May
25
Written by:
Dan Maas
5/25/2008
OUr group has made it through the 23 hour travel time to Beijing... and even completed a few tours aready.
After a full day in Littleton, our band of 16 students and 6 adults bundled onto flights from Denver, through Los Angles and Seoul to arrive in Beijing. Our travel time was 23 hours to arrive at Beijing's bright new airport. The airpport is absollutley huge. The ceilings vault way above our heads and the concourses are far flung across a massive area. Systems all seemed online, but the airport itself seemed almost deserted. Both the Seoul and Beijing airports we visited had been opened just this year and have that "new airport" smell [;-)
The only glitch we've had so far was about half our luggage did not arrive at baggage claim. But that adds to the experience:
- Always pack enough to survive on for two days in your carry-on.
- Keep your boarding pass stubs and baggage claim checks handy at all times.
- Be nice and patient... this kind of ting happens.
Ms. Sabey, her husband Mark and her oldest son Brian were outstanding interpreters as we discussed the need for someone to find our missing bags and bring them to our hotel. The Chinese officials were very understanding and we expect to get our bags today.
We visited a pre-arranged lunch spot which should have been on China's Top-Ten tourist traps for thecity of Beijing. But the food was nice, if a bit tame and the people so polite. We hustled off, jeg-lag and all to walk through the Forbidden City and see Tiananmen Square. The it was on to a Kung Fu theatre where some of us were treated to an amazing demonstration of martial arts set to classic Chinese mythology. I say some of us, because some of us passed out due to jeg-lag in the darkened theatre.
We made it back to the hotel and everybody is tucked away getting some needed Zzzz's. It'll be a big day on Monday as we will visit the University and see if we can build our first relationships. I will take a side trip to visit International School Beijing. I have a map and some directions in Chinese for th taxi... into the breach we go!
Check out http://china.littletonpublicschools.net and look at the videos link. I have a teacher tube video up now and will do a ustream.tv broadcast in about 90 minutes.
12 comment(s) so far...
Re: Arrival in Beijing
What a difference from our first landing in St Petersburg and Kiev, ha ha. John DiPrimo would love the martial arts demo. After-shock today was supposedly felt as far away as Beijing. True? the Indian Plate is bashing into the Asian Plate.
By Cloud-Runner on
5/25/2008
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Re: Arrival in Beijing
anyone out there? am I looking in the right spot?
By dkkmw on
5/26/2008
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Re: Arrival in Beijing
Hope the group plans aren't effected by Sunday's earthquake.
By Mason on
5/26/2008
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Re: Arrival in Beijing
Looking forward to hearing about the visit to China Wall. Did the missing luggage arrive? Any way to post photos?
By Karen Wood on
5/26/2008
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Re: Arrival in Beijing
UPDATE: Luggage has arrived and so have our cell phones. I have about a zillion pictures now and I'm trying to figure which to upload. I also have some new video to get online too... check out http://china.littletonpublicschools.net for all our links.
By Dan Maas on
5/26/2008
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Re: Arrival in Beijing
BTW, no aftershocks here. Perhaps it was felt in Beijing if you are a seismologist.
By DMaas on
5/26/2008
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Re: Arrival in Beijing
Loved the photos! Thanks a bunch! It was great to see Matt's face; he definately looked jet-lagged. :-) It looks like everyone is having a good time and enjoying the sights.
By Karen Wood on
5/26/2008
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Re: Arrival in Beijing
Thanks for posting up the photos and travel updates. The news from China is keeping us concerned, but very glad you all are doing well!
By sharon foxworthy on
5/26/2008
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Re: Arrival in Beijing
Nice job with the updates, the photos and the video - keep it coming. No more whining about your plane flights, though. You should try it with a ninth month old baby that's only known you for a week (and with 43 other babies on the same flight . . .)!
By Karl Fisch on
5/26/2008
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Re: Arrival in Beijing
Andy, stop avoiding the camera and get in some pictures!!
It is so incredible to see you all in China-AMAZING!!
Have a wonderful time and ENJOY every second. We love you and miss you! Mom, Dad and Jonathan
DAN, Thank you so much for all the communication-you are doing a fantastic job!!
By Delores Ingle on
5/27/2008
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Re: Arrival in Beijing
I have taken those long flights and I agree that you need to have enough of everything to last two days. I hope you have finally reunited with your luggage as I can't imagine the aroma of teenagers wearing the same clothes in summer, with the heat, without a change of clothes, deodorant and without a toothbrush and toothpaste. You are a good soul!!!!!!
I hope you enjoyed Bejing and that your days are packed with adventure:)
By Beverly Ingle on
5/27/2008
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Re: Arrival in Beijing
Dan! Thanks for the videos and photos. I am checking 2x's a day for any news. Did Gabe get his camera working? Can't believe the kids were actually eating the bugs and scorpions! Thanks for capturing that on tape. Things are good here, but we are missing you!
By sharon foxworthy on
5/29/2008
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