Last weekend in China

19.06.2014

Well, my last adventure is over and so is my time in China. Now what? Is it so important to always have a plan?

Friday afternoon, Ranald and I went to the high speed train station for our fast train to Nanjing. I originally planned on going to Chongqing, but that didn't happen because we booked our tickets too late and there were no beds left on the train.

Anyway, Ranald had the idea to go to Nanjing, I guess because he went there before. He had some things to see there that he missed last time.

After I acquiesced, Chris from Welland posted a huge 3D painting on Facebook that was on display in Nanjing, so you know I had to find it. I can't resist crazy coincidences like that.

We arrived five hours later at 10:30 and couldn't find a room. Also, Ranald doesn't like to go with the guest house owners that attack you when you come out of the station.

We wandered around for a while, every hotel owner said they had no room, which was probably code for "no foreigners". I had never had this problem before, and I was starting to wonder if Ranald was a liability. Maybe these places would normally accept me when I travel alone because I am a single woman, roaming the streets and they felt sorry for me.

After I dragged Ranald around tryiing to find a cheaper place, we had to stay in the "international" hotel, the kind I normally stay far away from because of their crazy prices and also their blandness and predictability.

PS I included some photos of NUDT along with this entry that I took on my last day there. I have been working two hours a week (really!) for the past month. Even with that, no one shows up to my office hours, so this week, I walked around and took some photos. It's an impressive place, and one that not many people get to see. I am very appreciative of the staff here. They made my life so much easier than it was last year. I would recommend this place if you are considering teaching in China, absolutely. The only downside was staying in Changsha when I didn't have work. Other than that, good people, and even better students.

Wheat grass aloe juice, EXTRA health!