After a pleasant nine hours' flight, we arrived at the brand new Beijing Airport at 0920am local time. Our students were overwhelmed at the size and the splendor at the Olympics airport. Many photos were taken by our students and a large number of Chinese thought we were VIPs.
After a 20 course feast was laid on by our Changping host, we went to Ming Tombs and bought lovely gifts for our friends and families, and for our colleagues. At this point many students having not slept for 24 hours, were wilting in the 35 degrees smog! We went on to visit the Ming Tombs and at this point Monish felt he had already lost 1 stone!
On our return to the college we were informed as we had not eaten for 4 hours another feast was being laid on! The food is amazing.....a revolving table where a dish is added every 2 minutes! Jenine requested a traditional English- Chinese dish- Egg fried rice! This was cooked and delivered within 3 minutes! Fantastic...Principal Duan also presented us all with a collective Olympic Gift.....
Many students went to bed at 8 pm although birthday girl Agata who was 21 today , Monish and I went to a very posh bar to celebrate a happy day..happy birthday, happy homecoming and a happy beer drinker!! And this is just day 1..... Day 2 ..National Hotel,Tianan Men Square, London House, Opening Ceremony, Great Wall, Temple of Heaven .....of course, partnership meetings with Changping!
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3 comments:
great blog! Glad you are enjoying the great hospitality of our friends from Changping!
Happy birthday to Agata - will look out for you on TV
maggie
thought I'd add a bit more now Ican see the first post went through- had to try about 6 times!
Big build up to Games here now - hope we get to see you on TV with VIPs :)
Best wishes to Principal Duan and colleagues
maggie
You will need a bit of excercise and sport after all that food!
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