May 13, 2008

BEIJING, China -- I think it's one of those things you've got to tell yourself a million times to try to make yourself believe that whatever is happening is actually real -- that by saying it over and over, it will be enough to convince your brain that it really is true. And yet, no matter how many times I say it, even after sitting in this hotel room for two nights in a row in one of the most amazing cities I've ever seen, I still hardly believe it! 

I don't think any of us do. 

But guess what?  It is true!  We are here!  We've finally arrived in China!

Looking back over the past two days (or should I say three?), I'm astonished at everything we've already accomplished.

We survived our flight, which took us from Denver, Colorado, on Sunday morning to Bejjing, China, Monday night with relatively little boredom -- thanks to the on-flight movies and multiple meals.  We've trekked across the entire Forbidden Palace (it's bigger than you would even imagine) and stopped plenty of times to gawk at the marvelous structures and to have multiple photo ops, even one that made us feel like celebrities when the locals screamed (literally!) in excitement after realizing we would agree to take pictures with them.

We also started mastering those chopsticks, experienced the crazy rules of Bejjing traffic (there are none), and learned so much about the life of the Chinese after visiting the Hutong district. Not to mention, we've also tried out a lot of yummy new food, rode in rickshaws and watched an unbelievable acrobatic show.

But you want to know what the best part is? The fact that it's only day two!  We still have nine more days to fit in as much of the Chinese experience as we can ... and I can't wait to see everything we are going to accomplish in that time.