Emma - Qin Y izhi - #0505020344

The longest journey of my life happened this past winter vacation when I took the train home. The reason for my saying that this journey on the train was the longest one I have ever taken is because all the way, I was sitting and couldn’t even lay down for a little while. Does that make you think I am a super girl, a powerful woman? I’m neither of these. I have little magical power. What caused my long journey was a rare snowstorm. Even today, it is unbelievable for me to accept what I experienced. So I repeatedly persuade myself to accept its reality ---- I made it, 34 hours of sitting on the train from Shanghai to Nanchang. Does it sound like a cock and bull story? It is true indeed.

Having courage, I decided to tell you what happened to me. Going back to Jan 28, the very day I left Shanghai, after spending the best time with my best friend, who will study in Britain next semester. I was overjoyed because I was holding my D92 ticket. I rushed to the Shanghai south station.

I would like to tell you some background knowledge of the D92. The train’s title, having a “D” means it’s the fastest train in China so far. The D92 only takes 5.5 hours more or less from Shanghai to Nanchang. So one ticket is worth as much as 225 Yuan because of its high speed. However, no one would think of spending 225 Yuan to sit for 34 hours. But I knew nothing of what would happen beforehand. Expecting to get home at 8:30 pm, I was still on the cold chair of the station at 3:00am, Jan 29. The whole thing only proved to be my folly, because I neglected the cruel weather conditions. I had assumed that what had never happened could not happen. But how should I know the train was so fragile that it would be affected by the weather and wouldn’t work until 3:00 am.

As the radio reported the train would start leaving at once, the whole floor of the station bubbled with excitement. It seemed that most passengers changed from being hopeless to optimistic, counting the hours they could spend to reach home. Things afterwards turned out they were overoptimistic, in fact, what was waiting for us was another total nightmare.

After we got on the train things went smooth for the first 3 hours. Then, suddenly, the train stopped. We all prayed that it would not be long. But we underestimated the ferocity of the storm. With time passing by, 1hour, 2 hours…we became hopeless and helpless again. I held my head between my hands, and silently prayed: ”Get us through this mess, will you?” At that very moment, the radio sounded again, however, there was good news this time, ”Sorry, dear passengers, we are in Jiangxi now. Due to the snowstorm, the whole transportation system is paralyzed. It has affected our railway too. Be patient it’s been repaired now.” Then, complaints rose and filled the whole train.” Let’s get off,” someone yelled.

By mid-morning, the passengers became outwardly calm, for they had no strength to complain. Then, the conductors brought us free bread and water to comfort us. Because of its nasty taste I only ate a bit. I dreamed of having a decent dinner at home instead of this.

About noon, it eventually moved. Someone cheered. But 10 minutes later, it stopped again. Then, it moved again. Because this had happened before, no one cheered this time. Then the rest of the journey was repeated stopping and moving.

I still remember when I looked outside the window unconsciously; I noticed an electrical - bicycle was proceeding with the same speed as our train. I still remember I dare not drink the free water when I was thirsty because the washroom had been closed the entire way. I still remember when my father sent a message concerning its speed, I answered back with a bitter smile, “Very fast, as fast as a motorbike.” I still remember when the conductor wanted to clean up after the bread I had left, I told her, “No, I will still eat it.”

The rest of the time I told myself repeatedly that, provided you have patience, once difficult time was bound to end soon.

By 3:00 AM Jan30 the train stopped forever. The radio worked again, ’’Welcome to Nanchang station” I realized I had survived. After this bitter journey, I fear no other difficult transportation now, because I’ve gone through the most difficult one. How dare another one be more difficult than this?