10 things I am Grateful for in China

• Bicycles. I never ever in my whole life thought I would be grateful for bikes. WAB is a huge school that takes forever to walk around. I am so grateful for the complimentary bicycles scattered all around the school.

• That the Olympics are over! As wonderful as they were, I am looking forward to moving into my new apartment on Saturday. I am also glad of no more firework displays that shake the house and wake the children.
  
• My Ayi has finally made up her mind! My Ayi (home help) decided that the hours we wanted her to work were not the hours she wanted to work. To cut a long story short - lots of negotiations between her and us and a translator (even though she apparently speaks English) ..... finally it is all sorted. She starts Monday - YAY
  
• I saw the Great Wall! Words can not express how amazing it is. Mind you ask the girls and the highlight of the trip was the toboggan down.
  
  
  
• That the girls are happy! They have made some awesome friends and they seem to like the lifestyle in China - especially the park across the road and the balls on the lake.




• FRUIT!!!!! The fruit here is delicious and cheap - we are all peached out this week.
  
  
• I got to see at least one Olympic Event! Paul went to the Soccer, and the Volleyball, but the highlight was the Women's Basketball Final - yes we lost, but it was still such a fun night!
  
  
• My husband is not shy! At the basketball wore his green and gold wig and his Australian flag as a cape. He then had to pose for at least 40 photos with complete strangers. He complained that at times he was surrounded by people but I know he secretly loved it!

• I can buy Aussie products. I bought Sanitarium Ceral last week - it did cost me $7 a box, but it was worth it! In fact I have been generally pleased with the shopping and there seems o be a good mix of Aussie and American products. Meat here is not so good, but I will not start on that little saga except to say - slabs of cement, no refridgeration and breathe through your mouth!
  

• Claudia likes to use squatty potties!!!!!!!!! Amazing, one out of the 4 of us likes it. For me it is still a lesson in balance and holding one's breath. It is surprising how long I can hold on when I have to.
  

Beijing - Day One

We have now been in China for one full week. Olympic fever is everywhere even in the Ciempka house. As I sit here Paul and Emily are at the volleyball and it feels like we have been here for months!

I have finally worked my new computer out and got round to editing my latest shots. These shots are taken on our first day in China.

We decided to go into the Olympic area and see if we could "pick" up some tickets to anything. How silly we were - there is no way to purchase tickets at the venues (unless you buy from scalpers and pay a fortune). It is all done online or in bars. Anyway it still was a great day. We got to ride the subway, see a bit of China and more importantly we were able to take a bus trip through the Olympic venues and precinct.

I am not the sort of person who get excited by buildings but the Bird's Nest and Swimming cube are amazing!

Ni Hao from Beijing

I know I need to change my title, but I haven't had time to create a new header, actually I haven't taken any shots that would work either.

Well we are here in the land of the Olympics or as the Chinese call themselves, the Middle Kingdom. My first impressions are that of an incredibly busy, exciting, clean and green city. Very different from my ideas before coming here.

Beijing is GREEN - it is as green as any city I have seen in Australia. Everywhere you look there are trees, gardens and enormous parks. The parks here are amazing. We have one across the road that is so full of things to do. It is always busy with people out enjoying life. People doing Tai Chi, playing ping pong, badmington, climbing rock walls, having picnics or just walking.

I need to leave it here for now, but will try to load some images tonight.