It is a very cloudy day, typically of autumn. And I am leaving to the airport.
I have never expected there will be so many people at Beijing Capital airport. I literally have to squeeze myself through the crowds. At the entrance to the counter for check-in, two out of three entrances are swarmed by tour groups. So I chose the one that looks more optimistic.
At the counter, I got problem. My huge green suitcase weighed at 43kg, exceeding 30kg allowence by nearly 50%. I couldn’t weigh it at home because I don’t have a scale, but I can still lift it from the floor, so I thought from my past experience that it should not be more than 35kg.
The staff asked me to repack, but I know my hand bring luggage wont give me an extra 13 because I already have a big laptop bag and they only allow 7kg. To pay for the extra weight is not a solution, because it costs 300RMB/kg. So what can I do?
Looking around, I see two people standing in line are empty handed. Suddenly a idea flashed into my mind, maybe I can ask them to check in together? That has been an old technique for student travellers. I approched them politely and they gladly helped me because they don’t have check-in luggage.
However, when it is our turn, their tickets got problem because they are on the waiting list of first class seats and had to wait for all regular passengers finished check-in. But luckily, the counter staff allow me to check in first. So off I go.
I went back to the entrance to say final good-bye with mum and then I went in for security check at the custom. Again, there are long queues. I really can’t believe that eventhough all the 40 counters are opened with full force, there are at least 10 people waiting in line in front of each counter. Luckily, the custom is quite efficient this time, I waitined for about 10 minutes for my turn.
Again, situation came out when they scanned my bag. They asked me to take out my laptop and confisiticated my scissor ( i am really stupid to put it in my hand-carry luggage). This is really almost the same standard as we were in US, except that we needed to take off our shoes as well. But I am actually happy that they are really doing the job because then it means it is so much safer for the passengers.
I don’t know if it is because I am taking a european flight, I saw a lot of westerners. Suddenly, I have to raise my head to look at them, just like in US. Strangely, this happened even before I stepped on European soil.
So now I am going to another unknown land! Going to face many unknown situations! Just like 7 years ago to
Still, I feel scared and excited.
I think one advice I would give to people about exchange is that think about why do you want to go -- to go through all the difficulties and endure all the uncertainties since the very start?
Is it because your parents and the univerisity said it is good?
Is it because your classmates are all going?
Or is it because you would truly love an adventure?
I have had doubts about my reason of going for exchange earlier, but at this moment, as I stepping into the airplane, I know for me it is the latest. I like challenges like this, I know I would enjoy the feeling of being the first person who eats crab. It is a feeling to know you can do it. And I feel only if you are having the lattest attitude will you benefit the most from such an experience.
Actually, life is full of uncertainty and everybody is afraid. But being the bravest, you will survive all! –from me
After all the small incidents, there is a lovely surprise waiting for me in the cabin. Frist, there is no luggage weight checking, so I safely brought up 10kg hand luggage. Then, I have a very spacious seat.
Norally economy class have
I bought it mainly for the space because after the experience with flying to US, I know how terrible it is to be crambed in a small seats for nearly 20 hours. And though this time it is only 10 hours, I don’t think I can survive again.
And this biz class is not only bigger and have personal TV like Eva’s Delux class, but for the first time, I ate meals with china container and stainless steel fork and knife. I am really regreting didn’t take my camera with me. So now, I will just give a little description for it.
The stewardess first came with a small piece of white clothes to cover the table. Then, she brings a tray with 4 bowls. The main course are stewed beef/shrimp/fish. And there are a seafood salad with smoked salman and a vegetable salad. Besides, there is another bowl of fruits. There is another piece of coffee cake as dessert and choice of bread to go with butter.
I think the money I paid for the ticket is really worth it.
I will landed in
The personal TV has a channel that displayed live update of our location. It seems we have go north from BJ and spent most of the time in Sebaria Russia, even go past north of Mocow, part of Lativia and Germany and Sweden, northern part of Denmark and finally Holland.
It seems everywhere is not so much different when lookng from above from the airplane window. When we go past
Arriving at Schiphol airport is about the sunset time in the
But if I compared Schiphol with the other airports I have been to, I would say Changi is still the cleanest, looks the newest and best managed.
When we get to the custom, I saw a really huge crowd of Chinese waiting to get stamped on their passport, but only later at the luggage collection place did I realised that they come from the same airplane and belongs to a tour group. However, surprisingly, half of the airplane is also filled with Europeans, and I guess mostly dutch because I heard many speaking dutch since boarding in
The first impression of the Dutch is THEY ARE SO TALL. But this is not surprising because NL is country with tallest average height in the world. But comparing to the Americans, they are absolutely in much better figure, you seldomly see overweighted people here.
Schiphol airport has a similar design as Changi where there is a railway station just below the arrival hall in the terminal. But the Dutch railway has a much larger scale than
hehe~~ glad to hear that you have arrived there smoothly and safely... Admire you still have chance and time to adventure..to explore..Just enjoy this short period of campus time... do whatever you want..do whatever you can...to see whatever you can see..Good luck..waiting for your next "story" in Europe....
无名氏 @ 9/25/2005 2:13:43 AMhehe~~ glad to hear that you have arrived there smoothly and safely... Admire you still have chance and time to adventure..to explore..Just enjoy this short period of campus time... do whatever you want..do whatever you can...to see whatever you can see..Good luck..waiting for your next "story" in Europe....
无名氏 @ 9/25/2005 2:13:22 AMtalala... =)
i'm flying off this sunday too! geographically closer haha!
Naiyan @ 9/23/2005 6:28:58 PM请Please leave your comment here