On the 20th of August 2013, I departed from Tampa International Airport and flew to Los Angeles California with a connection in Houston, Texas. After arriving in L.A, I had to collect my bags from the baggage claim but there was a problem! All the TVs were turned off and I had no idea which belt I was going to to get my bags! I was just wandering around completely lost when a employee came up to me and asked if I needed any help. I obviously did so he directed me to my belt and I got my bags! Step 1: get bags. Check! Step 2: get to the Hacienda Hotel. Fortunately for me, AFS (the organization that is taking me to China,) sent me a letter with all the necessary information on what to do once I got to L.A. The instructions where pretty clean, find the shuttle that went between the airport and the hotel. Shouldn't be too hard right? Nope! The airport had barely any signs anywhere! It was a nightmare trying to find out where anything was! I asked a couple of workers until I FINALLY got to where I needed to be, the Hacienda Hotel! Once inside, I checked in and received my room card, a student ID and a schedule. Once all the students arrived, we started the orientation which was a little boring because they were just informing us on information that we all already knew... But it wasn't all bad, I met with a couple of friends, both new and old, and we talked for the rest of night. Not a bad day!
The next day, we all woke up around 8 and went to breakfast. After that, we had another orientation that taught us a little about Chinese culture and traditions. We split up into groups to take a quiz and in my group where my two friends that I'd know before coming to L.A, Heather and Chelsea. We weren't a bad group either, our team won all the games and we got some cool prizes. After all that was done, we set off to Hollywood! It took a long time to get there but it was worth it! I've been to Hollywood only once before but I was very little so I don't remember much. When we arrived, we went immediately to lunch at "In an' out Burger". I ordered a cheeseburger and a milkshake and it was, by far, the BEST cheeseburger and milkshake I have EVER had! We continued onward to walk on Hollywood Boulevard to see all the stars and the Hollywood sign! I took a couple pictures that I will try to post later. I also stopped in a $5 store and bought a Hat and a T-shirt. Because we were all wearing the same blue shirts, people assumed that we were from another country coming to the U.S. and they kept asking us where we from. there were even some guys that drove by in a truck and yelled "Welcome to America!!" at us. We thought it was hillarious! After Hollywood, we went back to the Hotel to prepare our bags because we were leaving for China that night.
We got to the airport late at night, checked in, went through security, and proceeded to our gate. Both Heather and Chelsea were freaking out that they were going to China. It wasn't such a big deal to me because I've been there before but I was still excited! We got on the plane that would take us to Honk Kong, and practically as soon as I hit the seat, I was out! I slept for about 9 hours on the 14 hour plane ride! The girls were amazed at how I slept through all the turbulence and people jumping over me (I sat in the aisle). I spent the last 5 hours watching movies. Sadly, when we landed in Honk Kong, Chelsea and I had to say goodbye to the rest of the group because we were going to Shanghai and they were going to Beijing. Even though I'd only known my new friends for 2 days, it was still a little sad saying goodbye. But Chelsea and I continued onto our gate and flew off to Shanghai. It was only a 2 hour plane ride but we spent most of the time talking and we had a great time.
