The day began with a wake-up call at 6:30. As the clocks were set slightly differently in each hotel room, boys came to the lobby to meet the chaperons and tour guides at slightly different versions of 7 am. We proceeded up the majestic winding staircase to the second floor for a sumptuous breakfast buffet feast. I don;t think there was one boy (or chaperon) who wasn't thrilled by the myriad offerings. Sections of the very large dining room were organized into world regions. Jessie had congee with a variety of pickled things. Jackson was very excited to find two varieties of tofu, one in a dark broth and other in strips. There were a variety of eggs, hot and cold cereals, meats,dried, poached and fresh fruit. I had dragon fruit but was so very happy to find a cappuchino maker and all the adults became fully coffined. There was English tea for Tut, donuts, pastries...really the books talked about it for the whole bus ride to Tienanmen Square. We got to the Square and heard about its role in Chinese history and society today. We had the boys clump up and hold the lettered signs Jessie made and Nicholas held in his backpack. All boys have a job which comes into play at some point in the trip. Nicholas was slightly busy with some passing over and returning letters...not too much work as is true for all the jobs Short, sweet and helpful..as we all strive to be. Jessie or I attempted to photograph as many students as we could at the entrance to the Forbidden City with the mural of Chairman Mao smiling before us. Guards lined the bridge over a frozen river and we began our long walk in bitter cold through the Forbidden City. Courtyard after courtyard, historical details abounded. Simona, our Romanian tour guide who accompanies us throughout our stay in China had the boys do some physical warm ups and Kung Fu to keep the blood moving. We stopped and took documentary photos as time allowed.
Back to the bus for a brief ride to the old section of Beijing-the Hutong. Because we were going to have lunch in two groups, we divided the boys into two groups of 12 and buddied the boys up with their assigned buddy for a 10 minute rickshaw ride through the neighborhood to the house where we would have lunch One group made and ate dumplings. The other group made dumplings then laid them on the table. No comment. Back to the rickshaws for a different route back along the river. This was quite entertaining as we passed a number of bars (my favorite was called Smoke and Liquor) and people engaged on the ice. The ice looked like a frozen blast. People were on "ice chairs." Two to a chair, they pushed themselves across the ice with long sticks and glided down the expanse of the river. Others were ice-fishing in a more empty section. And all along the river, rickshaws, and pedestrians and tiny vehicles or carts crowded through the narrow ancient cobblestone streets. Laundry hung from lines, vendors called their wares and the boys snuggled into the warm blankets provided by the peddling drivers. I rode with Ms. Huang and she chatted and filled me in on many of the details which might be unknown to the average tourist. The top end of the wooden post of some homes was painted a deep indigo blue. The number of posts indicated governmental ranking. We learned where the "beautiful people" partied and about the history of the area. It was equally freezing and fascinating.
On to the Tea Ceremony where we were ushered into a private room. Tiny ceramic trays were in front of each boy. Two cups rested on the tray-a cylindrical one-the smelling cup- which focuses the fragrance and the drinking cup. It was fun to watch the boys place the cylindrical smelling cup into the rounded drinking cup, hold them together with thumb and forefinger and flip them around. Three sips for the first tea a Ginseng Oolong which supposedly helps with digestion, strengthens kidneys and increases energy. Boys were wold the first sip was for life, the second sip for happiness and the third for luck. The second tea served was a fragrant jasmine which brightens the eyes and strengthens the liver. This could be sipped as desired. The third, a compressed black tea was called Pu'Er and was supposed to reduce blood pressure, fight diabetes, reduce cholesterol and help one lose weight-quite a job for one tea! Boys enjoyed the Litchi black tea which was mixed with rose petals. This tea improves circulation and helps prevent anemia. The final tea was a Fruit tea- supposed to prevent aging-interesting how they liked the flavor but not its function..There were mugs that changed when hot liquid filled them. Every time I go to a tea ceremony I love watching their faces change from mild disinterest to fascination. These were a popular gift. Act surprised please, if one comes to your kitchen. Perhaps the biggest hit among our adolescents was the pee-pee boy-a ceramic boy who, when placed in the proper temperature water, and removed will squirt a stream. Again no comment. You get a pee-pee boy if you purchase anything...
From there we got back on the bus and went to the "Pearl Market", which, in addition to pearls had four floors of goods that were designed to be bargained for with the numerous vendors. Boys began in Mandarin but quickly realized that the calculator the vendors all had was the best tool. As we were in groups of 4 it was easy t navigate around and find things. Headphones were very popular and boys all paid different prices for the same knock-offs. Some"Rolexes" were bought for a song, which may be how long they last... but the boys were buzzing with excitement. It was fun to see them learn the ways of the market More experienced buyers such as Justin helped the newbies. As he wasn't in my group, I helped the boys with my New York experience-always buy the best you can and pay as little as possible in the process...and be willing to walk away. Don't bargain if you don't want to purchase.
From the market we went for our Peking (Beijing) duck dinner. After about a dozen courses, they carved the duck and brought the slices to the table. A woman showed us how to assemble the pancake, hoison sauce, scallions, cucumber ad duck and roll them into a neat package. The important thing, the boys discovered, is that appearance has little to do with the taster's enjoyment. Boys are picking up the Chinese conventions about waiting to begin eating after the oldest person at the table begins, taking a percentage of what s available and passing he center turntable in a clockwise direction slowly.
Back to the hotel for some free time fun in rooms and lights out at 9:30. Tomorrow-The Great Wall, Temple of Heaven, a fab breakfast to be sure and possibly a return to the Pearl Market. Because you can't have enough adventure when you're on the other side of the world. Already their worlds have expanded and it is a joy to be a part of it all.-h2
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