Yesterday we left our hotel at 830am to head to the North Campus of the Hangzhou International School of Technology. We met with the Dean of the College Mr. Yao. He prepared a speech to welcome us to the school. We then met with students from the school who were interested in talking to us about school in America. We then ate lunch with Mr. Yao and our guide Anthony. We then met the students who would be our home stay students for today. Shawn and I were paired up with Kelly, Siny, and Jenny. Siny is from Hangzhou and Kelly and Jenny are from a town near Hangzhou. After Lunch we went to a wetland area where we went on a walking tour of the wetlands (similar to the Everglades, with less Alligators). Angie, Jarrett, and I walked up a very tall tower (six stories or so) that overlooked the whole city. There were many stores and trinkets shops where some of us bought silk ties and other silk products.
We then returned to the hotel for supper, when I started to not feel well. I got sick for about 3 hours, and went to bed not feeling well.
Prof Ewest came and checked on me this morning at around 8 am. I was feeling much better, and we decided it might have been due to dehydration. Shawn, Mike and I walked into the campus's version of The Den at Wartburg (except no made to order food), to buy some water and other supplies. We ran into Jenny and Kelly who were on their way to meet us at the Hotel. After Siny met us here, we went to a Dumpling Restaurant that has been open since 1890. For the first time since we have been here, I ate food that I had seen before. The previous days we had good food, but it was so obscure I never felt confident in what I was eating. Today we had Dumplings, which were amazing, and something that was very similar to an egg roll, except shaped like a hashbrown. One thing I have noticed, is that in China, for the most part, beverages are served warm-to-hot. At breakfast Milk is served very hot, soda is served warm, and coffee is served cold. At the restaurant today, we ordered water, which was served at near boiling temperature. Siny then ordered us bottled water. After the dumpling restaurant, we went to the former residence of Hu Xue Yan. Hu Xue Yan was a Banker, Businessman, and Hospital builder. He became so wealthy, he became a celebrity. His house was 62,592 square feet. It boasts the first telephone in China, which was like an intercom system so he could communicate with his mistresses who lived at his house so his wife couldn't find out. After our tour of the home, we went to McDonalds. We had heard rumors of how different their McDonalds are then ours, so we decided to check it out. Shawn and I ordered the #1, a Big Mac. The fries were less salted, and the patties were smaller, but other than that, you couldn't tell the difference between an american Big Mac and a Chinese Big Mac. The environment was very different though. The McDonalds was 3 stories tall with seating on every level. The place was so crowded that it took us 15 minutes to find a seat. After McDonalds, we went shopping. We went to a 7 story mall, where we found many stores had American products, but were priced higher than in America. Also, I found a pair of fake Nike Air Force ones for 650 RNB ($95).
After the Mall, we left via taxi to come back to our hotel. We thanked our new Chinese friends and went our separate ways. After we arrived back here, Shawn and I went on a walk around our hotel. We then ran into Prof Ewest and walked down an alley where they were serving food. I ordered some noodles (lo mein) and paid 2RNB ($0.28) for a sizable portion. Shawn ordered some Chicken (similar to rotisery chicken) and I also bough some pineapple on a stick. Ewest got some candy. Tonight we might go to a night club, or I might just go to bed. I have been very tired today after being up sick last night. I am going to put up pictures onto Facebook soon.
Cheers
Erik
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