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As mentioned in my previous entry , I had stayed in Guangzhou for 3 days during my hols.
It was my first time travelling to another city in mainland China. The departure hall for inland flights was a bit different from that for international flights. I can’t really describe it but still, I remember that the departure hall for international flights was way nicer.

Departure hall for inland flights:

I thought that we’d be having dinner on the plane but unfortunately we only got drinks and these:

I guess it was because we boarded the plane at 8 p.m and most of those chinese people already had dinner. I keep forgetting that in China they usually have dinner at about 5:30 p.m.
I’m used to having dinner at about 8 p.m. That was in Mauritius. In Shanghai, I usually have dinner as from 7 p.m . 5:30 p.m is too early for me.

Tired and hungry when I reached Guangzhou, I didn’t bother taking pics of the new airport.
It sure looked lovely at night.

I’ve been back to Shanghai since almost two weeks now. I’ve had so much to do that I didn’t blog at all.

I’ve had lovely hols but by the 10th, I felt like I’ve had enough and I wanted to return to Shanghai.
I had already bought my return plane ticket for the 16th and it would be troublesome to change. I was counting the days until I could finally return to Shanghai. Still, I did my best to enjoy the 6 days left and on the whole,I had a great time.

My eagerness to get back surprised me. There was nothing wrong with my relatives. We get along really well and I’m glad that I’ve finally met them. I just felt like I missed Shanghai, my university and the new life that I’ve gotten used to. I guess that I’ve gotten so used to seeing certain places, certain things and certain people everyday that not being able to see them for almost a month was hard. Now I realise how much I love my life in Shanghai. :flowers:

I spent 3 days in Guangzhou and then stayed in Meizhou (Meixian /Moyen) until the 15th Feb morning . I reached Shenzhen in the afternoon and left for Shanghai the next afternoon.
I took a few pics in Guangzhou and Meizhou but practically none in Shenzhen.
I didn’t really like Shenzhen. The only memory I’ll have of Shenzhen is that I saw Banana splits on the menu in one of the restaurants but when I tried to order one, I was told that they didn’t make Banana splits anymore. It’s been years since I last ate a Banana split. I want one! I wonder if I can get it in Shanghai.

More updates about my trip soon. Need to resize those pics first.

Photos taken at the airport in Shenzhen.

There were a lot of people at the airport. I heard on the news that the Chinese people had to get back to work the next day (17th Feb) after their one week off work for the Chinese New Year. That explains the great number of people at the airport. I heard that it was even worse at the train stations.

The only problem I had during my trip was my luggage. I left Shanghai with a small blue suitcase and returned with much more.

That’s Rosemary looking after all our luggage. The small sports bag on the left and the big blue suitcase underneath the backpack are hers. The 4 remaining pieces of luggage are mine. I sure did a lot of shopping. My back and arms were sore when I reached the dormitory.

I’m glad to be back here.
The only thing I complain about here is the cold weather. It’s already Spring but still so cold. Hopefully, after a few more weeks it will be warmer.

Happy Hols to all students in China! :party: :flowers:

I had my last exam today and I think I made two mistakes. ah well. My oral chinese and yuedu exam were fine. I think I talked too much during my oral exam but it should be okay.
We’ll be getting our results tomorrow or the first day of the next semester. It doesn’t really matter now. All I have in mind is my trip to Guangzhou and Meixian.

I’ll be leaving Shanghai on the 25th and will reach Guangzhou at about 10 p.m.
I’ll be with my friend Rosemary. The Mauritians I know in GZ won’t be there. aya . :worried:
Rosemary and I will just buy a map and see a few places. We have planned to spend 3 days in Guangzhou and then go to Meixian. I’ll finally be able to meet my relatives.

I’ve heard my mum talk about them since I was a kid and have also seen pics of my uncle and aunts. Most of them don’t smile in the pics, hence looking so stern and serious. My mum assures me that her brother is a nice and easy-going person. He’s the one who looks most serious in the pics but having talked to him a few times on the phone already, I’m now looking forward to meeting him and his family. I’ll be staying with them in Meixian.
My uncle will take me to visit the other aunties and uncles. I’ll also have to visit those on Dad’s side. It’s going to be my first Chinese New Year away from my family but I hope that I’ll have a great time with my relatives. I might even get some 红包 (hongbao) .
Having spoken Mandarin everyday for 4 months , I’m afraid that my hakka is getting rusty. Ah well… I’ll see when I get there. Communication shouldn’t be a problem.

Next semester will be fun! I don’t know if my many ‘Come to Shanghai’ helped but a friend of mine will be coming to my university. I’ve just finished helping him with the application to university and reservation of his room. Another person to whom I can speak creole. hehe
There are too few Mauritians in my uni. I have to get more and more to come here.

I won’t be in Shanghai for Chinese New Year but I put up those red decorations (some kind of lantern) in front of my door. Rosemary helped me. (Good thing too, she’s taller!) :laugh:

I haven’t gone out this weekend. I don’t feel well. I’ve been mostly staying in my room. I still have some homework to tackle for tomorrow.
We didn’t have classes on Friday. A trip to 周庄 (Zhou zhuang) had been organized for the international students. Such trips are organized only twice or thrice a year. All expenses (lunch,transport) were paid by the university but those who wanted to go on the trip had to give RMB 50 a few days beforehand. Then, in the bus, the teachers gave us back the money. They had to do it this way so that they can be sure that we’ll really go on the trip. Those who said that they’ll go but somehow decide at the last minute that they won’t go don’t get their money back.
At 7:30 am we all met near the main gate. I didn’t have time for breakfast so I just bought some 包子(steamed chinese buns) in the school canteen.

We reached Zhou zhuang after two hours and first went to have our photos taken individually.

After some 10 minutes or so, I was given my entrance ticket with my photo in its top left corner. A little souvenir I guess…

We had lunch there:

After lunch, we went outside and waited for the teachers to tell us what we were supposed to do. We saw those 三轮车 (san1 lun2 che1) outside the restaurant. I don’t know the exact English name for 三轮车. I just call them ’san lun che’ or bicycles with three wheels. :laugh: Those san lun che can carry two people.

More photos…
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