We've made it safely to Beijing, and so far, we are having a wonderful adventure. Our flight went smoothly, although it seemed to be never ending. Even I was getting frustrated with my own responses to the children's continuous questions of, "How much longer?" Fortunately, we managed to occupy our time with card games, video games, movies, reading, and some sleep. By the time we landed in Beijing, we were all very ready to be here. We were greeted by overcast rainy weather. After we got our bags and were met by our guides, we headed to the bus. Our guide Lily gave us a very nice welcome speech. She told us that when we are in crowds, we should look for her special "flag" that is actually a Papa Smurf stuffed animal! During our hour long bus ride from the airport to our hotel, many of the children fell asleep and weren't happy to be woken up upon arrival at the hotel. After a quick moment to refresh in our hotel rooms, we went across the street for a delicious dinner. We were happy the restaurant was close as it is still raining and chilly. Tonight is an early night to catch up on rest before our busy day tomorrow beginning at the Great Wall.
*In 2020, the International School of the Peninsula (ISTP) formally changed its name to Silicon Valley International School (INTL) to better reflect its bilingual programs, location, and international values.
