A ferry, a train, and a few doughnuts later
Tianjin is now a long swim away. The ferry to Incheon, Korea was great. The seas were calm and the economy class beds comfortable. In Tianjin, the pollution combined with clouds (that may be related to the sandstorms) made visiblity very limited, but the size of the port is really amazing to see. It seemed to go on forever with ship after ship carrying stacks of cargo to and from all over the world. The newest 5-year plan of the Chinese Communist Party includes a plan to double the size of the Tianjin port. I can hardly imagine it.
The ferry was an interesting language transition. The passengers spoke Chinese, Korean, or both. Even though I couldn’t understand what people were saying while I sat in the restaurant eating Kim Chi, I could always just ask in Chinese and start up a conversation. My limited volcabulary means the conversations are short, but it’s great to communicate. Tonight, I was asked by a Korean friend what I study, and I instintively responded in Chinese — such is the habit of mixing langues.
Seoul looks very beautiful and even reminds me a bit of home; the trees are green and the sky is blue, but there are no big mountains and I can’t read the signs.
May 2nd, 2006 at 7:50 am
I’m so happy that you are having a good time! I am busy working on the TWU students visit thing these days. And also, unfortunately, I am having a lot of trouble that I have never had before.It’s so hard for me to release and I keep feeling a little bit uncomfortable about it ,but at least I learned a lot by experiencing in reality.
Can’t wait to talk to you about that.
Hope you be super happy in South Korea!
May 3rd, 2006 at 10:54 pm
I am a Chinese, although I have never been to Tianjing.I am in Sapporo in Japan now,learning English and Japanese. Through your diary, I think you are in Korea now, as a exchange student? So, enjoy your Korea time! Oh, by the way, Kim Chi is very delicious, I love it !