July10th2004Sat.Fine
Theplanefinallytouchedtheground.Itwasaround5:00p.m.localtime,thatis,Londontime,whichiseighthoursbehindBeijingtime.Afterafussattheluggageclaim,wemixedintothecrowdofpeoplewithdifferentcolorsandstyles.Myeyeballskeptjumpingfromonealientoanother.Whatasight!
Thenweweremetbysomeonefromtheuniversity,who,welaterlearned,iscalledBarbara,ourcoursedirector.Itwasaboutanhour’sbusridebeforewefinallyreachedBrighton,wherewewerepickedupbydifferentEnglishhostfamilies.Myhostfamilyisacouplewithafive-year-olddaughter.Onthewaytotheirhome,thehostesssaidthatwe(XuHuishangandI)wereluckybecausetheyhadjustmovedtothenewhouse.Weeachhaveaseparateroom.ThebathroomisOK.Whatwehadfordinnerwassomethinglikepizzaandsomevegetables.
ItwasonlyaftertheshowerthatIrealizedIhadbeenupforalmost24hours.ItwasthelongestdayIhadeverhad.Iwillhavetogetoverthejetlag.
