Day 1 in China

Well, we are getting ready for day 2, but I was too tired to post last night about day 1! We had a really nice day yesterday. It was pretty quiet. We did some sightseeing in old Beijing in the morning and went to lunch after that. We saw some interesting things...including a little boy making use of his split pants right on the sidewalk! In China, kids have "split pants". Parents train them to use the "squatty potties" which are very common here...basically a hole in the ground. Anyway, their pants are split open so they can just squat and relieve themselves whenever and wherever they feel the need. Toto, we're not in Kansas anymore! And the street vendors here are relentless! We got on the rickshaws and they were trying to sell us their goods. They followed us the whole way to our final destination and back again. They just don't want to take no for an answer! Our guide told us this would happen and to say "boo-yao" to them which means, "No, I don't want it". That word is going to come in handy. Anyway, after that we came back to the hotel, rested for a bit, went shopping at the Carrefour (which is like a Wal-Mart), went to dinner and then called it a day. I have a feeling this was our only relaxing day for a while with everything they have planned for us this weekend.

We are still dealing with the luggage issue. Robert was on the phone with the airline for quite a while yesterday. They have no idea where the suitcases are, only that they were checked in in Los Angeles to go to San Francisco. We already knew that, thank you very much! Anyway, so Robert is here with only the clothes he came in, plus I had 2 extra shirts in my bag. Lily's bag had all of her clothes, toys, bottles, books, medications she may need and the carrier I was intending on using. Thankfully her diaper bag, diapers, wipes and disposable bibs and washclothes were with my things. The families we are traveling with have been very kind and offered us anything we might need...we are thankful for them! Hopefully it will all get worked out soon. Please pray that they are found and returned to us quickly.

Thank you all again so much for your thoughts and prayers. The luggage situation has put a bit of a damper on things so we are hoping it gets resolved quickly, or that God will grant us peace and we can just move on. We'll keep you posted! Unfortunately, I am not able to read the comments that are being left on the blog. I will read them all once we get home, but you can email me directly and I can get back to you that way.


Our plane that took us from San Francisco to Beijing


Our hotel in Beijing


McDonald's in China!


Travis, Robin and Samuel


Us on the rickshaw


One of the dads in our group playing with kids at the King's Garden daycare/school


Our guide, Sherry