Flying Baby

Fifteen hours of fun, fun, fun on a big airplane!

Hong Kong (Xianggang)

During our 8 hour layover in Hong Kong, we decided to see the sights on the ferry.  Check out the map below: we went from Tsim Sha Tsui to Central to Hung Hom to Wan Chai and then back to Tsim Sha Tsui.  It was pretty fun.  Check out the pics!

- Drew

Sense It for Yourself

You’re standing at the window of our second-story apartment.

 

SEE

Gray skies.  Gray buildings.

We hear that the skies are always drab here, probably due to pollution plus high humidity.  You could see the “Good-smelling River” from here, if not for other six-story apartment buildings blocking your view.

 

SMELL

Humidity.  China. 

There is a distinct muggy-smell that comes with soppy skies.  You might get a waif of China-smell, too: a combo of must, waste, and sizzling foods.

 

FEEL

Humidity.  Cold. 

You’ll feel colder inside the apartment than outside because the cement buildings haven’t warmed-up yet.  Although the temperature is 45 F outside, the constant moisture in the air makes you feel a little chilled.  Thank goodness for the little heater inside!

 

TASTE

Spicy.  Attempt-at-American-y. 

Say you were eating while standing at the window.  Hunan province food is hot – you’ll have to pick around the hot peppers, but it is delicious too.  Many foods reminiscent of American cuisine are also available at the underground grocery store.

 

HEAR

Stray cats yelling.  Traffic and horns honking.  Fireworks exploding.  

 

What more is there to say?  Welcome to our home!

love,

Drew, Rachel & Titus

Journey to Changsha, China

Hello to everyone back in the States!  We have arrived in our city, Changsha, and moved into our apartment.  You might be wondering how we’re feeling about it all – but first let me tell you about our journey.

Minneapolis/St. Paul to Los Angelos

Los Angelos to Hong Kong

Hong Kong to Changsha

Flying was no problem!  In fact, the 15-hour flight from LA to Hong Kong was my favorite international flight yet (of just five now) because Titus was so playful!  He is better entertainment than the seat-back movies.  Drew rigged up a bed for Titus by bridging the gap between the seat and seat-back with our carry-on luggage.  I was so happy about this arrangement that I cried; Titus had a perfect place to sleep.

What did we do during our eight-hour layover in Hong Kong?  We took Titus to see the city where his Grandpa Jon grew up!  We rode the Star Ferry around the Hong Kong harbor – riding on the EXACT same boats that Grandpa Jon took to school forty years earlier.

Upon arriving in the Changsha airport, we were greeted by a mob of excited Chinese teenagers screaming, jumping, and waving signs.  No actually, it wasn’t for us -- there were some celebrities on our flight.  We were more concerned about finding our missing luggage (which is still missing but supposedly on the way).  Thankfully, we do have our carry-on and one bag of baby stuff.

You were wondering how we’re feeling?  I’ll be honest: the first day we were jet-lagged, exhausted and couldn’t think straight.  Our new situation seemed worse than expected.  I thought, “What have we gotten ourselves into?  We have to do this for three more years?”  Day two was better.  Drew and I laughed together, poking fun at our own pathetic pouting and half-jokingly complaining about anything unfavorable.  Yah, we had a good laugh.  It helped us to accept the difficulties!  And there’s so much to be thankful for.  “Seeds of discontent will not grow in a thankful heart.”  

- Rachel