Xi'an Vice
We started the day off in Xi'an with a relatively late start (breakfast at 8:15!). After 30 minutes of gorging ourselves with food (maybe that was just my table), we were off the Muslim quarter of the city. I was shocked to learn that Xi'an had a Muslim population of around 60,000 and even more startled to learn the Muslim community ran such a grand mosque. Male worshippers (local or foriegn) are able to pray facing Mecca five times a day and visitors are allowed to purchase a ticket to look around. The grandeur of the Mosque was amplified by the fact that it had been so well maintained during the 2000 years (if my memory serves me correctly) since its cunstruction began. After a brief, but informative tour of the Mosque, the group went to explore the historic shopping opportunities that the Muslim Quarter has to offer. However, April, Lindsey, Catherine and I headed of to the local police station to file a police report for my pickpocketed camera (not to worry, we got our fair share of shopping in later). My experinece at the Xi'an police station was one that will never be forgotten. We attempted to file a report last night, but the officer who took our original call was not working. Naturally, that officer decided not to take any official notes of our phone conversation and we were therefore told we could not be helped last night. Thus, after a valiant effort, we returned this morning to find "our" police officer. After arriving we were sent to the mystical second floor, a place where foriegners are rarely sent (this was evident by the many quizical looks we received waiting in the hall). After April ran up and down the stairs several times, a Chinese police man finally arrived and sent us into his office. There, I explained what happened and my statement (which I later signed) was translated into Chinese. The most fascinating part of the experience was how unofficial the report looked. As Arielle said, it looked like a homework assignment for Chinese class. Also, the officer begrudgingly refused to offer his name on the report and it was a struggle for us to even get the phone number and address of the station. So, after the police station Catherine and I went shopping! Then, the entire group met at the closest McDonald's (ahhh a touch of America). We enjoyed lunch and even joked with the waitress about ordering some dog. We headed to the airport and flew back to Beijing and are now back at the first hotel we stayed in. I am writing this post after jumping right off the bus and as we are off to dinner at a yet to be determined restaurant. Being at the tail, tail end of our trip, I am happy to say that it has been a wonderful, exciting and valuable experience. New friendships were forged and everyone learned something new about themselves. Tomorrow we're headed home to the States and I know our ride to the airport will be bittersweet for all.
See you soon,
Caitlyn