Team Yellen Invades China (Part 1)

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Hello out there in blog-land!

Yes, it has been way too long since an entry from yours truly. But alas, I'm back, and I hope you enjoy today's installment. The focus of today's entry, and at least one more, will be the visit to China by my parents. Yes, in a much anticipated event, China would now try to contain 3 Yellens at one time. No small task for sure. Would the country ever be the same? Well...let's find out....

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My parents arrived on a Monday afternoon. I was to meet them at the airport and guide them back to the hotel. I made it very early and held out my cute little "Team Yellen" sign as I stood next to all of the professional drivers holding their signs. So I waited...and waited...nothing. Finally, I walked around a corner and somehow my parents had managed to find another way out...despite the fact that there only appeared to be one exit. But alas...reunited! We hopped in a cab and off we went!

I will say this....we crammed more into one week than one would think possible. What is affectionately known around my house as a "Yellen vacation" with the goal of seeing as much of one place as humanly possible. China was no exception. The most impressive part of this is that my mother, slightly slowed down by a significant leg injury she sustained 2 weeks previous....did not let a little thing like not being able to walk well keep her from seeing China. "There was never any thought of canceling," she remarked matter-of-factly. And well...you should have seen her....very impressive!

Day one took us to the top of the CCTV tower to see an overview of the entire city, and then to Beijing's largest Buddhist Temple...the Lama Temple. Very impressive to say the least. This is the site I saw the monks having a snowball fight on "Superbowl Monday." I was glad I returned because the two largest and most important rooms were open this time. We opted for the audio tour...which was...well certainly more informative than not having it at all, but not much. Let's just say the Chinese need to work on their audio tours. My advice...get someone who actually speaks English to do your English audio tours. Just a thought. The most significant part of the Temple though was meeting someone from my parent's hotel who was able to get us in touch with Bonney. Who you ask? More details to come later.

We then hopped in a cab again and it was off to Tiananmen Square for our first "Yellen moment" of the trip. As we walked, and of course accosted by everyone in hopes of selling their wares, one lady grabs us and asks if we wanted to see Chairmen Mao. Long story short, my mother, cane and all, and father, were dragged to the front of the line 2 minutes before closing and whisked past the embalmed body of the former leader. I of course was left holding the bags outside...since no bags or cameras of any sorty are allowed. My parents though, almost in an instant, moved to the front like VIPs. Was the treatment because of my mother's cane (used because of her injury)? Was it our "white-ness?" We're not sure...but it was funny. All my father could do to keep up was say, "I'm with her" and they both were escorted past the former Communist boss.

Meanwhile I was forced to chat it up with this perhaps official lady who got them in. I had to hear about the free medical screening offered across the street. "It can cure your mother," she said. 20 minutes of this. Yikes. I asked if she was from Beijing...she said yes, but that she did not grow up there. Oh...where then? She told me that her father was a doctor and their family was forced to move during the Cultural Revolution. I, expecting a by wrote answer, asked how she felt about the Chairman. Surprisingly, she admitted that some do not like him (clearly referring to herself). I was surprised that I was able to get that from her.

Okay. I know what many of you are waiting for is pictures. I put up a lot...but many more will follow. So, I will close part 1 of the parental visit here and post some pictures. Next entry will have more tales of our adventures over the week. Including the surprising level of Chinese language aptitude I have achieved to this point. I will close by saying our first meal was Peking Duck. It was amazing! My parents loved it!

Until Next Time,
Brett

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