Day 3 -- Friday, April 17, 2009

Day 3 began for many of us at 2-3:00 in the wee hours of the morning. While some were lucky enough to re-enter dream land others stared at the ceiling.

We breakfasted downstairs in the hotel restaurant on boiled eggs, rice porridge, noodles, sticky rice wrapped in tiny banana leaf pyramids and various other delicacies. The hot Tang was interesting and hot chocolate shared by Kelvin was a big hit.

With stomachs full we retreated to the conference room to meet our college tutors for next two days and get instructions for the Great Race.

Our mission was to get acquainted with the city and learn how to manage the bus system. To do this we first needed to exchange money for bus fare. This was more complicated than expected as we were turned away from some banks for one reason or another until finally, the Bank of China filled our wallets and we were good to go.

If you have ever thought traffic in Portland was bad you haven't been to China. Lane markings do little if anything to keep cars, mopeds, bicyclists, busses, or pedestrians in order. Traffic is a whirlwind of stop motion and incredibly amongst the ceaseless honking of horns it moves and one eventually easies his way in and out of space.

I was very impressed with how my Family did not back away from the many challenges facing them today. Navigating a new city in a foreign language is a daunting task. With guidance from our host they were able to get us to the Suzhou Train Station where they purchased tickets in advance for our field study to Shanghai on Day 7. Having been taught at a young age not to talk to strangers it took a bit of convincing to ask people on the street or vendors for information. Once they got the hang of it there was no holding back.

After purchasing tickets we headed back into town to buy a dictionary and postcards at a book store. Famished we delved into our bowls of noodles then proceeded to the Silk Factory to meet up with the rest of the class. Here we learned about the process of making silk before returning to the Scholar's Inn for some down time.

Kojo promised the students a surprise at the end of the day and after a delicious dinner on the Suzhou canal he came through with a boat excursion. Those of us who managed to keep our eyes open were treated to a wonderful trip under lighted bridges through canals/streets built over 1000 years ago.

Tomorrow we continue the Great Race though it is not really a race but an adventure for sure.