1st Official Day Beijing! June 29

Morning call comes at 7am - morning call is what they call wake up calls here! I was able to sleep until 6am - (most of the group were up at 4am) Woke and dressed, had to dress up because we were meeting with the head of the China Confucius Foundation. Breakfast consisted of pickled veggies, American cheese, bread, dumpling or buns and a fried egg. All eaten with chop sticks!

We had time to walk in the park next to the hotel before going to the meeting. See pictures right.

We were all introduced at the meeting, Dr. Yu introduced me as a "Jolly Woman." It was rather funny! It was a great exchange of our cultures, the purpose was so the Chinese Confucius Foundation could understand the USA culture better, I believe they would like to see Confucius come to the United States. (see picture)







After our meeting we went down stairs in our hotel to have a HUGE welcome banquet! We had many "Gan - bay" (Cheers! Toasts). We ate many Chinese delicacy the most special was TURTLE SOUP! It was shockingly good. Most of the meals we have had so far have been at least 13 different dishes in which you are expected to try all of them. No weight loss here! Everything tastes so good!

After our wonderful and filling banquet, we headed to old historic Beijing where we went to the Drum and Bell Towers. We actually went to the Drum tower where we say several drummers drumming to alert Beijing of the time. These 2 structures were built in 1420 by Ming Yongle emperor. To get to the top you must climb 69 VERY steep stairs... See picture.
We got to the Drum tower by traveling by rickshaw, through the Hutongs. Hutong is a Mongolian word that means narrow streets. Basically the Hutongs are the historic district of Beijing... The government is currently trying to save the 700 or so that are left. That means no 2 story buildings are built in the Hutong area. Hutongs are houses with courtyards in the center with rooms surround it. Hutongs are being torn down and rebuilt with new modern material but will still retain their historic look.

I am going to send pictures of me in the rickshaw with Stonehill College Professor Peter Beisheim. The other pictures to come were taken in the Hutongs...

Ok off to bed it is 12am right now and I have a 630am morning call!