Qingdao

On Thursday night, October 4^th, we had a train from Beijing to Qingdao where we would spend the second half of our vacation. We were already running late to the train station and then we had to split into different taxis since the seven of us wouldn’t fit in one. I was in a taxi with three other girls when the driver took us to the wrong station! So we missed our train and we had NO idea where the other girls were or if they made it. We decided the best thing to do was get on the next train and head to Qingdao. Since they weren’t in line for that train, we figured they made the earlier one so we borrowed a phone and sent them an email asking them to meet us at the exit (assuming they made the train, found a hotel, and would get internet by that time). The original plan was to get there earlier in the evening and then find a hotel (yes we didn’t have a place to stay yet). But the later train got us there at 12:30am and we couldn’t find the other girls at all! So there we were in this random city--we had no idea where the other girls were, we had no place to stay, it was really late at night, we were carrying a lot of luggage, every guy looked like the Chinese version of someone off Taken, we had no phone, we didn’t know the language, and all the nearby hotels were locked up or booked. Honestly, I have never been more scared and worried in my life! I knew that God was watching out for me and somehow everything would be okay, but I was just scared.
 
Then we saw a couple (probably in their early twenties) and luckily the girl could speak a little English. They walked around looking for an open hotel with us for a while, but there was nothing. We even asked her if we could sleep on her floor (we were desperate). Then they told us they were also tourists who needed a place to stay the night and said we could come with them to find a place. Within an hour we had a nice, cheap room! Then the next day this couple took us to an internet café (where I emailed my friends—they missed the train, stayed the night in a clothing shop in Beijing, and were on the morning train to meet us) and then helped us find our hostel. They spent all day helping us and then left before we had the chance to thank them. I am so in debt to this couple—they seriously saved us! I don’t know what would’ve happened if we didn’t meet them! We named them Angel and Hero—because that’s exactly what they were to us. I am just amazed at how nice some people are. They spent a whole day of their vacation helping us out, and the guy wouldn’t even let me pay for the internet café! This was just a huge testimony to me on how much God is watching over and taking care of us. This was a really bad situation, and I am so grateful that God sent us that couple to help us out.
 
After what we’ve just been through, Qingdao was exactly what we all needed. The city was beautiful, the hostel was great, and the beach was really fun. Qingdao also has a cool history, because it was owned by Germany for about a hundred years. The place has a Germany meets China feel, with pagodas and cathedrals everywhere. Also, Qingdao is where the sailing part of the 2008 Olympics took place. Our hostel has been my favorite one so far; it’s called the Old Observatory and it actually used to be a real observatory, but they have made it into a hostel. The rooms were the nicest we’ve ever had in a hostel and they had the cutest restaurant and deck on top of the building. When we first arrived our rooms were not quite ready yet, so they sent us up there for a free coffee or hot chocolate and then on both of the nights they hosted a free barbecue for their guests. After the night we just had—these little things made our day. The rest of our group joined up with us late Friday night. On Saturday we spent the day walking around streets, taking a boat ride, and walking along the beach. I loved Qingdao.
 

This is our I-can’t-believe-we’re-still-alive-photo.

I didn’t have a chance to get a good picture of Hero and Angel, but these are the best we got.

The hostel we stayed at—The Old Observatory.

Some of the friends we made at the barbecue.

Pet jellyfish for sell (I really wanted one) and the boat ride.

This guy came up and asked for pictures of us and then he came back later with a ton of laminated copies that he started giving out to people! So funny!

I talked to this girl a lot on the train ride home and she taught me a lot about the culture. She told me how in China you are only allowed to have one baby if you live in the city areas, while you can have two if you live in farming areas. Because of this, it puts great pressure and expectation on the children. Parents only have one child so they have to make sure they are good, well educated, and successful. She kept using the word pressure (pressure to get an education, to work, etc) and even her shirt says “I have a great pressure of work today.” China doesn’t really have a health plan or social security so there’s a huge expectation that the child has to take care of their parents when they are old. When a child gets married, they typically move in with the parents and help support. I’ve seen how close families are here and the way they all work together; the family unit is basically how they survive. Although I wouldn’t want to move in with my parents when I get married, I think the emphasis they place on the family is nice.

Train food=noodles in a cup (just like ramen noodles, but so much better!) and me finally learning how to fall asleep on a train (special thanks to Leah and Kiera for taking this picture and laughing at me).