Arriving

After sleeping for practically 13 straight hours -- with a quick break to eat my last chance at mashed potatoes in four months -- I landed in Beijing. The international terminal here is the nicest I've ever seen, which, unsurprisingly, was built for the Olympics. After taking a train from immigration to baggage claim, the 18 of us -- nine American, nine Chinese -- went to go meet our (host) families who greeted us with some of the warmest hugs I've ever received a huge bouquets of flowers.
We almost missed out exit on the way home and my host mother turned to me in said, "He (referring to my host dad, who's driving the car) is so happy you're here he almost missed the road!" For the rest of the car ride home they spoke in Chinese and would ask if I understood. I'd repeat the few phrases I picked up and do my best to answer them. Molly translated the rest. As we pulled up to Molly's apartment, right inside the second ring road, my host mom apologized for her "Chinglish." My host dad burst out laughing, it seemed to be the first word he understood in English the whole drive.
My room's great. The apartment's great. My family is great.
Molly told me she was so jealous of me because my (host) parents bought me new furniture and she's never received new furniture. They are going completely out of their way to make sure I'm comfortable.

I woke up this morning to loouuud bangs. It's New Years Eve here and fire works are aloud to be set off at any time of day. It sounds like some sort of war is taking place outside my window. Every 30 minutes or so another series of loud crackles and bangs is set off. It's pretty cool. My window looks right out onto the street.

It's time for breakfast/lunch.

在见！