The lights dimmed, and everyone settled into bed.

Dani fell asleep almost immediately in her lower bunk.

I lay awake in the upper one, waiting for the privacy I had so carefully chosen to become worthwhile.

Instead, I discovered why the top bunk had been available.

A speaker sat directly above my pillow.

It began with announcements.

The next stop.

Safety reminders.

More announcements.

All in Chinese.

Just as I thought they had finished, music drifted from the speaker, followed by the voice of a young girl solemnly narrating what sounded very much like a bedtime story.

I couldn’t understand a word.

Eventually the announcements stopped.

The girl’s voice disappeared.

The speaker finally fell silent.

By then Dani had been asleep for what felt like hours.