Memories

First and foremost we want to thank our friend Colleen for helping us to
keep this updated, as we are no longer able to view or update.

We know everyone is anxious to meet Sean, but we thought we would let you
know what we are up to as we pass the time in anticipation.

We awoke today at 5 a.m. and wondered what we were doing up so early on one
of our last days to sleep in. Since we were up, we decided to seize the day
in Beijing!

Immediately upon exiting our hotel a flood of memories and a sense of
familiarity swept over us. The once unusual seemed normal. Bikes and
motorbikes weaved in and out of traffic, while small children held on tight
to their parents. Who needs a car seat? The smells of spicy foods, green
teas, cigarettes, and public toilettes seemed aromatic. The taste of fried
rice, which we can’t quite replicate at home no matter how hard we try
(could be the MSG) fills our anxiously awaiting stomaches. Sounds of car
horns, singers, dancing music, karaoke, advertisements projected through
mega phones and a police whistle (blown because Jim was trying to cross the
street “Frogger Style”) filled the air. We quickly adjusted our American concept of personal space, when the touch of bodies on the subway reminded us that the capacity of all enclosed space in China is one more. It’s hard to explain, but it feels like home. Not home in Helena, but our second home, a place we forgot how much we love and miss.

Here are a few highlights:




One of our fondest memories of China is walking through the parks in the
mornings. They are filled with people gathering, exercising (doing Tai
chi), socializing, meditating, stretching, playing games, and gentlemen
taking their birds out for fresh air. This custom is a remainder of the
value of community, spirituality and health.