First Diary entry

Helen, the diary has come in very handy seeing as my first few days here are seemingly without the internet or a phone. I have to put something in writing about China, it is quite extraordinary. I have already experienced much of the culture. The day started with one of the Chinese/English teachers showing how to eat breakfast here. Just outside my apartment (almost next door)there are a couple of very good street restaurants that serve Baozi(steamed dumplings)and noodles for breakfast. They cook it outside on the pathway, they are delicious! After that my new friend (Swallow) who's been looking after me, showed me how to catch the bus into the city(the roads are crazy)We organised my Chinese mobile phone, saw the city sights and then went back to her house where her family had cooked me an authentic Chinese meal with many dishes to choose from. I knew that it would be different to Chinese cuisine, but not so different. It was full of tastes that my palette had never tasted before and again..it was amazingly delicious. We then went back to the city for shopping before coming back home on the bus. This evening as I look outside my bedroom window I see the Yangtze river, only here they don't call it that, it is called the "Chang Jiang".It is on the opposite side of the road to my apartment(literally, honestly)and very beautiful scenery, so green everywhere.There are two ladies playing badminton outside on the pathway and it all feels quite surreal. Everyone is extremely friendly and really appreciate my attempts at speaking Putonghua (Chinese Mandarin)I got to practice it a lot at Guangzhou airport where I got very very lost trying to find my way around(whilst in a state of shock). I have just looked outside my lounge room window (which faces the city of Yichang) and there are many fireworks going off over the city! Where am I? York to Yichang, quite a sensory overload I must say. So that is my first day in Yichang. Now I will settle down to watch the Olympics for the evening. Till next time, Zaijian !

Footnote : I'm very tired tonight so i will attempt to catch up more with the diary posts from the last few days maybe tomorrow and add some photo's (if possible)
extra footnote..ok, the view with the Yangtze is from my bedroom window, the view looking at the city is from my liunge room window!