OK, I’m here and already hooked up to the internet. Surprised, aren’t you? Some things have changed:
I was driven from the airport in a minivan with leather seats, AIR CONDITIONING, and a young, female driver.
My room also has air conditioning! It’s right next to our old room, Ben, on floor Wu, but the rooms have been greatly improved–hair dryers in the bathroom, no pink taffeta bedspreads, and carpeting that doesn’t predate the Qing dynasty. I’m sure the mattresses are new, but were they as hard as plywood last time?
Some things haven’t changed:
The keybox and key are still at the end of the hall, in case of a fire. Since it’s Saturday, no music over the loudspeakers, but everyone’s out on the track, doing Tai Chi, playing badminton and soccer. In the park across the street, they were even ballroom dancing at 6:30 a.m. on a Saturday. The women wore dresses and heels, and many were dancing with female partners.
Oh, I spoke too soon….the music just came on over the outside loudspeakers. Same tunes… The dining room has been remodeled. Now you pay cash per meal, but the menu’s the same. Breakfast was rice gruel, an egg, dumpling, and hot Tang.
I have the day off to “relax,” so I’m headed out to find the indoor ski venue that I saw on a tourist map. I’m sure that’s also new.
I wish I knew how to send you pictures, because we were kept on the plane for an extra hour while guys with white “haz-mat” suits boarded and checked our temperatures by lazer. They were from the Health Dept., but looked pretty bizarre.
Having fun so far,
Love, Mom/Grandma/Dong Gu