Tempest7: Blogger

GuangZhou Day 1

I got up this morning and finished off my packing. Basically the stuff I needed to use in the morning I ended up packing. My backpack was pretty full actually, I have a tendency to over pack. I was debating about my notebook but just incase I had internet at night I wanted to bring it. Even if I didn't there's plenty of things I can do on my notebook to be productive; like writing my blog out in a text file which I am doing right now. I always end up cutting it close getting out the door and I rushed down the street to the bus stop. The bus was late and it was raining. I was a little wet, I brought my umbrella of course so it wasn't that bad. There was a lady waiting at the bus stop who gave me a sticker to put on my shirt. Somehow that showed I was part of the tour, there was only one other person so when the bus pulled up about 10 minutes late I found a comfortable seat and settled in. We were only the first stop though in HK and as we stopped at each pick up point the bus eventually filled up. I didn't check the ticket correctly and I ended up sitting in someone else's spot. They were from Austrilia (which I found out later) and were quite pleasant to chat with. We had stopped off at the border and I had gotten off. I filled out a form similar to the one that I filled out when I entered Hong Kong. I didn't check closely but apparently they stamped my departure from Hong Kong. We stopped again and this time I didn't fill out the card at customs and had to line back up and fill out a card. I was in such a rush because the Chinese bus tour drivers are really impaitent and I didn't want them leaving without me. I totally forgot I set my umbrella down until I was talking to the couple from Austrilia (actually one is Chinese from GuangZhou going back to see family) and I had to rush back inside to find it. I remember exactly where I set it down though, and had a bit of a problem explaining to the guard and customs officials why I had to cross back over again but I managed to get my umbrella with plenty of time to spare. The ride was quite long sitting at about 3 and 1/2 hours total. The view along the country side kind of reminded me of Ontario.since in Hong Kong I don't get to see many open spaces and trees.

When we pulled into entrance to Jinan University I was overwhelmed. I was standing infront of the gate and my online friend Lou Yan was there to great me with her classmate and her mother. The thing about China is the sense that things are big. I don't know if it is because I just spent the last 3 months in small Hong Kong, but I felt things were really big in GuangZhou. Things I noticed right away, the vehicles are all old, there are many people on motor bikes and normal bikes. We exchanged brief hellos, since I can't speak Mandarin, and decided quickly to go find a place to eat. Lou Yan's friend took us on a brief bus ride to a Chinese/Western chain style restaurant called "Kung Fu". I didn't think the meal I choose was very tasty actually. What was also surprising was the washroom there, it was a single shared washroom, with the sink actually on the outside. Inside was just a room with one of those toilets you squat over. This is the first time I've seen it. Just like real Chinese people Lou Yan's mother instructed her to pay for the meal, but I surprised her by speaking Cantonese to the cashier. Actually using Cantonese in GuangZhou is really iffy. There are so many people from different areas that the majority of the time I find Cantonese doesn't help so far. My ratio has been about 1 in 5 can speak Cantonese back at me that I talk to. Majority of the people around me are still shorter than me, so they share this similarity with Hong Kong. They kind of paniced when I mentioned the location of the hostel that I had picked out. They thought I had to go to the specific place. Actually since I never booked it, I was quite free to go anywhere and since Lou Yan had already done her research I decided to follow her. We ended up taking a taxi and about 3 different buses to get to Dong Sha Area.

Oh, I was in envy of Hong Kong's public transportation system. I'm not envious of GuangZhou's. The feeling on the bus is about the same as Toronto's TTC, except more dangerous. The streets just don't make sense, you see cars weaving in and out of lanes, along with buses, trucks, people on motor bikes and people on regular bikes. The bus makes sudden stops and moves quickly suddenly as well throwing many people around inside the bus. We finally made it and I am now staying in a hotel called "Xiao Hu Tian Hotel". The price is pretty cheap, cheaper than the hostel actually at $120 RMB a night for a small room. The room is fine for my needs though, it even includes a TV. The shower I don't have much of a choice, but I better try showering beside the toliet at some point. Might as well be at a hotel. All in all this saves me a bit more cash, which will probably go to Lou Yan's dinner tomorrow since it is her birthday. I brought some stamps I've been saving for her from Canada (and actually I picked up a few in Seattle). I put my stuff down, tested the air conditioner and we were off again because her mother was waiting downstairs. Her mother was cooking tonight and the location was the factory they work at.

Yes this is the first time I've been to a factory setting. This is a very basic one setup to make noodles. Needless to say I don't think I can look at Chinese made noodles the same way again. The conditions are rough, the workshop is very hot even more so than the outside. Summer time must be unbareable inside. Her mother cooks and her father works in the factory. It is a tough life, but this is very typical of many of the Chinese here it seems. Thier intention towards their daughter is good though they work hard so that their daughter can go through university. It is very stressful though when I think about it like that. To see your parents suffer so that you can live a good life, even though I know this is the goal of every parent.

My own father moved to Canada with very little in his pocket. I think maybe only $5-$20. He had so many jobs while he was studying through University. It was very tought for him, with barely enough time to sleep and barely enough money to make a meal. A decent meal was a blessing, can you imagine being so poor that you had to heat ketchup and water for your supper? He really had the drive to make it through Engineering at McGill, and it paid off. The more I spend time in Asia the more I appreciate what my parents have done for me. There are many things I've taken for granted in Canada and opportunities that my parents have provided me that I wasn't aware of before. I do have many regrets, but my failures help to make the person I am today as much as my successes.

The factory was an eye opener though. The people in the neighbourhood seem to enjoy their life, but for someone who has grown up in Canada it just seems so poor and dirty. I had a lot of difficulty talking to Lou Yan's father since they can't understand my Cantonese and my Mandarin is too poor to actually use in a conversation. After dinner, later that night, we headed to the grocery store on my way home. We picked up some distilled water, Pringles (hot & spicy), and a map of Guang Zhou. Lou Yan hung out with me in my room freeing our souls of burden until her parents came to pick her up. The hallway is still noisy and it is nearly 12 am. I don't know what the maids are doing outside but my only complaint about this place so far is the noise outside. For $120 RMB a night, I can live with it. Oh, don't buy Pringles from small Chinese supermarkets, they're not well taken care of, most of mine are broken inside.

Labels: China

posted by Tempest7 @ 23:00