China Day 12

Today we hopped the train from Shangahi to Shenzhen. It was an interesting morning, starting with having to bribe the train people to let us on the train early cause we ll have so much crap, we'd have no chance of getting it all in if we acted like normal people. It just never ends. Anyway, we got on no problem and then learned that Jessica (our lovely tour guide) had called up the guy that was supposed to help us out at the train station and told him not to help us out cause we're such a crowd of assholes (the word she used was cavemen though), and unfortunately I'm not feeling like I'd have a good case to argue with her (again). He finally got ahold of Shifu at the last moment and helped her with the bribe. China is ridiculous.

Anyway, the train is interesting. It's not quite as dirty as we all were told by Shifu it was (she's starting to catch on). I finally saw some country side and snapped a few pics. I like having a bed as my seat, although it'd be nice to be able to sit on them like chairs without having to be all bent. Can't have everything I guess. It was very smoky in the train at times and definitely loud. There's a guy that comes through every 20 mins selling fruit. I almost know Chinese for fruit now, although I'm sure I'll forget it soon enough.

The train ride has been good for contemplation. I can't believe we're not even 1/2 way through this trip. Not til the day after we get to Shenzhen. It's taken what seems like months just to get to this point, but I have a feeling that the second half of the trip is going to go a low faster - no more tours as far as I know. Thank god! And we're only going to be in 2 cities, Shenzhen and Hong Kong.


So of course there was some drama on the train. This time it was Shifu's drama though and me, Bowen, Chris, and Zach were the ones getting sucked into it. We were getting told all about how it's going to go once we get to the train station. Apparently we're going to get off the train and then have to go straight to Hong Kong to be a part of the opening ceremony of the Taoist festival. This is problematic for a number of reasons starting with how many bags everyone has. So first, Bowen, Chris, and Zach got together and made all these lists of the order that everyone is to walk in so we don't lose anyone (it's definitely been a problem in the past). We were all paired up with our roommates and were told to memorize who was in front of us and who was behind us. If at any time we couldn't see anyone, we were to yell that persons name and they were to answer and then try and link back up. We were supposed to stay as close as possible to the people in front of us as the Chinese are very pushy and would cut in between us and separate the group.
This is all to come into play during the transit from Shenzhen across the border into Hong Kong. This was the first plan.
Then it was put on Bowen to make a schedule of the activities for the rest of the trip, including classes with Master's Wei and Xiang, eating, practicing for our performance at the festival with Rhonda which is happening the 17th, and time to enjoy the fancy 5000 acre gardens we're going to be staying at.
I was sitting there when this task got delegated and I offered to help since Bowen is always getting asked to take care of so many organizational tasks and he said at the beginning of the trip how much he hates that and didn't want anything to do with it on this trip.. of course it happens anyway. So anyway, I tried to help and it was the worst mess. There just wasn't time in the day for all of this stuff! Plus we weren't given any information on what was going to be taught or how much time we should allot for anyone (other than Rhonda who was demanding 3 hours/day). We ended up having to be up at 6am and not having any time until 9pm. It was ridiculous, especially after coming off a similar schedule with US Tours and the fact that almost everyone is sick. Shifu changed her mind on what and how the schedule should be more times than I can count. It was maddening. If she knows what she wants, why can't she just tell us??!!! ARGH!
Then, once we got it finally settled (for the moment) she started in on why we're never going to be able to get everyone to the opening ceremony without someone getting lost. Saying alternately that Ming was going to get a truck to take all of our luggage to the garden place and we'd just go into Hong Kong with nothing other than what we could run with (which for me would be nothing), change into the Taoist costumes there and go, and that Ming won't be able to get anything and that only people with small bags that REALLY want to go to the ceremony would be allowed to go and the rest of the people will have to sit around the train station for 12 hours and wait for everyone to get back before moving along to the garden.
This situation was causing all kinds of problems for everyone. Everyone wants to see the ceremony, but only maybe 2 people have small enough bags to make it there with all their crap. I offered to take one for the team (with someone else) and sit at the station with all the luggage cause I'd rather miss it than listen to everyone bitch all day.. but of course the plan was left open ended all pivoting on whether or not Ming got a truck for our stuff or not.
Bowen ended the night more pissed than I've ever seen him. He called Shifu an energy sucker and was especially annoyed by the fact that she started laughing about the whole thing at the end of the conversation. Like she was just saying it all to get us all worked up.

I guess I'll see what happens in the morning, but as of right now I just hope I can sleep.