July 26: Waiting for three hours in the terminal at Newark Airport. Something is wrong with the plane (hmm!). A second plane has been assigned. Comfortable, pleasant, and smooth flight to Beijing, 13-1/2 hours. Missed my connecting flight in Beijing to Wenzhou. Had to wait for the next one, 8 p.m., Beijing time. Waited another hour on the runway, idling. Another two hours to Wenzhou. Boy, do I feel like a real minority. Everyone else is rattling along in their native dialects. I try to appear calm, nonchalant, having no clue as to what they are saying. Are they talking about me?
Finally, we arrive in Wenzhou around 11:20 p.m. Uh-oh, no one to meet me, they thought I would be on the earlier flight. I flag down a ticket agent, and she kindly uses her phone to call my contact. Thank you, God! Quickly, I'm ushered to a cab outside, someone will meet me at the hotel. The cab driver wildly swirls and maneuvers through the dark, intimidating streets. I feel like I'm in NYC. Am I being kidnapped? We safely arrive at the hotel and I finally get to my room. Boy, is it hot and wet here, very tropical.