I have arrived safe and sound in Nanjing. My day yesterday was insane. It lasted 25 hours without sleep, and included a bus, a train, a plane, and two cars. And of course, lots and lots of Chinese. My flight out of San Francisco, after a wonderful birthday party held for me by my family in San Jose, was delayed for two hours, and threw my whole trip off schedule. When I arrived in Shanghai, I had missed the last train to Nanjing and was pretty frantic. But wait, I was in a train station in China! There is transportation from anywhere to everywhere at almost any time of day. There are private companies that run their own buses for the desperate traveler like me, and even though they are not technically "safe", They have never let me down. After a two hour subway ride to the train station, I passed a woman advertising for a bus to Nanjing. Could it be so simple after all that time I had wasted freaking out??? Indeed it was. I hopped on a bus to Nanjing and arrived around 2 in the morning. Some nice woman on the bus had let me use her phone to call the hostel, and they were there when I got in at 3 in the morning to check me in. I survived! Everything was fine. I need to learn how to relax.
And now I am at my home away from home in the beautiful Nanjing! I woke up after 5 hours of sleep (I tried, but couldn't sleep any longer. Jet lag...) and went to check in with the Flagship office. I almost cried real tears this morning. I can't believe I'm back! It is so surreal. It almost feels like I've never left. I have an idealized view of China, but this morning made me remember that it's still pretty tough for people here. I have been really nervous about coming back, but everyone in the flagship office was so friendly and I saw several of my classmates from last year, so all fear was replaced with excitement.
After check-in this morning, They set me up with a realtor to find an apartment. I was nervous because everyone else was talking about how they were paying 3000-3500 yuan per month (about $500-$600) for the apartments they found. When I was at BYU, they had made it seem like we would be splitting rent with our roommate, but indeed this is not so. I will be paying the entire monthly fee, and so I was hoping to find something a lot cheaper. I told this to the realtor and she managed to find me a place for 2500. We went and saw it and, despite it being pretty dirty, It's perfect. I'll have my own room for the first time in my life, and it's small and simple but has more than enough space for me. I said I would take it if they had someone clean it first, and the realtor is providing the cleaner so I know it will be reliable. She also managed to talk the landlord down to 2000 per month! Not a bad day overall. I get to move in tomorrow and I am really excited.
Now I have a cell phone and apartment. All I have left to do is get a bank account, register at the police department, hopefully buy a scooter (scoot scoot!), move in, and EAT. I cannot even begin to describe how excited I am about the food. It's everywhere! And so cheap! And soooo delicious. I can't wait to start. I'm going to eat all the things.
I think that's everything that's happened so far. My body is still really confused at the fact that I am not sleeping right now, so my brain is a little fuzzy, but I'm definitely good, and will post more when my oh so exciting China school career begins.
Love from China!
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