Day 3

Thank you everyone who is reading my blogs. Sorry if I’m a bit slow at writing them. I am a day behind!

Day 3

Today is the day I go to my school. Woke up to a hotel room filled with Sunlight. Looked at the clock and it was only 5am. The sun rises incredibly early here. Went onto the computer, chatted with family and friends, and then headed downstairs for breakfast. It was a buffet style breakfast. I asked the waiter where to sit and he just stared at me. So I pointed to the buffet and he went and got me a plate. So I got the plate, smiled, and went to look around the buffet. I’ve never seen so many noodles for breakfast before. I got myself some eggs, bacon, rice, and the best sweet bun I ever had. I wanted to bring the food back up to my room, but I didn’t know how to ask the waiter. I found a table and sat down. I went to grab a fork but there were only chopsticks. This was my first meal with chopsticks in China.  Ever tried eating eggs and rice with chopsticks? It’s quite difficult and I’ve used chopsticks before. After a while of failing to putting food in my mouth, I decided to look for a fork. Couldn’t find any. So I walked up to the waiter and asked him, “Fork?” He starred at me. I made a three in my right hand to look like a fork and hit my palm and said, “Foooork?” He smiled and left. Came back with a fork! I got the fork said Shee-Shia  (thank you in mandarin, but I don’t know how to spell it.) I went back to my table and began eating with my fork. Everyone in the room starred at me. I didn’t care because I was too hungry to feel embarrassed. After breakfast I went to head back upstairs. While I walked into the elevator four Chinese people joined me…all with cigarettes. We were at level 1 and my floor was level 8. I thought I was going to suffocate. Luckily they got off at the fifth floor. When I made it back to my room I packed up and headed downstairs to check out and wait for my contact from the martial art school to pick me up.

After a while of waiting, a lady walked towards me and asked me if I was Scott Campbell. I said ya and we brought my bags to the car. On the car ride back the lady and the driver were talking. Then it seemed like they were mad at each other. The driver started talking louder and louder and the lady was crying and started yelling back at him. I felt suuuuper awkward. After they were done she turned to me and asked me if my flight and hotel was nice. We talked a little and then I asked her if there’s any tips I should know about the school. She just said be respectful and helpful and I’ll be fine. That’s not to hard I thought. When we stopped talking, they started arguing again. Then when it was quiet she asked me what style I wanted to study. I had no idea so I asked her to explain each one. There’s there groups:

Group one-San Da. That’s Shaolin form of fighting. Lot of lower body fighting and acrobatics.

Group two-Win Chun. More of upper body fighting. Speed. And internal engery.

Group three-Mantis Boxing. Lot of quick moves and grappling. Take downs.

They all sound amazing so she told me I have a week to choose. When we finally made it to the school I had to carry all my bags up three flights of stairs to my room. When I got in I found out I have a roommate but he wasn’t there yet. So the lady told me to unpack and in 15 min its lunch. So I unpacked and headed down for lunch. It was buffet style and each container had vegetables and chicken. So I got a bit of food and rice and went to sit at a table. Met a couple guys from Sweden and Australia. Met more from France and Canada. Everyone is really nice. After lunch I went back to my room and my roommate was there. He is really nice. He’s 16 and from England. I asked him about the school, training, and different things to do. He was very helpful. He shared some of his milk he got from the market because he said the school doesn’t offer much calcium. So I gave him some chocolate from America! He offered to take me down to the market down the street to buy some supplies and show me around the school tomorrow. It was only 4pm or in their time 16:00. For some reason I was so tired. It’s an hour till dinner so I will take a nap.

                After my nap I got ready for dinner. My roommate didn’t have an appetite so I went down alone. Met more people and ate more vegetables, chicken, and rice. Some of the guys complain but I don’t mind. I bet it’ll taste amazing after long hours of training. After dinner I went back to my room to relax. Chatted on the computer a bit more. It really helps to be in contact with family and friends. It keeps me from being homesick. Well that’s all for now it’s only 19:00 here but I’m exhausted so I will get some sleep. Hope everyone is enjoying my blogs. Will write more in the morning!

-Scott