Guest Post: First Impressions of an International Experience

Photo courtesy of Lucas Franchi

How do you capture your first thoughts while taking an international experience? Your senses are on an all time high as you experience something new every moment. That excitement is addicting to travelers and expats alike. For many people, that feeling is what keeps them looking for their next international adventure. Today’s guest post by Lucas Frachi takes us into the mind of someone who just step foot to the country that he would call home for a year.

Follow Lucas and his adventures on his blog “My Self-Imposed Exile“.

I’m currently flying over Southern China on a flight from Hong Kong to Guilin.  In the past 36 hours I’ve traveled 8000 miles to the other side of the planet.  I’ve been stuffed into 3 consecutive airlines seats, all of which were made to fit an anorexic 12-year old girl.  I spent 14 hours inside the Hong Kong airport, where I got lost twice.  When I finally found a quiet spot to get a little sleep a security guard yelled at me in Cantonese and made me get up.  I’m tired, I’m dirty, and judging by the looks I am getting from the flight attendant I probably smell really bad too.  And all of it was worth it just for this light show.

I’m looking out of my window at a huge thunderstorm that is laying waste to whatever part of China I’m flying over.  I’ve always loved watching thunderstorms off my front porch, but this is different.  The clouds are lighting up with huge explosions and each time they do I can make out every little detail of the plane and the clouds themselves.  The effect is hauntingly beautiful.

I look down at my watch and see that it is 12:07 AM China Time.  A new day has just begun, my very first day in China.

Town of Guilen - courtesy of Lucas

These were the words I wrote into my journal when I officially started my first year abroad in the People’s Republic of China.  The effect of the lightning storm inspired me to make the very first entry into a journal that I was afraid would go unused.  It turns out that I would need to buy a second journal before my year was complete.

The year I spent in China was the greatest experience of my entire life.  I shaped me in ways that I can’t even describe and definitely don’t understand.  The very first day I spent in China turned into one of the greatest days in my life.  Here is the story.

Upon arriving in Guilin a representative from my school met me at the airport.  When I heard “representative” I figured an old man in a suit; turns out it was a 17 year old kid with acne and zero English other then “Hello.”  He was going to drive me down to Yangshuo for my orientation.  Yangshuo is about 90 minutes away and the drive was anything but ordinary.

Roads in China are notorious health hazards.  There is no such thing as streetlights in Guilin or Yangshuo and the only lights that night were headlamps and flashlights from pedestrians.  At least 4 different times I knew we were going to hit someone only to miss them at the last minute.  I was very impressed with my rep’s driving skills.

Courtesy of Lucas

The next morning I received my first of many shocks.  When I arrived in Yangshuo it was completely pitch black outside, no lights anywhere, not even the moon.  When I woke up and looked out the window I was staring at a 300 meter, vertical cliff face with pagodas built right into the side.  The entire area around Yangshuo is filled with Karsts, small hills with completely vertical faces on all sides.  The mountains stuck up straight into the sky like they were poked up by a giant finger.  It was like walking into Dr. Seuss’s craziest dream.

After a morning exploring the city I embarked on the highlight of my day, a boat trip down the Li River.  Yangshuo gets a lot of rainfall every year and it all drains into the Li River.  Because of that the area surrounding the river itself has some of the most breathtaking Karst scenery in the entire province.  Poets and artists have been coming to the area for 3 millennia to search for inspiration.  After spending 5 minutes there I understood why.

The day was hot and hazy but I could see for miles around.  From a mountaintop we could see the entire basin laid out like a picnic table.  From the riverside I could see just how huge some of the karsts were.  On the river though was the real show.  The karsts flowed up and down like an artist had drawn them himself.  Even the vegetation on the hills succeeded in painting me a picture that I can still visualize to this day.  I sat in stunned silence as my bamboo boat motored up and down the river.  The river itself is so famous in China that it is featured on the 20 Yuan bill.  Other bills have images of Hua Shan Mountain, the Great Hall of the People, The Great Wall, and even Tibet’s Potala Palace.

Courtesy of Lucas

That night, as a terrific ending to a remarkable day, I was taken to a hostel called Monkey Jane’s Rooftop Bar and Hostel.  After toasting this new chapter in my life I spent the evening looking out on Yangshuo before the city turned in for the night.

Soon enough we were joined by fellow teachers and backpackers.  One thing I have always loved about backpacking is the ability to meet others with similar desires and pursuits but totally different backgrounds.  This night was the first time I experienced that.  I spent the evening teaching a Kyrgyzstani about American politics and learning about the culture and history of Kyrgyzstan in return.

Thus ended one of the greatest days of my life and the perfect starter to one of the greatest years in my life.  My short bio here has not done it justice, but nothing I say could possibly do it justice.

If you’re ever in Yangshuo, take a trip on the river you will know precisely what I mean.