared and Janaye are twins. Then we had a nice bowl of flavorless rice for dinner-yum! And now, Janaye and I just had the experience of using the Chinese 'toilets' aka glorified holes in the ground...Janaye peed on her foot. It's only 7:13 but I am definitely ready to sleep after a very long day!~ Jaclyn
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Wow...we finally made it onto the plane. I thought that would never happen. There are so many people at this airport and they all push and shove. It made me feel better when we saw a white man in a Wisconsin shirt with his dad and the look on his face was the same as mine I'm pretty sure. Pure panic. After getting our boarding passes, we checked all our suitcases to make it easier to get through security (luckily). Security was chaos and just ridiculous. I don't want to experience that frustration ever again. But after running to the gate, we are finally safely on the plane at 7:54 AM. Now if only we can navigate getting us to our next bus we should be smooth sailing (fingers crossed and talking to Him).
11:25 AM- we officially obtained bus tickets and are waiting in a lobby for the bus. Whether or not we actually get on is a whole other story. We also found a KFC and my wonderful mother was able to point to the pictures of fries and chicken. It was heavenly.
1:11 PM - We just followed a random stranger that speaks no English to a bus we hope is ours.
Luckily, the bus led us safely to our destination. We met a nice lady (a student at a university outside Beijing) who was worried about us because why on earth would white people want to go to Pingxiang, China?? After the bus dropped us off in the middle of the street she tried to help us find Abraham. She called him from her phone for us and he magically appeared waiting for us. We then got in his 'car' (a four seater with only two seat belts and no AC) and drove about half an hour to Luxi. I was scared for my life back there. Once we got to the orphanage, we met all the staff including Hope and the American couple Ryan and Rachel. It was definitely comforting to hear their English-in her case with a nice southern accent. We got settled into our room equipped with one full bed (box spring instead of a mattress) with a mosquito net, two bamboo mats, and a sheet. Luckily there is a fan too, but no AC. Then we went and talked with Hope, Ryan, and Rachel for a while. They are all really sweet and helpful people. After that, we introduced ourselves to the kids who were all very excited that mommy and I could do math and intrigued that Jared and Janaye are twins. Then we had a nice bowl of flavorless rice for dinner-yum! And now, Janaye and I just had the experience of using the Chinese 'toilets' aka glorified holes in the ground...Janaye peed on her foot. It's only 7:13 but I am definitely ready to sleep after a very long day!~ Jaclyn
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Random Day 2/3 Thoughts of Suzanne
Our bus dropped us off on a side of road! Four Americans standing on the shoulder with our bags! Abraham, where are you?!? I'm kind of scared!
Abraham made it. We are crammed in his car. He just told us that we are going to swim in the mountain streams and hike Kung Fu mountain and camp with the orphans since Americans like to camp! I'm thinking I might should have brought tennis shoes...or maybe a tent?!?
Driving through Luxi....
Jared: This reminds me of China town
Jaclyn: Yes, they did a good job making China town look authentic.
Really, Jaclyn? I think we might need more sleep! It is authentic!
~Suzanne
Our bus dropped us off on a side of road! Four Americans standing on the shoulder with our bags! Abraham, where are you?!? I'm kind of scared!
Abraham made it. We are crammed in his car. He just told us that we are going to swim in the mountain streams and hike Kung Fu mountain and camp with the orphans since Americans like to camp! I'm thinking I might should have brought tennis shoes...or maybe a tent?!?
Driving through Luxi....
Jared: This reminds me of China town
Jaclyn: Yes, they did a good job making China town look authentic.
Really, Jaclyn? I think we might need more sleep! It is authentic!
~Suzanne