Bryan update

This is Kim again. I spoke to Bryan around 9:30 a.m. our time, 10:30 p.m. China time. They had a busy day today, and were wiped out. He was going to try to email me pictures and an update for here before he went to bed, but it doesn't look like he got it done. They've decided to go ahead and pay for 1 more day of internet, and will get pictures and an update to me within the next 24 hours.

Here's a brief overview of their adventures today: After we got off the skype, they had a delicious breakfast, and then took a taxi to Tianamen Square. After walking around TS for a while, they headed across the street into the Forbidden City. After walking around for a little while they found the ticket booth to enter the main part of the FC. There was a 2 hr. wait to get into the FC, due to a national holiday in China. They decided not to wait. After they left the FC, they headed to the Wang Fu Jing Market area. The went into many different shops, and ate lunch at McD's. . .Bryan has been craving their pineapple pies, so this is no surprise! After walking around this area, they took the subway to the Olympic center/area. Bryan said it was amazing! They had to be back at the hotel at 6 p.m. for an information meeting with their guide. There is a total of 8 families, one of which is from Spain. Tomorrow AM for them, our PM, they meet at 8:30 a.m. to head to the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall. They have the afternoon free, which they plan to use for shopping at the Buy Now store. The Buy Now store is the largest electronics market in Beijing. Since it will be Bryan and Tommy there alone without anyone else to complain about the time they're spending looking around, they'll be in hog heaven, and they'll be in there for HOURS. We're hoping they find some really good deals on some things for Christmas presents!

Well, I'm going to stop typing now, so this doesn't end up being too long. ;-)

Will post Bryan's pictures and updates as I receive them.

Good evening all!

This is Bryan's wife, Kim. I just spoke with Bryan via Skype. They made it safely to Beijing, and were in the process of getting ready to start their Saturday of touring and shopping. He is unable to access blogger or facebook, so he will send me an update with pictures our Saturday AM, his Saturday PM. I'll post it as soon as I get it. Due to the high cost for internet at their hotel, he's not planning on contact me again until they arrive in Kunming, which will be August 11th. (We are shocked at the cost of the internet there. We've never paid that much during any of our trips to China.) After they're in Kunming, he'll send me another update with pictures of Beijing for me to post here. Sorry there won't be much for several days.

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

Sitting at ATL

Well it's noon here in Atlanta and I'm sitting herein front of a McDonalds praying that I eat anything but that for lunch. We have just over 2 hours until we board our next plane for the longest leg of our trip, 14 hours in the air, and I am soooo not looking foward to that. Hopefully a full belly from a good restaurant (NOT MCDONALDS) will help some of that flight pass a little quicker. Time to decide our meal and go eat, because I have to go to a different concourse to get my Cinnabon, and trust me, I'M GETTING MY CINNABON!!!!!

9 Hours till take off

Well, here I am with only 9 hours left until the first leg of my trip begins and I feel the excitement as if this was my first time to China. I have so many hopes for this trip, like showing my dad the beauty of China, seeing sights that I've missed on my other trips, and meeting my daughters foster parents while hopefully getting some great stories and information from her first year. I'm so nervous that when I meet them I'll be struck dumb and unable to talk, so Kim and I sat down and typed out a list of questions to ask. (This will only work if I can remember how to read and talk when I see them)

You know, I love China and getting to visit there is something I look foward to doing, but there is a bad side to this trip...OVER 24 HOURS FROM TAKE OFF TO FINAL DESTINATION!!! I really wish the SST's were still running and didn't cost an arm and a leg, could you imagine cutting that travel time in half?

I keep running through all the items I need to take, i.e. passport, clothes, toothbrush, etc., and praying that all of those items make it with me to China. Clothes are the big thing for me, not many 6-1, 250 lb. Chinese walking around so buying clothes there might be a little dificult. But hey, I once wore the same outfit for 3 days straight with no problems, of course I was deer hunting, everyone else did the same and I WAS 12.

Time to try for a little rest, kind of hard to do when I get this amped up about something, but I do need a little sleep. (I find I function best with about 4 or 5 hours, that's why a mortician was the best job choice for me) Next post should be from the Peoples Republic of China. (There should be fanfair noise, large crowds applauding, whistling, etc. etc. but what can I do, this is just a blog after all)

3 and a half days

Well, here I am just 3 and a half days from travel and we are getting everything packed. My large piece of luggage is in at 49.5 pounds with a few things left to go. Since I only get 50 pounds before I have to pay overage fees I'm hoping that those last few items are kind of light. If not I don't think it will a big deal I can just divide it up into two checked bags, I mean heck I'm packing a bag in a bag as is. For those of you reading this that think I'm a little crazy for packing a bag in a bag, you apparently don't know about all the amazing things you can buy in China at an amazing bargin.

I'm getting really excited about my journey, not so much with the 24 hour plane trip, but I have movies, puzzle books, and sleep to occupy my time. I was debating on if I should try to get on China time prior to my trip and sleep most of the flight over, but then I found that they're showing "Monsters Vs. Aliens" and "Star Trek" on the flight. I've seen Monsters with the kids and loved it, more than willing to watch it again, and with Star Trek, I'm a big fan and wanted to see it in theatres but never made it. Either way I guess I'll have to do my best and stay awake for at least Star Trek, what kind of fan would I be if I slept through it. (and hey, I don't have to pay for the rental. YES!!!)

This is getting a bit long for a prior to trip post so I guess I should wrap it up by giving a major thanks to my wife for doing almost all of the packing for me. I know if I pakced myself I would get to China with 4 shorts, 6 shirts, 1 pair of socks and no underware (not a pretty picture). So thank you honey, without you I'd be going comando throughout China.

China Camp 2009

Just got back home from a fantastic time at China Camp. This was my first year teaching and was going in praying for the best but fully aware that it would probably be the worst.

I taught the 4th graders and on day one, when everyone was slowly pouring into the class room I tried everything I could think of to get these young ladies to open up and start talking. As time seemed to slow before my very eyes I was begining to think that these three days were going to seem like an eternity because everything I was trying to spur some form of conversation was falling flat.

I'm still not sure what happened, what I said, or did, but after about half an hour my class began interacting with me and with each other. Friends that only get to see each other here at camp were getting back together and steadily bringing new friends into their fold. It was an amazing thing to see and be a part of.

Over those short three days I witnessed these fantastic young ladies grow in their knowledge of their birth country, extend their friendships out to everyone, stand up and help those in need, and most importantly they all seemed to genuinely be having fun.

I don't know what I would have done if I didn't wind up with such a fantastic group of kids, thank you all for letting me be a part of this amazing event, you all made me so proud to be your teacher this year.

One Month And Counting

Well here I am, one month until my trip and I just finished the last thing needed for my journey. I just booked the hotel for our final night in China. We're arriving a day earlier than our tour group, so I really hope that my dad and I get to go see the Forbidden City. I've been to Beijing twice and have yet to step a single foot on Tiananmen Square or in the Forbidden City. Now I have been three blocks down from them both, could almost see them, but we made our way to the Temple of Heaven instead. Oh well, maybe the third times a charm.

I guess now it's just wait the month out until travel and try to remind myself to PACK LIGHT!