Day 2 : 21.55

Wow, like just wow! I still can't quite believe I'm actually in china, but getting used to it. I think yesterday it all felt a bit mental and a bit of a culture shock, but now that I'm getting used to it it's not so different... Don't know how long that would last without my fellow English speakers and Chinese guide though! Almost feels like we are in a bit of a bubble!

So! Last night we met the rest of our group. There are 15 of us and our "chief experience officer" (aka guide). The guide is Jenny,she is in her 30s and from south west China. She is really nice and helpful, but maybe not as forthcoming with information as I'd expected. When you have questions though she is very good at answering them!

So the rest of the group! We have Frieda and Peter, a swedish couple in their late 20s who are on their honeymoon(!). They are very nice. There are also two Swedish boys (22 and 24) who are a bit quieter so I haven't spoken to them much, but they seem nice! They are called mattias and johnathan I think! Then we have a couple (22/24) from Sheffield, called phil and lyndsey. They are really nice, and travelling till may as well! They go to Sydney straight after this though and work their way up the coast, so i'm sure I'll run into them again at some point! They met while working on cruise ships, so have seen a lot of the world already! Then claire and Deborah. They are in their early 30s and from liverpool/Manchester. Also really really nice! And one more couple (I know!) Luke and erin from Melbourne (30/28). They are engaged and getting married next year. Also really nice, and both really talkative. Final couple are phil and... Whatshername lol, from new Zealand. They both just turned 30 this year. They only arrived late last night, so only met them today. They seem nice though, but possibly a bit less open to the new experiences than the others! And finally we have kimberley from Canada. She is 33 and very outspoken, and seems to travel quite a l lot! She's the only other one apart from Sarah on her own.

Getting really tired now, but as a brief summary we went for dinner then to a crazy supermarket last night, then great wall today, wee bus crash on the way home (drivers are mental here!) and out for dinner and to a Kung Fu show, then home via exercise classes outside a church! More on all that tomorrow as I need to sleep! Has been amazing though!

I feel like I am learning a good bit about Chinese culture already. I can just about say hello and thank you...definitely loads to go in the Chinese department. Jenny has told is a bit about different dynastys and some traditions in china - for example, the food!!!

The food is absolutely amazing! Chopsticks are going very well haha. Each dinner time we have gone out with the group and Jenny orders loads of meals and we try all of them with rice. Actually haven't encountered one (from about 20!) that I don't like! Unfortunately that doesn't mean that I know what anything is called... Or how to go about ordering it! But I know how to toast ( lower your class as a sign of respect) and that the most senior people such as elderly when eating out sit furthest from the door. Exciting stuff or what! But yes, food is amazing. Sorry carrie, no pictures yet but I'll try to remember next time, it's a bit tricky as the meals all come out at different times! so cheap too! I fed and watered myself for the whole of today on about £5 :) and had massive dinner like!

More soon! Xxx