5⁰C – Freezing
Finally, after 9 hours flight, I landed in Wuhan. When I finally stepped out from the airport with my extremely big luggage, I can feel there is a change.
There is a change in temperature, it is so cold here. Neither Singapore nor Malaysia’s weather is like this.
There is a change in language and culture. The people here don’t know how to speak English and they speak Mandarin in an accent which sometimes I can’t understand.
And, there is a change in my mood, from boarding to alighting. I felt so great when I was in Changi Airport, felt so energized by the group of faithful friends sending me off, so looking forward to this trip. But when I really reach here, somehow, I feel a bit down. I don’t know why, maybe because my final arrival here indicates that I will be away from my family for 6 weeks. I used to be independent, but still I wonder, Will I miss my mummy? Will I miss my doggy? Will I ever cry out of homesick? I don’t know.
No matter how, I still very look forward to my days in China as I can feel the people here are warm. I judge this by their keen in helping us. The students from WUST picked us up at airport and helped us up with our entire luggage. They snatched my 23.3kg luggage away; don’t even let me have a chance to carry it. And throughout the 2-hours bus journey, there’s no silent moment. They introduce themselves and also China culture to us in order to make us feel more comfortable with their country. Truthfully, I enjoyed the journey very much. I felt that they really made a good effort in breaking the ice.
Hmm, I have a point to speak up for them too. Unlike the rumors I have heard in Singapore regarding their bad attitude, the students here are actually very soft-spoken and polite. Even though they do not speak English as fluent as we do, still they tried their best to communicate with us in English as they thought we can’t speak Mandarin at first. Maybe some people will comment about their bad English, but I see it as their hard pain in bonding up with us. So they really left me a very good first impression.
*hmm, this is my judge after the first day, so I am not sure if it will change later.”P *
Anyway, I can still feel there’s a gap between us, especially in term of living culture. For example, their food is mostly oily and salty which is really a big contrast to the food we have in Singapore and Malaysia. Anyway, there’s a point to clarify. According to the students, the food in Hubei is oily and salty but in other province, the food tastes different and much plainer. So we cannot conclude that the food in China is all oily and salty, but just some provinces prefer heavier taste.
No matter how, I can friend with them already! Happy J
One more to mention, I saw my “home” for the next few weeks! It’s beyond words, don’t get wrong idea! In fact, it’s much better than what I have expected, as I thought there will be a shared toilet for all of us! But fortunately, each room is attached with a toilet! There’s a heater provided to us too! So I guess, I won’t be suffering much in term of accommodation.
PS 1. I’m staying over with Yisheng and Jonathan, in the companion of Felicia and Xinhui as the heater of my arranged room broke down.
PS 2. I heard we missed the heavy snow yesterday. But there’s a high chance to snow in the next few days! Looking forward to white! J
PS 3. Very thank you to my friends who stay overnight in Changi Airport just to send me off! i'm really touched, for the bear and notebook also. thanks a lot. i feel that i'm really not alone. really thanks, guys.
Maple’s waiting, to be snowed.
Labels: Maple's Story
