Our second day in China we climbed the Great Wall! Most of the students made it up and past the Hero's point. With Scott, Morgan's dad in the lead, and Pam; Jayla's grandma bringing up the rear the students were able to climb at their own pace. I made base and when the kids were done they came back to me for shade, water and salt snacks. Everyone was amazing. Big smiles and wobbling legs and all my heros made it.
Off to a generic lunch. I think our guide fears that we can not take Chinese cooking. We had french fries, garlic shoots with pork, and whole fish. Livy and Scott ate the fish eyeballs. Then in turned out there weren't enough to go around. Everyone (almost) wanted to try it.
We made it to the Water Cube and not everyone got it. It was closing time and we had to buy scalped tickets. We ended up coming back the next day. The Bird's Nest and the Water Cube - very cool. Audrey, David, and Ian took off to race around the Bird's Next. I think Audrey was pretty close to beating them.
My friend Sindy took us to a spectactular place to eat that evening. We had huge bowls of noodles with 6 different small bowls of veggies mixed in and a sauce. Very good - too much food. We were the only non-Chinese there.
The next morning we practiced kung fu in the Temple of Heaven park, saw the temple, lunch and then back to the Olympic park. A quick visit to a tea house and then McDonalds for dinner. Off to the train station for our overnight trip to Xian. Train stations don't have porters and don't check backs. We had some trouble witht he train. We were stressed but then it turned into another cool experience. Sleeping on a train is hard and when you get off the train you still feel like you are swaying. The train gives you a much better look into the life of a typical Chinese person.
Xian is hot and we are hot and sweaty. Luckily the kids got swimming time before we went back out into the heat and sun. We visited a pagoda and continued to be hot.
Off to our dumpling cooking lessons. The kids got to wear aprons and hats and make their own dumplings. We made traditional dumplings and then began to experiment with different shapes. Somehow ours never looked like our teachers. After cleaning up we went out to eat many, many, many dumplings. This resturant also has a Tang Dynasty show and most of us watched it. The kids began to nod off and by the end of the show about 6 were asleep at the table.
We rescheduled our morning bike ride and let everyone sleep in.
The Terra Cotta soldiers are today and the orphanage in the morning. This is a great trip. Thank goodness for all the wonderful grown-up help.
By the time you read this kids should have phoned home today. We will continue to send via email and have Louise post on another blog that she will send to you. I have attached a poem that Marlo wrote and will attach more. I have read the student's journal enteries and just haven't had time to post. Our days are packed and then some.
Lisa
My reflections poem
Chairman Mao
Rickshaw wow
Aaliya's smile
A nice cool breeze
Horns a honking
Red shirts walking
Yellow flag waving
Sorry no sandals please
Forbidden city no longer
Yes the Emperor's got game
Pan handlers panning
One's got pal
One Yuen, a ransom for pal?
He doesn't think its swell
One yank on your crutch
To reconsider your luck
All laugh and flash
A good humored smile
All the while
Pal's "would be" unsuspecting thief.
GOT SCHOOLED BY LISA.
No six post suitor for
Our groups leader.
Bob Marley looks on
From his window.
Morgan takes a peek
Under the red curtain
Chic. All smiles with
Her grinning friend.
Squattie and do your potty
A place of heavenly purity
In the hall of supreme harmony
You can do some mental cultivation
And collectively say Ahhh.
Smiling crop top Scott
A virtual bull's eye target
Well, for everything.
His radars are always up
Pan handlers try their luck
Under Audrey's watchful eye.
Can I get a WAH?
This goes out to 5 golden stars
Who never wandered far
They wore their smiles.
YOU GUYS ROCK!
3 gangsters in a rickshaw
Squished up, but not for far
Hutong clothes hung on a Hutong line
3 boy bicycles invited a ride
Lisa's racing
Sophie's pacing and
Barbara says "sorry for my Ching-Lish".
