Arrival..

I arrived in Beijing after a long, 23 hour trek. In line to get through immigatrion, I noticed several people from my tour group (they were wearing their name tags), so I made friends. And then, as I stood in front of baggage claim 41, I looked to theirs, baggae claim 40, and announced that "my bags didn't come." Let's be honest, I wasn't surprised. I spent the first day of our tour walking through the Tia Na Men Square in the same clothes I had just spent 23 hours in... NICE.

Beijing was hospitable, the air was polluted, and the food was edible - for sure. In fact, our last meal there was lunch today on the way to the airport, and it was by far the best meal - tofu was excellent. Three kids sitting near us were enjoying what I declared "Chinese fondue" and I desperately wanted to join in, but settled for pictures with the staff in front of the decorated entryway, isntead.

My group flew into Xian (Shee-An) and had another great meal, walked along a street of food stalls which made for great pictures, and arrived in our hotel. Apparently, we all got up-graded and will be in "suites", but I opted for the computer room before I checked out the room. So far, I'm more than thrilled with the people in the group, and am a huge fan of our national guide, Ming. She and I sipped in vodka the other night in the lobby bar, while I explained to her two of the most popular sports in America - beer pong and flip cup (cough, cough). I told her to you tube it...

Tomorrow should be a full day, which will include the Terracotta Warriors and a show tomorrow night, with a dumpling feast! So exicted. We will spend the day in Xian, and leave for Shanghai the following morning. I still can't believe that I'm here, so I continuously look at the hundreds of pictures I've taken!

I must be completely overwhelmed by the busy itinerary because I have failed to mention TWO extremely interesting facts:

1. I climbed the top (not the end) of the GREAT WALL.
2. I spend several minutes gazing at the sleeping GIANT PANDA today, from the exact opposite of the glass which protects him from the (what I assume is the) thousand visitors he recieves daily. It was quite great.

I'm a celebrity of sorts here.... Which is great considering I love every single child I see here, so when they look at me in awe and their parents take pictures, I also get a photo op of my own and snag a shot with the child. Evidentally, my pale skin and wavy, warm brown hair is a rare sight. An older woman, easily in her 80's, was unable to stop herself from staring and smiling at me yesterday in the Imperial Garden; I, myself, was unsure if perhaps I was imagining what I was looking at. Then, boys from South Korea posed with me and a groupmate on the Great Wall, and couldn't hold in the laughter when they heard where I was from - they then professed their love for Chicken.... It really was a great moment. I'm having a blast.

On and On, I can go, but I won't. I'm so exhausted I may not even remember what I've shared tonight, but will have another full day tomorrow full of stories to share...

Love, from China.

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