THERE is a popular saying that when in Rome do as the Romans do, but that is rather difficult here in China while covering the World Championships for the Jamaica Observer.

After travelling for nearly two days to get to Beijing from Kingston — through Miami then Chicago and crossing three times zones — the body needs rests especially after that final 14-hour flight from Chicago to Beijing.

I arrived at the National Jade Hotel some time after midnight on Tuesday (Jamaica time), I got no rest during the flight because space for my legs was at a premium. I finally got some sleep for the first time since Monday, but that was just a nap really, and I was soon up again for work.

The brain and body are now confused, but the work must be done.

There was the IAAF Congress to select the major administrators of track and field, and Jamaica had four officials attempting to secure seats. Garth Gayle was the only one successful.

I was then off to the Bird’s Nest to watch the Jamaican athletes train. However, the athletes did not train, as only a few administrators turned up to inspect the training facility. And, despite being flocked for photos by the adoring Chinese, the officials refused to let us get a peek at our Jamaicans.

We, the journalists from Jamaica, had to get bibs to see our Jamaicans, while other people were there without bibs. So our tour of the massive Bird’s Nest began with trying to locate the right person to give us the bibs. Another few wasteful hours elapsed and our mission turned out to be an impossible one.

So back to my hotel — tired, frustrated and, more crucially, hungry. With legs giving way, I had another problem. I had to find an adapter because the Chinese sockets are different than those in the western world…I could do no work from my hotel room.

I was sent on a wild goose chase to locate an adapter and, after walking another 45 minutes, I gave up, turned around, and headed “home”.

I could hardly walk as I was weak from hunger. I headed straight to the hotel restaurant where my colleagues told me earlier that they had breakfast there.

I stumbled into the dining area, and with hunger pangs still strong, the food on offer was not appealing. I took off outside as I had sighted a KFC somewhere up the road. But the legs couldn’t make it, so I stopped at a little bar area next to the hotel to get some juice, because I remembered I had sandwich in my bag. Oh yes! I was relieved.

“What do you have to drink!” I asked. The gentleman with a wide smile on my face pointed me to the glass fridge. “We have Coke, Sprite, Rat Iced Tea”. My eyes almost popped out of socket. Here I am looking at the reddish ice tea with this rat nicely placed on the label. I was no longer thirsty. That’s it! My appetite was totally gone. But I had to get something. So after carefully scrutinising the Coke for a good three minutes, I bought it.

Never before did I enjoy a small can of Coke and bread so much.

Next mission: Find a supermarket where there are more choices, and hopefully my quest to find food will no longer be difficult.