I am having the darndest time uploading photos to this blog. Check out my facebook photos. They're all there.
At any rate, we're home and glad to be here. It's been a wonderful experience. One that we wouldn't have been able to get by simply touring. We have gotten to know people, personally and professionally. Got to see what life is like - at least this little slice of it - and what the people are like. Makes me wish I spoke Chinese. But we did just fine most times.
By far, I enjoyed the people the most (although the history, culture, and architecture was cool too). There were some marvelous individuals I got to meet who were kind, generous with their time and courtesy, funny, caring, etc.
We had some adventures the last week we were there that hadn't made it to the blog posts: THE CAB RIDE: forever know as such with Linda Conley, Brian FitzGerald, Julia and Olivia... Funny if it wasn't so dang sad!
Extra trips to the Silk Road market and TGI Fridays. Fun shopping and then dinner with cheeseburgers and a "real" bathroom!
One thing we decided for sure: living in China is much harder than living our little life here. Going to the grocery, finding a place to eat dinner, even relaxing... everything is just harder. We don't think twice about jumping in the car and going to do something. There, it all requires a plan.
And the pollution of Beijing took its toll on us. The city is very dirty and smoggy. There is a film of dirt over everything that is next to impossible to keep up with cleaning. I gave up about two weeks before we left. Hate living in such a mess. Silver lining: the girls have pledged to keep their rooms clean because even they didn't like the dirt! HA!
Well, I am still on Beijing time, sort of... My days and nights are confused and I am working to reacclimate. I love the blue skies of Minnesota!
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