Monday, the day when the real work starts! Adam and Latisha introduced me to skype chat, so we chatted a bit in the morning, and then met up with Maria at 10am to … register!!  Yeah! Our travelers are finally about the become students. Okay, so, yes, I realize that they arrived on Friday, and it’s only Monday, but for some reason, it’s been a really long three days. Adam is already practically fluent in Chinese and Latisha has had enough preparation that she’s ready to rule the world.

We met up with Maria, who is really funny in the morning. She was a few minutes late, but gave the following explanation. “I decided that you all needed special attention, since we all want this to go well.  So, I went to the dean’s office, opened his door and said, ‘Hey man! Our students are here, and you need to pay more attention to them. They are very important!’” Awesome!

The entire registration process was surprisingly seamless! There was a bit of paperwork to fill out, and then the waiting in line, and going to table after table began.  Although both Maria and I were there to help out and translate if needed, all of the folks at the registration tables spoke English and down the line we went. Once we finished in the first room and digital photos were taken, we went on to the second room, and the same thing happened. Down the line from table to table. At the end of this line, they received their Welcome Packets from the School of International Education, through which they will be taking their Chinese language courses. This building is located just across the mini-park from their apartment building, so it is really handy!

As we were walking down the hallway to go back upstairs for their language placement interviews (don’t worry, if you don’t speak any Chinese, your interview consists of, “Do you speak Chinese?” “No.” “Okay.”), I found the golden room.  The laundry room! Yeah! For RMB 4 (about 70 cents) you can do a load of laundry. Not a bad deal, that!

We decided to lunch, since our next meeting wasn’t until 4pm, and Maria took us to the BIG cafeteria … the four story, insane options cafeteria.  I thought the one we’d been going to was the big one.  No, that’s just the baby bear close to the apartments. This one (which is actually equally close) really is huge. At least I hope it’s the big one … if this is only the mama bear cafeteria, well, then I’m glad I won’t be here to see it! Anyhow, during lunch we met this American guy Alex who is in charge of marketing for the university and is supposed to brand UIBE to the world. He’s been with the university since the fall, and gave Adam and Latisha lots of great ideas on things to do and see.  In his words, “I’m not living in Beijing to be like all other ex-pats and do the bar scene.  I want to be in the real China!” Couldn’t say it better myself. Though our folks here are students, and OF COURSE, wouldn’t be hitting the bar scene anyway.

After a bit, we went to the School of International Studies and received the official course list, and Adam and Latisha chose some courses they would like to try out. The neat thing here is that they are actually going to get to shop around and find the classes and professors they really like, and take those courses. I really want them to take the Macroeconomics course taught by the President of the university, but unfortunately, they’ve both already taken that at home. So, to those of you reading this, “DON’T TAKE MACROECONOMICS AT HOME!! I guarantee you it’s not taught by the president of your university like it is here!!”

Courses selected, we will all be attending International Trade Law before heading out to the first ring of Beijing tomorrow. So tomorrow, it all begins!