Day 1

Day 1, June 21-22

Today was the first day of our big adventure. We left at around 4am from Tucson to Phoenix, and left from Sky Harbor Airport at 10:30am. After arriving in San Francisco, we waited for 4 hours, and finally boarded, only to wait for another hour due to engine problems. But finally, we were in the air, headed to Pudong International Airport in Shanghai. Grandma read for the majority of the flight and people-watched, while I slept for 8 hours and watched a movie. We arrived in China around 6:30pm local time, to be met by the H1N1 Prevention/HAZMAT/Oopma Loompa Team. Decked out in full white jumpsuits with hoods, mini gas masks, goggles and 4-point laser gun-temperature takers, they asked everyone to stay seated no matter what and close their eyes when they pointed the laser at each of our foreheads to see if our temperature exceeded around 34°C, or about 100°F. We took the Mag-Lev [Magnetic Levitation] Train to a Taxi Station and loaded all 3 suitcases, one back pack, a duffel bag and two people into a cab. Finally, one strenuous, multilingual, ¥59 half hour ride around the city later, we arrived at the Broadway Mansions Hotel.