Beijing!!!

We made it to Beijing!

What a dayyyyyysssss.  Not sure how else to say it.  Was only about a 24 hour time period, but we encompassed almost 2 full days when you consider that Beijing is 13 hours ahead of Iowa time. 

The trip started out pretty decently!  Our flight from Des Moines was on time and we landed on time, if not a tad early.  The Beijing leg?  Well, that was the issue.  We were supposed to depart at 1:07 pm, but they pushed the departure time to 2:00 pm which then because 2:45 pm which then became 4:00 which then became 5:00, then 5:15, then 5:45!  We finally left the ground at 6:15 pm!!!  According to the flight attendants, the elevator to the upper deck which they use to shuttle food to the first class travelers broke.  They were considering cancelling the flight.  I’m so thankful that they didn’t.  Who knows when we would get here in that case?!

While we were waiting at the gate, a group of Chinese students (heading back home for a vacation during a break in studies) were seated next to us.  They asked why we were travelling to China.  As soon as they heard we were adopting, they thanked us!  I couldn’t get over it!  Here I feel that their country is the one doing US a great service and they feel the same on their side….anyway, they told us how lucky and unlucky Teagin is.  She’s unlucky because she has no parents, but that she’s becoming VERY lucky because she’ll now have us.  I’ll say it again, it’s Jason and I who are the lucky ones because she’s bringing great joy to our lives!

Thank you to Wendy for pulling out her iPad to play Yatzee!  

Landing in Beijing and passing through customs was pretty much a non-issue.  Standard waiting in line, then moving onto baggage claim.  Same thing there.  We met up with another family from San Diego who had also just landed and was shuttled to the hotel.  

It’s HOT and HUMID here!  I thought Iowa was humid…they’ve got NOTHING on Beijing….and it’s only going to get worse!

Today’s schedule will be incredibly crazy!  Sherry, our guide, was telling us about our day.  Tienanmen Square, Forbidden City, Pearl market, Summer Palace, Tea Ceremony, Silk Museum, Peking Duck Dinner….I was exhausted listening to her describe it all!  And then we come back and relax she says….

Relax???  More like crash and burn!  

Hopefully, I’ll have enough energy to post about our day and also some pics tonight…..hopefully….