2011 US/China/HK Exchange Program Complete!

We have returned home, minus a few bags, but everything was on time! Thanks to all the parents, students, teachers, and principals that made this trip happen, it was truely a once in a lifetime trip!...and now back to the real world....

We have arrived in Detroit, flight into Lexington is ON TIME!!

Day 10...Final Full Day in Hong Kong

Another wonderful 70 Degree humid day here in Hong Kong! We started the day with Lunch at the Gold Coast, we followed lunch with a school visit to a primary school in the area. After the school visit we closed the day with a farewell ceremony @ CSBS Mrs. Aw Boon Haw Secondary School. I have to say that these two weeks have completely flown by, and as always Stephen and his staff have provided us with a once in a lifetime trip/experience. This was one of the youngest groups that we have ever brought over to Hong Kong and this is quite possibly the first time in six years that we have even brought over middle school aged students, and I have to say this trip (knock on wood) has been the smoothest that I have ever been on! The kids have been wonderful, they have made many new friends here in HK, tried every food imaginable, and have been exposed first hand to a culture that was brand new to them! While after many photos and non stop touring the students never complained and just soaked everything in...for the parents that are reading the blog..keep doing what you are doing because your children are definitely first class (I just wish that meant we could fly in first class tomorrow)! They will have many gifts, photos, and stories to bring back to everyone. Thanks to everyone for making this trip a possibility...now on to bed...we have to report to the school at 5:15 AM tomorrow morning for our trip to the airport. Please keep your fingers crossed that the flights will run smooth and be ON TIME! I will make sure that everyone calls home from Detroit to let everyone know if we will be in at our scheduled time, thanks again....cant wait to see everyone at the airport tomorrow! Good Night World!



Check out the bamboo scaffolding..these folks are dare devils...no harnesses!



Distinguished Guests :)



Jacob Presenting to the school (I think he has a future in public speaking, he is the best of the group in speaking in front of a crowd!)



Logan and one of the students his family hosted this year!

Day 9 Lan Tau Island

On our next to last full day we traveled to Lan Tau Island to see the big Buddha, I have to admit that personally this is one of my favorite places on earth. We took a bus from school to the ngong ping 360 which took us directly to the big Buddha (if you want to check it out go to www.np360.com.hk ). This was the first time in my three visits to Hong Kong that we were able to take the Crystal Cable Cart (glass bottomed sky lift), it was definately a trip to remember! While we have a few members that arent feeling so well, the group in general has had a complete blast, we should all have no problem sleeping and eating any food that is put in front of us when we return on Saturday. Tomorrow is our last full day here in Hong Kong and we are going on two school visits and we are also having our farewell party. We are scheduled to report Saturday morning to the school at 5:15 AM to leave for the airport...while it is great that we will be home around 3 PM (fingers crossed) we are not going to have much sleep tomorrow night, I will post one more time before our return to the good ol' USA...time has really gone quickly here in Asia...good night world!



The Big Buddha



Group Shot at the base of Buddha



On the way back home...



Scott recreating our expressions on the trip on the sky lift...

Day 8

Today we went on a school visit in Beijing where we stayed for about two hours and were able to enjoy some good conversation and a basketball game with the Beijing School Kids. After the school visit we headed to lunch and then to a visit to the Chinese History Museum (sorry I didnt take any pics). After our visit to the museum we headed to the Beijing Airport where we caught our flight back to another city in China close to the boarder....and then we went back through customs. Tonight it was a very late night (as I am writing it is 2:20 AM). Tomorrow we will be headed to another great day trip...this time to Lan Tau Island (via the Crystal Cable Cars over the Ocean) and a visit to the "Big Buddha"...stay tuned!



Beijing School Visit..SC artwork provided by Scott...



You can see a little of basketball game below...but look in backgroud..we had a large crowd!



Group Picture before leaving Beijing School!

Day 7 Additional Pictures

Me @ the Great Wall..



Picture of the Great Wall



Group picture @ The Great Wall



Dean and Jacob taking a break from hiking up the Great Wall



Logan after making it back down from the top...Logan and Scott were the only to from the US group to make it all the way up!



Picture of the vendors @ Snack Street



Ummm Scorpion anyone?



Logan about to enjoy some scorpion...

Day 7 and The Great Wall

Today was quite possibly the one of the best days of the trip! The day started with a trip to the Cloisonné Factory (the kids and myself got some great gifts btw), then the Great Wall, Lunch, another shopping trip to Wangfujing Street followed by dinner and an unforgettable trip to “snacks street”. Only Scott and Logan were able to claim the ultimate prize of getting to the top of the Great Wall (Scott actually went all the way over the mountain). BTW our unforgettable trip to “snacks street” incorporated people in our group eating star fish, scorpion, squid, octopus, fried milk, and finally and most importantly….sheep penis (I’ll let those that chose to eat this explain their reasoning to you on their own….)….Please enjoy the pictures following. Tomorrow we will be checking out of our hotel, visiting a Beijing School and having lunch and then visiting a museum before we board the plane to head back to Hong Kong (the plane doesn’t leave Beijing until 6PM so there is a good chance that we will not be back in our host family houses until at least midnight..so if you don’t hear from your children tomorrow night…no worries)....Good Night World...



Our Beijing Hotel...this was truly a first class trip!!



Group Shot at the Great Wall



Maggie, Scott, and Sarah in costume



"Snack Street" Goodies



Sarah enjoying some Starfish..she was quite daring...

Ok…So I guess after 50 attempts I am going to have to admit defeat at the hands of the Chinese Censorship…so pictures will be up tomorrow night (HK Time)

Day 6

Well today plans changed just a bit..most in part to my visit to the Chinese Emergency Room due to some Kidney Stones (still unsure which was worse the Kidney Stones or the sanitary conditions of the hospital). While we were supposed to be going to the Great Wall the coordinator changed plans because I wasn’t going to be able to leave the hotel room today and the students and the Assistant Commissioner Scott Fields headed out to the Tian’amen Square and the Forbidden City in the morning. After lunch the group went on a world wind tour of the Military Museum of the Chinese People’s Revolution, Peking University, Tsinghua University, Dr. Tea’s (largest tea house in Beijing), Bird’s Nest and Water Cube (Olympic Game Venue’s)…and then another late night dinner. Below are some pictures of the day’s events..Tomorrow morning we will head out for our visit to the Great Wall!



Tian'anmen Square with the Forbidden City in the background



Group Shot at the Forbidden City Execution Site



Cameron, Logan, Maggie, and Sarah at the Imperial Gardens



Dinner time!



Coach Fields the Assistant Commish getting some Chinese Military Secrets..

Day 5...We have arrived in China!!

We have arrived!!! That is the good thing, bad thing is both facebook..and this blogger site is blocked, I have found a way around the block but time is limited..:( Today was another busy day, we crossed the border, boarded a plane, arrived in Beijing and then began our tour...the day ended with a unbelievable night at the the Chinese Acrobatic Show...Keep your fingers crossed this works:) Tomorrow we will be headed to a once in a lifetime trip to the Great Wall and the agenda is full of many more items...Stay Tuned, for now Good Night World....



Before boarding the plane to Beijing..



We were all able to ride around in style for a bit!



Logan, Sarah, Maggie, and Jacob at the Porcelain Museum



Chinese Acrobatic Show, Great Night!



Crazy good balance...

Day 4 Evening Ocean Park

After the leadership camp we boarded the bus and headed to Ocean Park for an after noon of fun. I have to say this is one interesting theme park (it had rides, a zoo, and an aquarium), as you can see in the pictures you enter the theme park and then have to travel over several mountains to get to the actual rides via a skylift. Here in HK this theme park is actually more popular than Disney World (which they also have in HK), the owner has recently put millions of dollars in the park that now includes the building of a new super coaster and panda bears. The park was VERY crowded but the kids had a blast...now on to some sleep as we are waking up early and headed across the boarder to catch a flight to Beijing..it sounds as if we will have internet access in our hotel..but keep your fingers crossed for us..and cheer on the CATS for us as we will be in the air for the game :( Take Care!!



Ocean Park (see the sky lift in the background?)



View of Ocean Park from the sky lift



As you can see the crowd was LARGE...



The pictures dont do this place justice...great views everywhere!



Maggie, Logan, and Cameron after being dropped in The Abyss...

Day 3 Evening and Day 4 Morning...Start of Leadership Camp

After a very busy day..we sat down for about five minutes and then headed out in two charter buses with our students, students from Mrs. Aw Boon, and students from China to a Leadership Camp...here are some pictures of the camp....I have to say I am quite impressed with how our students are meshing with all of the other kids..as you will see in this camp they are soaking up endless amounts of Chinese Culture!



Our delicous dinner..



Logan @ Dinner



Scott eating a fish eye..and Dean watching in with amazement/horror...



Sarah and Maggie playing at the Park...



Logan and Cameron teaming up for some Badminton..



Maggie recieved a Camp Award for her Leadership in her Group!!



Parachute Game



Logan and Cameron with some new friends



Group Shot



Maggie...a champ, and eating more Chinese food than I ever imagined!