Trip to Xi'an

This past week we ended up with three days off so we took the night train to Xi'an in inner China. This city was the ancient capital of the Chinese empire. While there, we biked the city walls, visited the Drum Tower, Bell Tower, Big Wild Goose Pagoda, the Great Mosque, the Muslim Quarter and the Terracotta Soldiers. It was a great first trip in China--it makes us excited for many more! Here are the highlights, a little out of order...

Army of Terracotta Soldiers
Each one has a unique facial expression
The Qin emporer build this army at his tomb to protect him
Built: 200 BC Discovered: 1974
At the Great Mosque
Call to Prayer
Xi'an streets
Big Wild Goose Pagoda (famous Buddhist monestary and temple)
I climbed the Pagoda behind me!

the Bell Tower
the Drum Tower
entrance to the Muslim Quarter
We did a lot of street shopping, something lacking in Beijing
also at the Great Mosque

South entrance to the city walls
We biked the walls!
It was 12 km! (about 8 miles)
the city walls built in about 700 go around the city

Little Update

We have been settling into our schedules and getting used to the "working world." We like it a lot. Being a "young professional" in Beijing makes us look like we are much more successful than we are. We go out to eat out for every meal (which is what most people do here), shop all the time, go on trips on the weekends, have a cleaning lady, and take cabs everywhere.

Work has been really busy but going well. In the summer, there is a kids program in the mornings which they stuck us with because everyone hates it. Lets just say only-child syndrome is a problem here. After kids camp, we have a two hour break until the regular work day begins because our campus hours are 2-930. So things have been busy and tiring. Now that the kids stuff is over, things will be better.

Both of us have really been enjoying the food here--we like it more and more. Surprisingly, we are really into spicy food here. The spiciness isnt like Mexican spice that all most hurts your mouth and makes you cry. This spice feels less like heat and more like numbness. We eat a lot of spicy noodles, tofu and green beans. We have a great time picking out different kinds of restaurants. Lately we have been eating at Chinese Muslim restaurants (they are cleaner and healthier and have great meat) and Szechuen places (very spicy and cheap). And we havent used a fork since we got here.

This week we have three days off in a row, so tonight we are taking the night train to Xian in inner China to see the sights there. When we return, Beijing will seem like an emptier city, but we are looking forward to experiencing it in a more Olympics-free way--complete with lower prices and heavier smog.

Our Night at the Olympics!

We were lucky enough to get tickets to the 100m Mens Finals and other athletic events on Saturday night. We were there to see the Olympic area at 5 and we were in our seats at 7pm--19 rows back from the track!!! We had an amazing view for the whole night which involved womens javelin and shotput, mens longjump, womens 400 and 800 and of course, the mens 100m final. And as you know, we saw the fastest man in the world set the record and win the gold! It was an unforgettable night--we hope you saw it too :)

Our view in the Bird's Nest

Bolt wins!!!! (celebrating before he even finishes)
right down in front of us
Our amazing seats

At the Bird's Nest!



winners of the womens heptathlon

Bird's Nest at night

The torch

We wore these shirts (courtesey of the Zaagmans) so that our picture could be hung up in Yesterdog--the best hotdog place ever in GR, MI

the Watercube at night

The Forbidden City

We went here on Saturday before the Bird's Nest. It is huge!!!! And beautiful! Im sure we will be back many times.

Guess What?!

Good news everyone! We have Olympic tickets!!!!! Our boss sold us tickets to the track and field finals on Saturday! We are going to the events at the Birds Nest that begin at 7pm here, so that would be 7am on the East Coast. Look for us in our tie-dye Yesterdog shirts :) and our American flags!!! Plus it's a really important and exciting event! U-S-A! U-S-A! U-S-A! Many photos to come...

Our house is a very very very fine house

Here are some photos of our complex, building and apartment!

Checking in After One Week Here

Well, we have been here for one week now. It has been a roller coaster! Figuring out the area is fun with trying out new restaurants and shopping. We are really enjoying the food! Just now, we brought home spicy noodles and dumplings for lunch. We are eating lots of vegetables like eggplant, spinach and brocolli and also lots of rice, noodles and spicy sauces.

We have been getting used to things at work. We are training, observing and beginning to teach. Its been great getting to know the teachers and students so far. Generally, things are going well even though we dont know too much about what we will be doing and where.

Most importantly, the opening ceremonies were here last night! We went with a large group to Ditan Park to watch it on the jumboscreens there. It was so cool to be with people from all over the world and the performances were amazing! We cheered with our flag when the US teams walked out. You wont be surprised to learn that the US received the most cheers and also the most boos (when the camera zoomed in on President Bush--Chinese name=Bushuht...hmmm food for thought). It was definitely a special night to be in Beijing :)

Emily at the park waiting for the US athletes to walk

Elliott waving our flag when the US was announced

Our flag we brought from home

The crowd at the park--it was incredibly hot and humid

Nin hao from China!

We are safe and sound in Beijing! We arrived on Friday night after an uneventful trip from Chicago to Seoul to Beijing on Korean Air (best airline ever). A nice man who knew not one word of English picked us up and took us to our apartment in Chouyang. We are on the third floor in a complex of highrises that surround a courtyard with gardens, a playground, basketball courts and decorative pools of water! Across the street are shopping malls that include a McDonalds, a NikeTown and a Wal-Mart type department store.

As for our accomodations, we are living in an IKEA commercial. I am sitting on one of our red leather couches in front of our black entertainment center that hosts our large HD tv. Our dining area is yellow and orange with a nice fridge. The two bedrooms have large beds and wall-length closets with sliding doors and shelving and such. Then theres the bathroom and kitchen that are fine. Thats all I have to say about them...

Over the weekend we did a lot of wandering and shopping and hung out with some fellow teachers. It just so happens that all of the Real Life English teachers were having their monthly outing on Saturday night. Since the company was paying, we went to one of the nicest restaurants around--South Beauty--and had amazing food. Some of the more exciting dishes were duck's blood (in a jerky form) and pig's blood (more of a gelatin). We were out with about 20 teachers who were very nice and welcoming.

Work has begun and after two days of training, we are jumping into teaching tomorrow! Honestly, we are just glad Worldlink Education is legit and in existence. Turns out, it is a very professional and successful organization. In fact, Al Roker will be doing a segment on this company and its classes next week at the beginning of the Olympics! Watch for that!

Overall, things are going really well. Things are a little shaky in some areas--like how there is less English than we anticipated--like NONE, and how work is a little overwhelming. Elliott is really rising to the occasion. He is in overdrive finding activities, exploring, trying new food and most importantly, looking after Emily who is an emotional wreck (she'll be fine). Jetlag has done a number on her and she is in her glory while shopping one moment and crashing at work the next. Things here are constantly changing (the one constant of Beijing), and getting used to that will be the biggest adjustment.

Our best wishes from the land of the Olympics! Photos to come soon! Know we are happy, doing well, excited, tired and missing you!