Highs and Lows of Travel to China

 My first blog post from China! Hello everyone. I made it safe and sound. I thought I would share some of the highs and lows of my journey over here. This blog is also functioning as a journal for me so I wanted to remember a few of these things.

Highlights:

1. Getting "lost" on the way to the Vancouver airport with Don and Lynn. We took a little unnecessary detour as directed by google maps and it made for some good laughs. 

2. Everything went smoothly at the airport...got through security without having to do a body scan and got to my gate with enough time to relax. 

3. My flight was not full so there was plenty of room for my carry on and the seat next to me was empty! I was also the first seat so I had extra feet room and there was no seat reclining into me.

4. Everything went smoothly when I got in and my Principal and our driver was there with a welcome sign. I felt so cool having my name on a sign! I’m sad I forgot to take a picture of it. 

5. All of my luggage was there and came out  pretty quick! 

6. We drove to my apartment and I love it! (more on the apartment in the following post)

Low-Lights:
  1. TSA is cranky in Vancouver. 

 2. There were no individual screens on the back of the seats and the "in-flight entertainment" was a bust. There were a couple larger screens and a bunch of super random movies played throughout the flight. Most were Chinese with English subtitles but seriously the plots were ridiculously hard to follow. Thank the Lord for my kindle and ipod or that flight would have been unbearable.

 3. I only slept 3 hours and it was at the beginning of the flight. I was sooo tired, but my body couldn’t get comfortable and I just felt gross. Of course I finally settled in about 45 minutes before we landed.

4. I was sleeping so I missed the first main meal. However, I don't think I missed much. The food wasn't great. I know airplane food is never amazing, but this was just really different.

5. 12 hours is just too long to be on a plane. 

Not the best traveling experience I’ve had, but I really can’t complain. If a little discomfort and boredom is all that I really dealt with then I say it was successful. I’m so happy to be here. Everything is new and a little intimidating at first, but I’m getting there.