Well, I guess it's been a month and a half. What an experience! I have told many of our experiences to some friends and family, so this may be a repeat for some, but I thought that I would just write things down anyway, and you can skip it if you already know. We had the best time with our family this summer. What a perfect way to start off the trip of a lifetime. Some highlights were hiking to Timpanogas Cave with Grandma Nick (yes, she made it and we didn't even have to carry her!), our annual trip to Lagoon with the Russon Family, the big Centerville 4th of July race( family from both sides joined and it was a blast!). Even many of the grandchildren from the Nichols' family ran. I wonder if Grandma Nichols remembers telling the kids she'd run the 5 k next year with them. They do! Mom and Dad Russon put together a "reunion" with the Gibb and Russon families. It was so great to see everyone! We really loved every minute of our stay! Thank you!
When it was time to head out to China, Jay's passport had a glitch, so we were delayed. Luckily, we were able to have a small family vacation in San Fransisco on Ford's bill for 4 days before we got on the plane for China. We had such a great time. We stayed right down in the Fisherman's Warf area of town and could walk anywhere. The kids thought the Ripley's Believe it or Not was great. I loved the food. We went to the beachone day and saw the giant redwoods another. We finally made it to the airport with all of our 12 huge rolling suitcases and dufflebags and 7 backpacks, and even had all of our passports, visas and tickets on Sunday July 11th.
We felt pretty cool cause we saw Yao Ming, the famous Chinese basketball star at the airport, and he rode in our plane. (not next to us)
Our first taste of China was to be in the Beijing Airport where we had a 5 hour layover. We were maybe as popular as Yao Ming! There was a group of at least 30 people gathered around us with their spokesperson (who knew a little English) asking us questions and wanting pictures with their children and ours. We are quite the spectacle in China. Is it our family size, that we are westerners, Mike's height, or the red and blond hair??? Who knows?
Nanjing is a wonderful city. It has a population about the size of Chicago. There are many things to do and see. We live in a nice compound close to the school. Mike's office is at the Sharaton Hotel until next year, when they move to a new building. It is hot, hot, hot, and don't forget humid here. There is never a dull moment as there are so many interesting things to see.
