Camp Champions Blog

Success!

This blog is a bit of a melange - a pu pu platter post.  I put it together over three different sessions, so it has a bit of everything.  It starts with some humor, shares an observation, makes fun of our family, shows you a little of Xi'an and has the mandatory cute baby pictures.

Trouble with Translations

Let me be honest.  We are a bit pooped.

We arrived in Xi'an with overly-ambitious plans to do 2-3 things a day.

We are only a week into the trip to Asia, but the contrast between it and the 8 weeks in Europe is becoming clear.

We are on a soft sleeper train from Beijing to Xi’an.

Susie, the girls and I are in one berth while the boys are sharing a room with a baffled Chinese couple who, judging by the looks they are giving the boys, have seen too many films about Western adolescent misbehavior.  Wiley and Liam have tried to wave, smile and nod.  The couple does not wave or smile or nod back.  Instead, they gaze worriedly at the boys while clearly hoping that neither is a gang member.

I hate Liam.

We might need to slow down.  We started the day slow, but finished strong. So strong, in fact, that I fell asleep at the Happy Dragon Cafe "Dumpling Party".  The incredibly helpful and happy staff here told us 5 different times about their free dumpling party during which you make your own and they steam them for you.  Much fun.

Fun until the sleep bomb hit me.

I have long adhered to the view that the best way to beat jet lag is to power through it.  Get up and attack the day as if you are a native.

Our group embraced this challenge as much as they could.

We are in Beijing.  We arrived late (9PM) and only had time to eat dinner and go to bed.  Jet lag, an expected visitor, has greeted me this morning and led me to the lobby of the Happy Dragon Hostel. Here is the reception desk at 5:30AM.