Finally… my first post from Beijing.  I am sitting in the office of our 17th floor apartment while the firecrackers exploding outside are literally hitting the glass.  No kidding.  They have been going off since we arrived (Chinese New Year!) with no signs of stopping.

After just two days in Beijing it already feels like we’re settling in.  The 14 hour flight was uneventful, but wonderful thanks to Lew Winslow for making sure we had great seats.  We landed at 5:30am yesterday and hit the ground running… only now finally stopping to catch our breath.  The girls were both so tuckered out today; feeling like they’d been dragged halfway around the world.  A few hours ago Cece took her “Worst Case Scenario Survival Handbook” book to bed to read for a bit.  She last 5 minutes before she was sound asleep, fully dressed.  Elle made it about 5 minutes longer.  I’m hoping that tonight they will both sleep through the night and conquer the jet lag that had them (and me) up most of last night.

First: the new Beijing airport is extraordinary… efficient, modern, flawless, and just the nicest arrival into China ever (of course, arriving anywhere at 5:30am is generally peaceful and flawless).  We were out of there before we knew it, pulling into the gates of Renmin by 7:30am and shopping for basics at the neighborhood equivalent of a super store by 8:30am.  This thanks to Julie, a wonderful student here who has helped us immensely these last two days, and whom  I suspect will spend a lot of time with us.  The girls both adore her and she couldn’t be any more delightful to be around: very eager to help us and so kind and patient with our endless questions.  Yesterday while we scurried around the super store getting everything imaginable to “set up house” she remarked that we were like college freshmen settling into our dorm room.  It does feel like that.

I hadn’t planned on so much “setting up house” but the apartment came with furniture and nothing else so we’ve had to do a mad dash to get settled.  That said, it’s really a fine apartment, and actually larger than I anticipated.  Two nice bedrooms at opposite ends, a living/dining area, enclosed patio, plus an office.  The kitchen is teeny and has only a microwave and hotplate, and so, as we expected, I don’t think we’ll be cooking here.  Plus, Renmin is still on holiday which means it will be another week or so before we eat in the cafeteria.  So for now, we’re hitting the local restaurants and eating really well.  I have to admit though, that this morning Art did a McDonalds run for the girls’ pancakes and hash browns and our coffee (NOT something we will make a habit of, but this is the vacation phase of the trip so why not).

I should note that as I type this the fireworks REALLY show no signs of stopping.  This phase has been, so far, about a 4 hour grand finale.  And Art has gone back downstairs and outside to be in the thick of it all… while I keep opening the window to try to photograph it… and then I get too cold…

It’s freezing here.  I knew it would be.  Still, I’m shocked by the cold and how chilled to the bone I get when we’re outside.  Really wish I’d brought long underwear.  Also surprised by the bicycles everywhere.  Not just because there are so many, but because they all (mostly) appear to not have been ridden for years… like old, dusty movie props…

I would show you what I mean, but I can’t seem to load any pictures right now.  Our internet connection is funny in this way… sort of half-speed internet.

But we are well and good and happy.  And tomorrow has been reserved for sightseeing only.  We promised the girls there would be no shopping, no logistics.

Zaijian