So, slight change of plans with this whole blog thing. We got to the airport with no problems, thanks Big Sexy! We met up with Dave and had a breakfast at a Mexican place at SFO then decided to have a quick drink at the bar to kick things off, and of course to prevent the clot problem associated with long periods of sitting. In our slight lackadaisical or perhaps nonchalance we were almost late to board the flight! This, however, was not our problem. We actually took off over 20 minutes early. So because of the haste by United Airlines I was unable to update all of you on our lovely experience.
Paula and I had quite an ordeal with currency exchange. Originally, I thought exchanging money in Beijing would be the best option. While walking through the airport we happened across a currency exchange and thought that now is as good a time as any. No. It was not a good time. After we did the exchange we then realized that the exchange rate at SFO was not the REAL exchange rate. We had been taken. At least it felt that way. Without going into specifics, we lost about $100 total between the 2 of us. Well, this was completely unacceptable. We hoofed it back to the exchange center and demanded our money back. Sort of. Unfortunately we realized, thankfully before it was too late, that re-exchanging (is that a word?) was an even WORSE idea. Pox! We were stuck with a now net loss of $100! Fantastic way to start the trip right? So, we have 6,000 Chinese Yuan now. Take a look….
So now I sit in my seat on United flight 889 writing on MS Word to copy and paste to the blog whence I am able to procure an internet connection. Glamorous, yes? Beijing will be the spot!
United flight 889 is full. Fortunately an older flight attendant loves bald Americans, so I was able to switch to next to Paula and Dave is right next to me. This is a very good thing. 889 is full of Chinese. Very interesting already. I don’t think they are rude on purpose, I just think it is the way they are there. We have space, they do not. It is apparent already. They don’t follow directions, or at least don’t understand the directions. They mill about in aisles when the fasten seat belt sign is lit. When told to sit and buckle there is a glazed look in their eyes. I am certain this is not the worse we will experience. The American and Chinese cultures couldn’t be farther apart. If we weren’t both humans, I would deduce one of us is alien!
About that flight attendant with the affection for bald guys…. On passing to hand out drinks she informed me that anyone in ‘my’ party would get free cocktails! Score! What better way to deal with being 30,000+ feet above solid ground bouncing about in turbulence than with a glass of Cabernet? There is a better way. Throw Britney on the mp3 player and I’m set! We also all watched the movie “Faster” starring The Rock, which was a very effective way to kill an hour and a half or so. Not a bad movie, but also not a great one.
The lavatory is open, and I have consumed too much water and of course the glass of wine. Time to get up! Thankfully I am on an aisle.
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