The First Day

Echo on the Air-plane

Today is our first day in China. It's somewhat strange, and I still don't really believe that we're here. Some initial impressions: the people are very friendly, the streets are stunningly filthy, and everyone loves Echo. In the Shanghai airport alone she had her picture taken at least sixteen times, was held by two total strangers, and was surrounded by a throng of admirers...she loves the attention. In |Shanghai we also met a very helpful young lady who had travelled with us from L.A. and was heading with us to Chengdu. She helped us to find our terminal, and then find it again when it was changed, and even went so far as to call the driver who would pick us up from the airport to tell them that our flight had been delayed. I was actually somewhat stunned by how far she went out of her way, without any prompting, to help us. I couldn't help but wonder if the Americans she met in L.A. would have treated her so kindly.

Shanghai Airport - Our first landing in China

We stayed in a hostel last night, and met Guo Wei this afternoon so that she could show us around town and move us into our apartment. The apartment is bigger than I had expected, but it's filthy. We can't even put echo on the floor for fear that she would gain a permanent patina from the thick film of er... scuzz coating the living room floor.  So, tomorrow, we buy a mop! -Dad