I'm on a Boat

I'm on a Boat!

At some point, I'll writ e my reflections on Japan. I want to quickly mention my trip to China. I opted for a sea voyage since it saved me around $700. I was a bit apprehensive for the voyage since I imagined myself cramped in a small room with three smoking Chinese guys. That probably would have been the case if the boast wasn't almost empty. There were about fifty passengers-naturally I was the only white person. I believe this gave me an air of mystique. This was clear just ten minutes in. I was strolling on the deck when two offish looking Chinese men came up to me and asked for a picture. I was familiar with this phenomenon from my previous three weeks being assaulted (at times) by Japanese school girls. But never by grown men. Clear, I would be cooler in China that I could ever dream of in Japan. I'm sure I was noticed by all on the boat. The twenty or so men occupied their day by constantly smoking, slamming cards on the table and howling lik e monkeys. But for the smoke, I woul d have joined them. But alas, I'm a whimpy californian at heart, and smoke is icky.

There was one young woman who took pity on my situation/saw an awesome opportunity to speak to an American. We had a broken conversation in English, I got her to teach m ea coupl e o f words in Mandarin. Of course, I mispronounce everything. But I figure it's a start. There was a brie karaoke session at night. But everyone was singing these overly romantic Chinese love ballads and since I would mispronounce ever words, I chose to not participate. I spent the 27 hour journey switching between sleeping, reading, chatting with a cheese girl. Who at the end of the trip told me tha t I looked like a terrorist and that my beard was very sexy. Huh?!

Welcome to China

So or course, at the small border/customs check they asked to search my bags. There were 50 Chinese nationals on the boat and me. Clearly, I stuck out. Four soldiers proceeded to watch as I unpacke d my bag. Didn't I get search in Japan,? I was asked. Of course not, why would they search me?! I answered. The guards seems more interested in my pictures on my camera than anything else. i had to show them how to page through more quickly through my pictures, otherwise they would probably be looking at this moment as well. The questions flipped back and forth from asking why am I in China (plenty of reasons I told them) to why am I in China for so short a time (I want a longer visa). I showed them the ten pictures or so I brought from home. They were very impressed by my parents pool.

The soldiers were particularly excited to hear that I would be traveling for a year or so. I know, I said, they should all quit the army and join me. I was just lucky, must be rich an d happened to be very handsome. Huh?! I thought for sure with a comment like that I could get one of them (preferably the one with the best English) to show me around the city. No dice. Hopefully, I'll have better luck with the next soldiers I meet.