Return to the U.S.A

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Monday, July 4—trip home

Fairly uneventful morning. Three of the group, the Chesters and Tristin, went to another market where he finally got his chess set for 50 yuan! We had breakfast, then I washed my hair and Drew braided it for me for the trip home. Left the hotel at 11:30, returned near the Bund for a good last lunch, then headed to the airport. Got on the plane on time but sat for about an hour at the gate before we took off.

The flight left Shanghai at 4 p.m., Monday July 4 and landed in Chicago at 5 p.m., Monday, July 4! Made up for the day we lost on the way over, with a vengeance!

The plane ride was ok; we went over Japan and the Pacific, Washington State and over to Chicago. Heavy thunderstorms in Richmond forced cancellation of the flight to Richmond so we stayed at the Crown Plaza; will fly out at 7 a.m. and I’ll get back to Harrisonburg about the same time!

Drew didn't sleep at all on the plane, I don't think. She went right to sleep. Tristen and I went down to the hotel restaurant and had a pizza; the Chesters joined us for a nice discussion.

Boy, it took a couple days to catch up on the time—I kept falling very soundly asleep before nightfall! But by the middle of the next week, I was ok!

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Photos

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just another of those juxtapostiions we've found so interesting!

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scenes on the way to the last lunch and then airport

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what is it called when you use plants to clean the air (I know, "natural" but there's another term) and, yes, this is partly a test to see if anyone made it this far!!!

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the can opener building once more

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lovely bridge, if we could see it!

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i really enjoyed the use of plants: flowers, bushes, trees, everywhere they could. They've definitely got biology/botony (???) working wherever they can

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Nell and Vickie, our guide in Shanghai--calm, VERY knowledgeable, lovely woman