China Part 1: Getting There

A sign. Perhaps a welcome?
Saw this right after the cholera poster.

March 1st I set off for China. I headed specifically to Changchun, 长春, in the Jilin province. My sister, Eleni, and my brother-in-law, Allen, are currently teaching English there. I have never been to China and thought it would be great to visit Eleni and Allen and to also soak up some Chinese culture.
Changchun is pretty far north. The Jilin Province is bordered by Russia, Mongolia and North Korea. I decided to head over at the end of their winter. At times temperatures can reach -40 C in the winter thanks to the Siberian winds whipping about. It was cold while I was there but not painful.

I decided to fly China Southern due to the major price difference between it and other airlines. I had no idea what to expect on the way there. I had a 9 hour flight to Guangzhou and then another 4.5hr flight from Guangzhou to Changchun.

Heading to domestic. 

China Southern, for a budget airline, was fine and I would fly with them again. The food was the normal airplane food. For one breakfast I had the choice of eggs & sausage or rice. I decided to go with the non-Western choice. If you ever have a similar choice try the rice, it was yummy. It comes in two little square packages wrapped in steamed leaves. You are not supposed to eat the leaves. I don't want you to make the same mistake I did. The leaves didn't taste bad but I reckon to the Chinese sitting around me it was like watching someone eat their plate. Not the best of manners.

As soon as I landed in Guangzhou all Western amenities disappeared. I was immediately introduced to the squat toilet and the men's smoking rooms. Everything is in Chinese, obviously. They have graciously left English under most of the airport signs so that you could get yourself from point A to B without too much trouble.

New experience, normal Chinese toilets. Squat toilets. Every now and then you would find a western toilet in a restaurant. Perhaps out of sympathy? Two other things about the toilets. They usually don't provide paper. Make sure you always, always, carry your own. Oh and you don't flush it down, it goes in the rubbish bin. Like that one over there. Their pipes can't handle much paper, it causes problems.

Insight #1 into daily life in China. Carry toilet paper with you at all times and don't flush it down. 

Near the gate that would, after a three hour layover, take me to Changchun was the women's toilet. Next to our space was the men's smoking room. How nice. Smoking is allowed everywhere, you just have to get used to it. I was a bit surprised at all the smoking. I mean surely they have seen all the horror TV commercials and ads educating one on the dangers of the sin stick? Then again maybe not.

You see, I learned a certain phrase while visiting in China.

"One would think, but....."

After traveling for over a day I finally arrived at the Changchun airport. Customs was nothing. They really don't care much about what you bring into their country. Very different from the customs interrogation when arriving in Australia.
I emerge out of the security check with confidence. "Success! I have made it through and didn't get lost. I am ready to explore China!"

I look around and immediately feel very small and out of place. I am the lone blonde female in a airport arrival hall mostly filled with Chinese men.  Stares and more stares....something tells me I don't blend in very well. You see, Changchun is a frontier town (of 7 million that is), kind of wild west. Beijing, Shanghai, they see Westerners quit a bit. Up in the northeast, not so much.

What to do now?

Help!

I look around hoping for some glimpse of red or blonde hair. None. OK, well I guess I will just hang and try to look like I know what I'm doing. No chance. 15 minutes later I see Eleni and Allen. Relief. 

It is a bit unnerving to arrive in a non-English speaking country for the first time. Especially when the language is not even close to yours. I mean this  "hello" & this "bonjour" are similar. My brain goes "yeah, OK different but I am finding some similarities. Come gang we can work with this" However this "hello" & "你好", well the brain gets a bit of a shock. I imagined my brain saying "What is this! What in the world am I supposed to do with this? Do you hear me down there? Does not compute!"