Hays 3

Day Three, the flight
So, on to the airplane.

Actually, I would like to start a little earlier. You see, we had to travel by China Air or Air China or one of those lovely less than stellar airlines. It takes me back to my first flight to Tokyo and how nervous I was on that flight. It was amazing, how clean and nice that flight was. For some reason I supposed that all flights to Asia were like that flight, which by the way was on Continental. No, this is United Airlines, and it's China partner...whichever one that is.

As soon as we walked down the ramp I noticed a certain smell. However, I assumed that it was just the ramp. Then we got on the plane. It was cramped, kind of dirty feeling, and unpleasant. As we were getting seated Rita and her friend Margaret (the cinema teacher) walked by. She introduced Margaret to me and Margaret promptly offered my husband a job. Because of me! How nice. He accepted (and got the position for the last two years, which has been his favorite job ever!!!!) and then turned to ask me who that was! It was all very surreal. We settled in, I was sitting behind Will and the kids. They sat down with their Leap Pads (delightful tool) and relaxed. About 3 hours in they started dozing off. not much suprise as it was 3 AM!!!
The Stewards kept coming by as if they expected our kids to be a problem (and having seen other kids on flights, that is probably exactly what they thought) but the kids were completely well behaved and quite. others in our travel group didn't even realize they were with us.

The food was AWFUL. Before you make jokes, I have had good airline food. I have had great airline food on Continental (I always request the vegetarian and have had some very jealous passangers!)but this flight was so disgusting I was afraid that the children would be starving (and they kind of were, thank goodness I had the forsight to pack snacks in their carry ons!!!)

Anyway, we finally get to Beijing and have a pretty good laugh when we get off the plane and see the Handisapped sign. (they finally took that down this year, but it has been a laugh every time I go through the airport!). We have some difficulties getting through customs in time to get on the plane to our new home city, Zhengzhou. Okay technically we will be going to Xinzheng, but that is considered a satellite of "greater Zhengzhou" as it is only about an HOUR away. We disembark the plane from Zhengzhou feeling about ready to turn around and go back to America if something doesn't happen and lo we are met at the airport by an army of Freshman and various other students who help us gather our bags and help us push them to the waiting bus. They give us arms full of flowers and load us onto the bus. My husband and I looked at each other and agreed to give it a few more days.

They drive us to this big beautiful campus that looks just like an American university (looks can be decieving, boy I tell you) and we unload off the bus and are escorted to our new home. It is twice the size of the one we just left in America. And lovely. We settle the kids into their rooms, we make sure that we have everything we need. They have provided us with 5 coca-cola's and some rice cake things to eat as a treat and a welcome. And we all settle in and go right to sleep.