Arrival in Chengdu: May 20

Date: Tuesday, May 20
Time: 10:29 AM Chengdu
Location: Front Steps of our Would-Be Dormitory at SWUFE

I think it's time to do a quick recap. Our Saturday morning train was canceled because of a landslide and there wasn't enough space for us on the Saturday ngiht train--just as well, there was an aftershock Saturday night. Our Sunday morning train was delayed 'til evening, which would have put us in Xian at 8:30 in the morning instead of 3:30 in the morning. When we got to Chengdu, we found out there'd been another big aftershock early that evening and for the first time since the initial quake, the students and professors were sleeping on the lawn again. We actually were a little better off--we slept on the bus. We've had a lot of close calls, but no disasters for us.

Our main professor/handler at SWUFE and the Chancellor's Secretary met us at the station and led us to a bus. There were people everywhere. Whether they were refugees or just camped out to catch trains out of there, I don't know, but it wasn't just at the station--there were people on nearly every street.

The bus parked in the lot and the professor whose name isn't really clicking since we rolled through the gates around 4 AM brought us water and some sort of danish and led us into Cafeteria #4 to use the bathroom, and then back to the bus. The bus was big enough that we each had two seats.

I woke up arouond 7:30 AM and nothing was happening. Ten minutes later I was being to to get up and grab my stuff. We were going to the dormitory. I tried to drag my bag up the stairs and had to stop 3/4 of the way up for my inhaler. Didn't help that I'd taken my ankle brace off on the bus, so the foot was angry at me too. Dr. Chandler made sure I was okay, taught me the Chinese word for asthma, and took care of my bag the rest of the way up. He'd been pretty much carrying it up stairs for me most of the trip, and I feel a little bad, but he told me not to worry about it and that he'd deal with my suitcase and any stairs and that came along. Clearly no laws in China demanding all buildings have handicap access.

They had the rooms all set up for us. Fresh sheets on the bed, with a pile of folded blankets, a towel, and a pillow. Shower sandals were on the floor by our beds, and hangers, toilet paper, and a palstic container with a new wash rag, soap, shampoo, toothbrush, and toothpaste. Each room had it's own bathroom, consisting of a sink, squat toilet, and cold shower head. We had half an hour to shower and head down for breakfast in Cafeteria #4 again. We were on the fourth floor of the dormitory building. Did you know 4 is the Chinese equivalent of the American 13?

When I was waiting outside for the rest of the group to show up, there were about a dozen Chinese students chatting and they gave up their chairs and chatted with us, asking why we were here and if we're afraid of the earthquake.

Breakfast consisted of a sort of porridge, cabbage, a hard boiled egg, and a bread type thing made of rice. We walked back to the dormitory and had the situation laid out ofr us. It's been over a week now and the aftershocks haven't died down. The university may close down for a week. I think we're leaving for Shanghai tonight or early tomrorow. I really want to find a computer and let you all know I'm okay.

Last we heard from Dr. Chandler, he was gathering passport numbers and making our arrangements. We've been waiting for him for a while and chatting on and off with Chinese students. Some can't udnerstand why we're here with the earthquake situation, others have confidence in the university's safety and don't see why we're leaving.

Two of the three students from my class who have been here since February are here now. They're studying at Sichuan University, 15 minutes away, and took a cab here. The third one, Christine, is in Thailand--how or why, I'm not sure. Chris and Chad took a taxi over here. Gina, who is on our trip, is Chad's girlfriend, so she's been waiting months to see him. Chad and Chris aren't worried about the earthquake--said they didn't even feel last night's. The buildings and elementary schools that collapsed elsewhere weren't built right for earthquakes. The buildings in Chengdu are newer, built to withstand a quake. Rather than collapse, they have pillars in them that let the buildings sway side to side instead.

Chad and Chris love it here. They're telling us about their favorite restaurants and places to shop. We've got a really great welcome here and any other summer we'd stay in a heartbeat. It really does seem like somewhere we'd be comfortable in. Part of me still wants to stay here and weather it, but I understand the risks and why we should go.

Erin

Location: By the gate to our would-be SWUFE dormitory
Time: 1:48 PM Chengdu
Date: Tuesday, May 20