Day 3 – Sunday, November 20, 2005 – Beijing
jet lag also jet·lag (jet'lag')
n.A temporary disruption of bodily rhythms caused by high-speed travel
across several time zones typically in a jet aircraft.
The hotel wake-up call at 7:45 am wasn't necessary. Lilla was up at
6:30am and instantly asking for food. Ben quickly readied the two of them
and headed down for our favorite crepes. Emma and I soon joined them. A
fussy Lilla was found - especially since the "waterwall" in the
café was not yet turned on for the day. Back to bed was the prescription
for our fussy girl. The concierge helped us determine that the Beijing
International Christian Fellowship held at the 21st Century Theater (service
times 9 am and 11 am) was the closest to our hotel. Some window lobby
shopping for the wakeful Reeder girls quickly filled some time. Wake and
dress Lilla, hail a taxi and off to church we go!
BICF is a large church with people from over 70 countries in attendance.
We sat next to a man from Nigeria on the right and a man living in Australia
but of Singaporean roots on the left. Behind us was an American couple who
shared that they have a 23 year old Korean daughter adopted through Holt
many years ago! Worshiping in another country with people from all over the
globe is the closest we feel to heaven on this earth. Such variety of faces,
languages, cultures, all in one place, all worshiping our Lord and Savior,
Jesus Christ!
A short taxi ride took us to the Pearl Market. The Pearl Market is on the
3rd floor - the 1st floor has many scarves, watches, more scarves and more
watches . . . the second floor has other stuff for sale. With only a little
time left to shop after a quick lunch at KFC (I know - we are eating chicken
- but I think we ate beef in England during the mad cow epidemic too) we had
to choose quickly and only haggle a bit on the price. Some pretty turquoise
bracelets were procured as well as a pair of river pearl earrings with
Chinese symbol post of silver. Many, many more items were available!
Beautiful amber, jade, pearls . . . too many at great prices.
A quick 12 RMB taxi ride back to the hotel for some freshening up and a
few photos from our hotel room windows. It is sunny today in Beijing! We
talked to an American family today that is living in Beijing and they told
us the only drawback for them living here is the air pollution. Today it
seems to have blown away!
Now we're off with our tour guide, Sail, to the acrobatic show. WOW! What
a show! The performers this month are from Sichuan Province. They allow
video and photos during the show - I like China! We sit next to some young
military guys and girls on leave from Korea - we are feeling quite at home
now. J Lilla picks a box of Chinese moon pies (sorry, no RC) for us to eat
during the show. Sail brings us some chips (Lays - American flavor!) and
cokes because he feels badly that our van driver was unable to come to pick
us up due to traffic jams supposedly caused by President Bush's visit in
Beijing today.
Back to the hotel room we go to settle in for the night. A cheese pizza
is ordered from room service. A cheese pizza with mozzarella and blue cheese
arrives. Not what I had in mind. Definitely another learning experience in
the difficulty of communicating in another land with a different language. I
can't keep my eyes open. I nap. I get up to shower and commence this post. I
am afraid to get behind! I am wondering how I will be able to post once we
add Juan Juan (another 2 year old!) to our family and lives. I guess we'll
figure that out when we get to that point. That point is now only 36 hours
away! The excitement is rising! It is hard to sleep. But sleep I must.
Oh - a noise at our hotel door. Wow! What a great group at the front
desk. We forgot to pick up a newspaper today to save for Juan's memory box -
a China paper showing President Bush here today. I phoned down to the front
desk and they were able to find 2 different papers for me and just slipped
them under the door.
Good Night!
Lisa ><>
