Chengdu, first thoughts

From Seattle, all we talk about is weather so that is a sensible place to start. The dog days of summer concluded just as we arrived, and as perfectly predicted. We endured a couple days of unbearable heat and humidity - constantly sweating and no amount of water was quenchable. On the contrary, I was astounded to see blue skies, a distinct moon, a blazing sun and a fair share of greenery after bracing for phlegm producing pollution. 

About 1.5 weeks in now, the dog days of summer are definitely over and we definitely brought the infamous Seattle weather to Chengdu. Morning are chilly, and overcast and rain are here. I may finally decide to invest in a $1 umbrella - one that I can use for not only rain, but sun...not suppose to get too tan in Asia. 

Wenjun Mansion is the name of our hotel. We lucked out, after hearing horror stories from previous classes. We have the luxury of clean sheets, a toilet and shower (with the privacy of solid walls and doors), AC, slippers, and breakfast (thanks to Dr. Liu). The ambiance of not only Wenjun, but the whole Qintai road is a rewarding withdrawal from the sometimes-chaos of China after a long day of school, crossing intersections, speaking Chinese, walking, and damp. We've come to refer to it as home. Qintai road may be a bit touristy, but it is clean and quieter, with less vendors, and with less crazy Chinese drivers...but that is another story.