Day #2: Bob's Mandarin Speaking Lessons A Bust

Day number two was quite an adventure. Our friends at Holt International set us up to see the Great Wall, eat a Chinese feast, visit an art factory and tour an average home in Beijing. We took a rickshaw through many alleys to a common courtyard house. Within the home, Bob turned to the dear woman who hosted us an asked in Mandarin, "Do you speak any English?" She turned to him confused and then told our interpreter, "Please tell this man I cannot speak English." She thought he WAS speaking in English. When she learned he had just tried to speak Mandarin she laughed and asked, "How can one from American learn to speak Mandarin?"
As we stood on The Great Wall, we could not help but discuss the overwhelming feeling that it was anti-clamactic. Here we were at one of the greatest sites on the globe and we yearned for something else. We have yet to see the site we have come to see, but we are counting down with less than 36 hours until our family meets Autumn.

Off to Holt International orientation where they say they have a surprise for us. Lexi's betting it is a stocked diaper bag which we'll have to trade in for a teenager's lip gloss and flip flops. I'm pulling for a traditional Chinese tea ceremony! Tune in for details.

P.S. Bob did get a pointy hat yesterday! Please feel free to comment on how you think he looks in it!