Monday, March 5, 2012

little trouble in big china.

After 24 hours of travel, Taylor made it to China in one piece.


We have been able to Skype and email a little whenever he wakes up and I'm getting ready for bed and vice versa (on account of the 13 hour time diff), which has been nice. It's like we have traveled back in time to the early days of our blossoming love affair.

ANYWAY, I asked him to update the blog with his various adventures in China, BUT he is unable to access google (which includes blogger) and also Facebook. I've found some of his email updates humorous so I thought I would copy and paste them in lieu of him blogging.

Sunday Night :

"I got here just fine. 
The flight from Seattle to Beijing was tough. It wasn't long into the flight that I started burping collard greens that I got from Paschal's in Atlanta airport and I knew everything wasn't ok. I sat in my seat with my belt undone for a while. Then got a coke and walked around in the back of the plane a little. Then I started to feel like I really might barf up those collard greens along with the chopsteak, so I stood in the airplane bathroom. For about an hour. Finally I just pooped. I hoped that would be the end, so I finally asked for my dinner. The chicken and stuffing smelled delicious, but when it hit my tongue my body was clearly rejecting it. So I went and stood in the other bathroom. While in there both times I preemptively cleaned the seats off and practiced squeezing my legs around the toilet in the tiny little room to get ready for when I lost it. But I just couldn't puke. So after another hour or so in there I sat back down and was fortunate enough to be able to sleep it off after eating a slice of cucumber. I finally was able to get my cold dinner down after the first hour or so nap. All in all I ended up sleeping quite a bit after that.

But I knew when it didn't come out the top end that it would later meet me at the back alley. And it did. As soon as I stood up to get off the plane it hit me that I needed to clear my bowels. And I had to wait for everyone to clear out. I followed the crowd out of the tunnel, up the escalator, noting that everything was in Chinese and thinking that I had pictured my first steps in China to be less frantic, and finally around the corner found the bathroom. It was very relieving, but by the time it had subsided I was left all alone. 

I followed the signs for baggage claim and eventually caught up with everyone at the customs desk. I made it through without a problem and found my driver that was arranged. It was Sindy's husband, Yang Yong He. It was an hour and a half drive or so to the hotel and we chatted the whole way. Until we stopped so I could pee on the side of the road. That was really the first I saw of China, when I stepped over the siderail of the highway to pee in the middle of the night. It was nice finally putting my Chinese to the test for the first time in so long. It was a struggle to remember some very basic words. When I went to tell him how we had locked ourselves out of the house on the way to the airport and had to reach my arm up in the doggy door to break back into the house to get the car keys I had to ask him how to say the words wallet and arm. Pretty weak. Along the way I told him how much I was looking forward to some good chinese food and mentioned a few of my favorites, so when we got close to the hotel he treated me to one of the things I mentioned, niu rou mian or beef noodle soup. It was excellent"

I probably should have warned you about all the toilet talk in that one, but whatever. It is what is, and it made ME laugh.

Monday he had the day off to adjust and rest. He sent me pictures of his breakfast. That is one thing I am happy about, that he gets to enjoy the Chinese food he loves so dearly. But this breakfast looks weird. 



Just as a side note, this breakfast cost 34 american dollars!

He got a haircut (which was crazy to me that they allow haircuts in China that aren't bowl cuts) and he sent me this email Monday evening:

"Dear Kynslie,
I didn't go sightseeing. I met up with Mark instead and he went over what all is going on here. Then we went over to Motorola. We walked by where they make all these phones. I was surprised when he said they don't even wear gloves when they're making them. It was cool to see how normal and crappy looking it is looking inside one of these huge corporations. Also, it's snowing a little. Also, people drive like maniacs here. There seem to be very loose interpretations of traffic laws. People don't care about lanes. It's crazy. Also, I love you. 
Your husband in love,
Taylor"

Later we skyped when it was a about two in the morning his time. He told me he was hungry so we parted ways. Later I got this email:

"Dear Kynslie,

I went to get some dumplings just now cuz i forgot to eat dinner. The first place the taxi driver tried to take me to was closed, so he kindly offered to take me to get some beers and have some pretty girls accompany me. I said no and he found me a 24 hour dumpling shop. Me likely. He gave me his number and wants to be my friend. Now I will try to sleep.

Love you long time,
Taylor"

It makes me feel so special to know that he turned down an offer so enticing as some beers and pretty Asian girls. 



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