Sylvie's moments

Many of you have heard me complain about the plumbing in China. I believe that most travellers in this country have accumulated an impressive collection of similar stories. But this one - compliments of the NZ prof, Louw - takes the cake!

 

His university has another teaching contract in the South of China. One session, another NZ prof encountered (surprise, suprise) a problem with his bathroom. It had been constructed in an open concept, with the shower on the same level as the rest of the bathroom, with no separation or bathtub. Yes, there was a drain, but it had been placed too high for the water to reach it. The bathroom floor had been built on a slight incline, which sent the water rushing past the bathroom into the living room and the rest of the apartment. 

 

The NZ prof advised the proper authorities, and a team of "engineers" was dispatched to remedy the problem. A little wall was added under the bathroom door - the door itself had to be shortened by at least two inches. Problem solved. Well, not really, because the water STILL didn't reach the drain. Sure, it didn't flood the apartment anymore, but instead pooled in the bathroom, creating a sizeable lake.

 

The NZ prof, a resourceful chap, took matters in his own hands and bought a plastic kiddie pool, which he stationed at the entrance of the bathroom. When he had to relieve himself, he would step into the pool, grab the mop, and propel himself pirogue-style to the toilet!

 

Venice on the cheap, in China! True story! ;-)

 

Well, here I am in Kaifeng again, for the third time in less than three years. While some things have changed, others remain the same. I can still find my favourite foods and my way around the campus and its surrounding area. The flight in was long and tiring, but seemed to miraculously cure my sinus cold?!? I bumped into Joe, the English teacher, at the Beijing airport while waiting for the third - and last - connecting flight to our final destination.

 

Now, if Kaifeng doesn't seem to have changed that much, the same can't be said about the Beijing airport. I have flown through it three times now, and I was unsuccessfully trying to recognize some landmarks, but since the Olympics, the airport now resembles a small city. Really enjoyed the nifty little shuttle that takes us from one terminal to the next. Previously, one had to walk through many long hallways, at times even fighting off "fake airport guides" who would "guide" you down the straight hallway.... for a fee.

 

We were met by Shuchen, a very friendly new Economics teacher at the school, who earned his Bachelor at York University in Toronto. Needless to say, it's refreshingly easy to converse with him. He helped us get settled this morning and assigned two of the top students to us as well. The three of them took us to the bank and the mini-supermarket. Shuchen had family obligations and later left us in the hands of the two students - Zhang Jiayin and Wang Ruirui - who brought us to eat noodles at a local restaurant. I had actually never eaten noodles in my last trips. Although very tasty, I found that they were much harder to pin down into immobility and coerce into my mouth than rice. Apparently I was making good progress when I was seen shoving them and slurping them with gusto. I was taught a "trick" or so I thought (wedging them between the chopsticks and twirling them, which seemed very efficient to me)... until Zhang Jiayin told me that this was how they taught the young kids to eat noodles! All in all, a relaxing first day.

 

We are invited to a welcome dinner tonight, with some of the staff. Should be another delicious meal... I have not yet had a bad meal in China.

I'm just coming down from an earlier massage-induced intoxication. Wow - I went for 60-minute foot massage and it turned into a 90-minute full body massage. I could barely walk straight afterward, I was so relaxed! I just wanted to adopt my young masseuse, bring him back and set him up in my computer room... my own private massage studio. What a sweet thought!

 

Aside from that, my time in Beijing is coming to an end. I moved to nicer quarters today and took a blissful shower. I chose the Temple of Lamas over the Forbidden City this morning, but may end up having a peek at the former tomorrow. We'll see if I feel like running myself ragged before my flight.

 

Now I want to stay and shop and be massaged for a few more days or months! Quite the reversal since yesterday, huh?

A friend I used to know was fond of saying "Material possessions are the key to happiness". At the time, I disputed that statement passionately. The stark materialism of the statement didn't sit well with me. But in Beijing, I found grains of truth in this. A few hours of shopping acted like calamine lotion on my exacerbated mood.

 

On my way to check out better hotels, I was accosted twice by students of Beijing University inviting me to attend an Arts Exhibit. I accepted the second time. I had nothing better to do. My room is a smelly dungeon, not exactly cosy. So, I zigzagged with 3 students through neighbouring streets until we reached their exhibit. I ended up buying 2 silk paintings which had been painted by two of them.

 

The third set of students who later bumped into me basically told me that today was "Find some tourists and herd the suckers to the art exhibit" Day. Ah well, it was a pleasant interlude.

 

And just when I thought there were no pictures to take... I learned to never underestimate the entertaining powers of the Chinese English Sign. I will have more to add to my evergrowing collection.

 

As I continued shopping, I found out that I am still an extra large here. Sigh. Tried a beautiful blouse but my muscles refused to fit in the sleeves. But the shopping rage has taken hold of me. I think I will skip the Wall tomorrow (sacrilege!), probably visit the Forbidden City for a few hours and return to my primary activity. Then, I plan to treat myself to an hour-long, well-deserved foot massage. :-)

 

Oh, and I did find a very pleasant alternative to this dump and reserved a room for tomorrow. Lo and behold, this guest house is run by the All-China Women's Federation. It's pristine and quaint and costs less than $150 per night. The best part is that it's located in a hutong, a little sidestreet where locals have lived - and still do - for centuries.  

 

Well, that's my update. The adventure presses on.

 

Just when you think that you'll be able to coast for a while in a "world class" city, reality hits you like a grand piano dropping flat on your head. Beijing is just as hard to get around as anywhere else in this country.... then multiply that by 100 due to the sheer size and population of the beast.

 

This city is nowhere NEAR ready to welcome the world next year. After the ordeal I went through just to FIND my hotel (which is a hell hole, the worst yet...and I'm running out of Purrell!!), I'm not even tempted to visit this place. Sure, there are pretty baskets of flowers in the streets, but I don't think I'll be taking many pictures, it's just a big, big city.

 

I wanted to hole up and wait for my return flight, but my room is so revolting that I will be forced to venture out to find new digs in a moment. What a waste of a day.

 

While venting on MSN just now, 3 Tunisian guys - who incidentally go to UQAM - came in, also scouting for somewhere decent to stay. I guess I'm not the only one in this boat. They gave me a lead on decent accommodation, will have to go check it out in a minute. Wow, it felt good to commiserate with fellow travellers.

 

Ah well, I hope my next entry will be more upbeat....right now, I AM NOT LIKING THIS PLACE!!!!