Trains Trains Everywhere: May 17

Date: Saturday, May 17
Time: 11:47 AM Beijing
Location: Floor of the West Beijing Railway Station by a Locked Door

Well our train was supposed to have left 22 minutes ago. It was cancelled at the last minute. We left the hostel at 9:30, plenty of time to walk to the subway, ride it a couple of stops, and make it to the train station for our 11:25 train to Chengdu. Dragging our suitcases down the street was one thing, but I wasn't prepared to drag mine up and down stairs. I was grateful for Dr. Chandler carrying mine up the stairs when he saw I couldn't do it. I ought to work on my biceps. I wonder if the university has a gym? Probably.

We arrived at the train station, sent our bags through x-ray, and checked the arrival/departure board. K117 wasn't there. Dr. Chandler talked with someone and ushered us outside. Beijing has 2 train stations and we were at the wrong one. We wanted Beijing West Railway Station. Dr. Chandler threw us in cabs with our bags and told the drivers where to take us.

Katie, Shane, and I sped off in the first cab. It'd be close but we could still make it. Our driver, one of 4 Mario Andretti's hauling the group across the city, took a different way than the others, so we worried a little, never seeing them behind us. He dropped us off on the ground floor and, still not seeing anyone, we waited in the lobby nervously. Our train wasn't on the board. And we were still alone.

Shane went up the escalator to see if anyone was there. We still had a few minutes. They were upstairs--their cabs had dropped them off their and Karen said she had seen our train on the board. Well it wasn't there now. Having raced again to the gate we were sure. It wasn't there. It had been cancelled. We could exchange our tickets and go tomorrow.

So we went to where we were told to change them just as a door was being locked shut but wedged open, and Dr. Chandler was redirected to another entrance. SO we're in the station, sitting amid all our baggage. Among me, people are palying chess, cards, journaling, and practicing Chinese.

Dr. Chandler just got back. We all have our tickets for tomorrow's train. we're all in the same car, hardbed, and in the middle and top bunks. We're leaving 11:25 AM tomorrow.

Next task is to find lodging. When I write these journals I wondered if maybe I'm writing worrisome things and shouldn't , but remember, but the time I've gotten this to a computer where you can read it, things are settled and less uncertain than when I'm writing this journal. When I get to Chengdu I'll try to upload my pictures so far.

One more note before I close the journal and find a new distraction: it's so weird to be stared at whereever we go. Apparently it's not considered rude to stare here according to Dr. Chandler. We get stared at a lot, and catch people taking pictures of us with camera phones. On the bright side, when we get somewhere I can buy yarn. Back to the hostel now, same one we just left.

Erin

Location: Floor of the Beijing West Railway Station
Time: 12:42 PM
Date: Saturday, May 17