7th September 2011 (2nd Day)

Programme today is Campus & Surrounding Orientation at 10am.

So alarm clock is set at 8:30am and woke up at 9am. We gathered at the main entrance of Haiyi Building and there was a delay and we moved off at 10:20am. And our first destination is their Canteen, and their unique feature is that when you go inside, there's this plastic cover to prevent the air-con from escaping while our polytechnic uses glass door. And the whole canteen looks really different from Singapore, Comparing Wuhan Polytechnic and Ngee Ann Polytechnic. Wuhan’s one is much dirtier than Ngee Ann’s one though they have cleaners over there. Plus there’s a storage place for lunch box and it looks dirty because it is messily arranged, and Ngee Ann do not have this concept. I guess no one would be interested to place their lunch box there as I personally fear I would lose it and there isn’t this need to because the food tenant would provide us with bowls.

Storage place

Anyway this is China culture and in this way it has its advantage and disadvantage because it can help to save the paper plate which means by saving the earth. While it can be troublesome as some of the students placed at the storage area and make it unhygienic, while the rest keep it at their hostel home. And also we realised there is opening canteen hours (早餐- 6:30am – 10:20am) (午餐- 10:40am – 1:20pm) (晚餐4:40pm – 7:20pm), while our Ngee Ann’s school does not have. And we came to realise that in this whole campus, there is 3 Canteens and a few restaurant. While our school have 4 Canteens which are well- ventilated and with background pictures that will look appealing to consumer compared to the polytechnic over here.

Canteen's opening hours

After touring the canteen, we went to a phone card shop who sells phone and cards. It was not ventilated inside and everyone was inside the shop and wondering how much and how the cards function. So it was a chaotic moment and it’s also noisy. And one of my friends who belong to China citizen (Xuanru) took the initiative and helped us to settle with the man who sells the card about the price and so. It cost 50 RMB, $10. Inside it contains different amount for calling, texting, using wireless internet (120 hours) and the man also mention that when there’s two phones calling inside campus, it is free of charge but I dare not try fearing that it may not be free of charge. And my I got my phone card number – (+86) country code while Singapore’s country code is (+65) and my number is +8613517286_ _ _.  Everyone’s number is the same except the last four digits! The phone number digits is more than Singapore’s one and make it harder for people to remember.  After that I send out my number to my parents and so if they want to call me, they could.

We're inside the card registeration shop!

Then we proceed to a shop that sells 热干面 (Hot -and dry noodles) which is introduced by my friends from the previous batch that praise their noodles were really great. So when we reached, everyone ordered a bowl and sat there while some stand because there are limited chairs around and it is in an open area with a tent as shelter only. The uncle introduced some of the specialty noodles to my friends and has the personality of welcoming people. If comparing to Singapore, the shop tenants do not do that and only entertain people unless you belongs to the media. While eating, my dad called me through the number and asked if I’m doing okay and ask about the situation over here.

Me with 热干面!

Some of us need to go down to the card registration shop to register for calling out internationally; therefore we get out of school and walked there. And it is my first time crossing road with my friends in China, and the road is dangerous because even for zebra crossing, they saw passengers, they do not stop whereas in Singapore, if you do that during driving test, the examiner will fail the candidate immediately. Therefore in China, we have to be very careful, look out for each other and cross the road as fast as possible. When we reach the shop, my friends and I sat down and waited for the teacher to settle their registrations. To spend our time, we spam pictures there.

Group picture, short of sean!

After that, we walked to Walmart, which is only 15 minutes away from our hostel. It is a place which is somehow like Carrefour or NTUC, which sells grocery and a lot more stuffs.  Everyone reach there and split up into groups and shop for groceries. In total, my group spent 461 RMB, $92.2 and was split up into three people and each cost $30.70. After that we met the guys at Level 1 while they are eating some Duck parts which were claimed spicy. Then the guys took a cab back to the hostel at 8RMB while the girls continue to shop at that building and lunch KFC over there. The price is somehow the same compared to Singapore, and they do sell Egg tarts too! But they have a special flavor is Peach, while Singapore current special flavor is Chocolate. Perhaps it is arranged in a citizen’s taste preference.  And the girls were lovely enough to share a box and get back for the guys.

Walmart !

Lovely girls ! (:

With all our grocery bags, I observed that all the girls helped each other and carry out stuffs back to hostel despite it may not be their own goods. And it is in a good way that they are not selfish and willing to lend a helping hand to each other. By the time we reach hostel is already 5plus pm. And we unpack everything and put it in place.

Rested awhile and off we go to the Opening Ceremony arranged by the Student leaders at Classroom level 207. It is beautiful arranged with balloons and on the table there’s fruits and sweets, and they served us drinks too. I believe my teacher’s word as he once said that the Chinese are very good host compared to others and can really take care of our hospitality. The whole programme is about introducing ourselves to them and knowing more about each other, so there are games for forfeit (performing to everyone) and singing lessons. But I feel that it is very boring at the singing lesson because there are only Chinese songs and the whole atmosphere was already down when different people goes up and sing. And even some of the students are already playing Poker Cards. And there is a guy who performed Flute, is nicely played and I guessed he is in the Chinese orchestra club, as Wuhan Polytechnic does have CCAs.

The MCs.

At night about 10pm, my clique of friends came to my room for dinner. My roommates and I helped them to cook their instant noodles with microwave. Even though I sounds like some easy job for us, but we need to firstly wash our plates, cook, clean the table, function out the induction heater and found out it’s spoilt that we scrubbed the rusted wok, beat the eggs, serve our friends, and clean up the place.  However, we felt satisfied because all of us enjoyed doing so as this will not happen often whereby in a house concept we cook and we eat together. So I assume my roommates are fine with it and we did a great job (willingness to take initiative which is one of the global skills)! Love you girls! After that the guys played guessing games again.

Piping hot egg tarts! Peach and Original Flavour! woooo (:

It is the end of the 2^nd day, and there are more days coming!
Tomorrow is our very first IS and PJM Lecture! (Excited!)