I think the best way to begin this blog is with a map and the itinerary provided by Bill and a list of who's going.
Flights: Elizabeth A., Kathy L., Art L., Tim S., and Bill T. all flying into Beijing at 9:40 pm on the evening of Friday, May 2 (leaving the States on Thursday, May 1) on NORTHWEST.
Isaac K., Louie K., Sandi K., Vickie P., and Karen R. all flying into Beijing at 1:50 pm on the afternoon of Friday, May 2 (leaving the States on Thursday, May 1) on CONTINENTAL.
Isaac K., Louie K., Sandi K., Vickie P., and Karen R. all flying into Beijing at 1:50 pm on the afternoon of Friday, May 2 (leaving the States on Thursday, May 1) on CONTINENTAL.
Thursday, May 1 – Leave for Beijing!
Friday, May 2 – Arrive in Beijing!
*Saturday, May 3 – Touring, shopping, great fellowship!
*Sunday, May 4 – More touring, shopping, and more great fellowship.
*We will have the privilege of sharing both days with Cai Xi Jing, friend to many of us and the liaison for FAC for families adopting children from the PRC. She is coordinating activities for us to enjoy both days. At this point I believe Saturday will be a tour of the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, and the Hutong neighborhoods. I will check with Cai to see if we might enjoy lunch that day with a family living in the Hutong area. The price Cai had identified for the package will be approximately $35 per person for the entire tour. Sunday, Cai will be heading us out to the Great Wall outside of Beijing proper. I will ask her if we might visit the Badaling section since it is easier to walk then the other section I know several of you have been to. Following this, Cai will assist with some shopping in Beijing (she is wonderful at negotiating prices for anyone interested!. Popular areas to shop include the Pearl Market (Hong Qiao in the pinyin spelling) and the Silk Market. I will ask her if time allows to take us to Wangfujing Street, a special shopping street closed to vehicle traffic just outside of Tiananmen Square (perhaps we can visit there on Saturda since we will be in the area). Following shopping, Cai will join is all for dinner (I hope on Saturday as well) as we visit a nice restaurant outside of the Beijing International Hotel.
Monday, May 5 – Head to Zhao Xian in Hebai Province. Stay overnight at the orphanage.
Our visit to Zhao Xian is to visit an orphanage that Louie and I have worked at in the past. Louie and his son Isaac have had the privilege of working at this facility on two occasions. Our visit will be very special to all, as our plans are to leave our comfortable apartment that evening and spend the day and evening in Zhao Xian (we will have accommodations in the orphanage to sleep). During the day we will be able to visit with the children and workers and spend a part of the day shopping in the city for items to contribute for the children (such as clothes). These children are all unadoptable as they have identified family who are unable or unwilling to care for them. We will get a one bedroom apartment to keep our bags in that evening as we pack a travel bag for our overnight stay in Zhao Xian.
Tuesday, May 6 – Return to Beijing, Visit to the orphanage for our work during the week.
Okay, here is where the translation gets a little weak. From the communications with our contact in China (whose English is good but certainly a little rusty) the name of the community where the orphanage is located is a little hard to interpret. I did a little investigating with an atlas of the Beijing area and here is where I think we are heading (don’t worry…we really are heading to an orphanage to do some work with the children) is called Yanjiao. It is due east of Beijing and seems to be relatively close to the airport. The name of the orphanage director is Tina (English name). She is a former doctor who was inspired to quit the practice so that she could care for special needs children. There is much work to be done at the facility, with a lot of the work needed being helping the volunteers with the children. We also will identify during this first visit what facilities project(s) will need worked on.
Wednesday, May 7 – Work at the orphanage.
Thursday, May 8 – Work at the orphanage.
Friday, May 9 – Work at the orphanage.
Saturday, May 10 – Rest in Beijing, additional shopping, sight-seeing, in general getting ready for the trip back home.
Sunday, May 11 – Return flight home for all but Vicki and Sandi (we will indeed get you accommodations in Beijing for the last days of your trip).
Friday, May 2 – Arrive in Beijing!
*Saturday, May 3 – Touring, shopping, great fellowship!
*Sunday, May 4 – More touring, shopping, and more great fellowship.
*We will have the privilege of sharing both days with Cai Xi Jing, friend to many of us and the liaison for FAC for families adopting children from the PRC. She is coordinating activities for us to enjoy both days. At this point I believe Saturday will be a tour of the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, and the Hutong neighborhoods. I will check with Cai to see if we might enjoy lunch that day with a family living in the Hutong area. The price Cai had identified for the package will be approximately $35 per person for the entire tour. Sunday, Cai will be heading us out to the Great Wall outside of Beijing proper. I will ask her if we might visit the Badaling section since it is easier to walk then the other section I know several of you have been to. Following this, Cai will assist with some shopping in Beijing (she is wonderful at negotiating prices for anyone interested!. Popular areas to shop include the Pearl Market (Hong Qiao in the pinyin spelling) and the Silk Market. I will ask her if time allows to take us to Wangfujing Street, a special shopping street closed to vehicle traffic just outside of Tiananmen Square (perhaps we can visit there on Saturda since we will be in the area). Following shopping, Cai will join is all for dinner (I hope on Saturday as well) as we visit a nice restaurant outside of the Beijing International Hotel.
Monday, May 5 – Head to Zhao Xian in Hebai Province. Stay overnight at the orphanage.
Our visit to Zhao Xian is to visit an orphanage that Louie and I have worked at in the past. Louie and his son Isaac have had the privilege of working at this facility on two occasions. Our visit will be very special to all, as our plans are to leave our comfortable apartment that evening and spend the day and evening in Zhao Xian (we will have accommodations in the orphanage to sleep). During the day we will be able to visit with the children and workers and spend a part of the day shopping in the city for items to contribute for the children (such as clothes). These children are all unadoptable as they have identified family who are unable or unwilling to care for them. We will get a one bedroom apartment to keep our bags in that evening as we pack a travel bag for our overnight stay in Zhao Xian.
Tuesday, May 6 – Return to Beijing, Visit to the orphanage for our work during the week.
Okay, here is where the translation gets a little weak. From the communications with our contact in China (whose English is good but certainly a little rusty) the name of the community where the orphanage is located is a little hard to interpret. I did a little investigating with an atlas of the Beijing area and here is where I think we are heading (don’t worry…we really are heading to an orphanage to do some work with the children) is called Yanjiao. It is due east of Beijing and seems to be relatively close to the airport. The name of the orphanage director is Tina (English name). She is a former doctor who was inspired to quit the practice so that she could care for special needs children. There is much work to be done at the facility, with a lot of the work needed being helping the volunteers with the children. We also will identify during this first visit what facilities project(s) will need worked on.
Wednesday, May 7 – Work at the orphanage.
Thursday, May 8 – Work at the orphanage.
Friday, May 9 – Work at the orphanage.
Saturday, May 10 – Rest in Beijing, additional shopping, sight-seeing, in general getting ready for the trip back home.
Sunday, May 11 – Return flight home for all but Vicki and Sandi (we will indeed get you accommodations in Beijing for the last days of your trip).
Thanks Bill for providing the info for our first post.
