We're Here!

After traveling for about 39 hours, we finally arrived in Beijing.  We averaged about 6 hours of sleep in that time.  To say we were tired is an extreme understatement.  This has been one of the most overwhelming experiences for us, leaving our loved ones and friends, knowing communication home will be a challenge.  As emotional as the beginning of this journey has been, we are up for that challenge! 

Picking us up at the airport was our friend and soon-to-be-guide, Kam.  He works at Grand Canyon's sister park Yuntaishan.  Gracious and warm, Kam has been our translator (read: savior!), driver, and social secretary.  He treated us to a wonderful 'hot pot' dinner, at which we dumped many fresh foods like vegetables, meat, and tofu into boiling water.  Part of dinner was a drink called er guo tou, which best translates as "ohmywordthatisremarkablystrong," but what the Chinese simply call "white wine."  Even after a few rounds of er guo tou, we will remember Kam's welcome as one of the best moments of this adventure!

On our first night in Beijing, we had the pleasant opportunity to walk a few blocks.  One of the best ways to see any city is to walk its streets and even in a city the size of Beijing, that is no different.  While in an underground walkway, we heard and then saw a blind street musician.  The instrument was an erhu, or a "spike fiddle," a traditional Chinese instrument that sounds like a violin. The music was a welcome sound!  Another beautiful sight in this city were all the rainbow-colored lights along the streets, lighting up skyscrapers, bridges, and statues.
  

We started our China journey in Beijing, and we will end there, taking in more sights and finally seeing the Great Wall!  Until then, we will fill our time and our journals with more experiences learning and traveling.  The great adventure of learning a new language and culture awaits us!  Goodbye for now, our as we are learning to say zàijiàn!