Shanghai concert was a success!
All travelers on Eastern Sunrise have arrived in Beijing. The concert in Shanghai was a great success. Everyone is having a wonderful time and the weather has been great!
-Ed McCall
Council Rock High School North
-Ed McCall
Council Rock High School North
posted by Advance Editor at
8:15 AM
53 Comments:
Heard from another mom who heard from her daughter that the kids said Shanghai was smoggy, smelly, and everyone smokes. Food was awful! Now they are in Beijing where the weather is beautiful, city is beautiful, there is a McD's and a Dairy Queen right there - for those that only ate rice for 3 days! Sounds like things are going great.
Well I have to say I heard from my Daughter when she was in Shanghai and she and her friends were having a great time!
Heard from my daughter that she is enjoying Beijing. The hotel is great and there is a little market with all American treats. The air quality is better and the food taster. The days are really packed and by 10pm they are ready for bed checks.
Why would you want McD's and Dairy Queen when you could experience real Chinese food? It sounds like being in China is lost on some of the kids.
Thank you all for taking the time to send reports from our kids.
My daughter wasn't fond of the food in Shanghai, and also ate rice for 3 days.
I'm glad to hear the weather is nice in Beijing. Hopefully, my daughter will have a better experience there.
Heard from the travelers...except my son had no voice!! That happens to him when he's tired so there was no denying it this time! They said that the food hasn't been great but the version of Chinese food is very similar to what we get here in our restaurants. They are off to the Jade factory and I wasn't sure what to ask for...the luggage allowance may determine what they return with. We had a very difficult time staying under 44 pounds for each suitcase.
i don't know if you're aware...going from beijing to united states you can have 50 lbs. 44 is inter-china weight.
My belief was also that you can have a 2 bag allowance on international flights so this would be only good for the kids flying back on continental from Beijing. My daughter took an extra bag in her luggage just in case. Perhaps if permitted, your children could purchase a bag there and bring extra things home.
As of this morning...regarding Wednesday in China:
Good morning, Today has been a lot of bus riding and a few stops. We started by going to the Jade Factory, which was really about shopping at the national store. One of the women had a catalog and thought the prices we're 4 times more. We then ate lunch and then drove in a lot of traffic to the Temple of the Heavens. Because of delays we were there for only 30 minutes. Then we went a a Chinese school, K-8. Our group sang and they sang for us. It was pretty cool. Heading to get pizza, but we will be separate from the kids.
Have not heard from my son in several days :( My guess is that he is having the time of his life.
Hats off to Mr. McCall and the CRNCPA officers for pulling this trip off. It is an experience our son is going to be talking about for a very long time!
Thank you all for passing along information from China. My daughter has a calling card, but called only once for about 1 minute! I'm glad to hear the there's some more options for food. My daughter was even boycotting rice because she's vegetarian & they mixed meat in with the rice. Would like her to experience China in full, but she does need something to give her energy.
Please keep posting updates.
Thanks.
To really experience China, I'd rather give up shopping at the Jade Factory and have more time to explore the giagantic Temple of Heaven
Received a wifi from my daughter ... I love and miss you guys so much!!!! BUT I am having so much fun!! Going to the Great Wall ..
Sounds like the kids are doing really well and sending very positive messages ... as far as the jade factory ... in large cities traffic happens.. just glad they were able to make their appointment at the high school.. thrilled that they were able to meet with children and get a real opportunity to "see" china.. through the people especially in a school setting. An opportunity not afforded tourists.
Thursday's day:
Good Morning, We just finishing walking on the Great Wall. It was simply amazing. It can not be described any other way. I wish you were here. The vastness of the wall, snaking up and down the mountainside, seemingly separate sections, until you realize it follows into the valley and back up. We walked for over an hour "up" and then back to the entrance of the section we are at (Badaling, yes almost like the Sopranos). The chachka sales are everywhere, even on the wall. And there was a mini roller coaster that slid down the mountain at one section and a small gondola at another. The kids are having a blast negotiating for goods (used loosely). They are all well behaved and I think recognizing the significance of the site. Oh, the weather was perfect today especially. We are going to be heading to an acrobat show and then out to dinner.
Wow! That last post was amazing - thank you! My son called last nite - morning for them, and said they are having an incredible time. He LOVED going to the school. Gave them such insight into this country. They are having an incredible experience - I'm thrilled.
Thank you to everone for forwarding updates - for those of us not in contact with our children, it is very interesting (and comforting) DLH
i also appreciate the constant updates. we also have not spoken to our son, so this is our way of being close to him.
We heard from our daughter tonight that everything is going so well! She said she still has not adjusted to the time change and with the 18 hour days full of activities, she is very tired. She loved meeting with the students at the Chinese school. She said the day at the Great Wall was amazing- the best experience of her life! Thank you to Mr. McCall and all the chaperones for making this experience so wonderful!
i can't wait for my brothers to come back so they can tell me what a cool time they had! So far it sounds like they're having a great time. thanks 4 all the updates!!! :)
Mini update from the end of Thursday in China:
Just left the acrobat show. Very good show. Lot's of balancing and gymnastics. Waiting for lead buses to head out. The kids got some sort of special snack from Mr. McCall.
Heard from my sons, China is awesome. Having a great time. Tell them Hi and good job from all the track guys in China!
Ditto all the thank-you's for keeping us 'posted'! I know that no news is good news but I can't wait to get up every morning and look at the new information... seems daughters are better and keeping in touch!
We just finished walking through Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City. It is much colder today, and the tour was much more crowded. So, we did not see the kids much at all. Tiananmen Square was interesting, but really just a big open space. The Forbidden City was huge with many sections used for ceremony, and others for living space for the Emperor. We have a short ride to lunch and then we are separating from the kids. They are going to rehearse and we are doing more sightseeing.
Last bit from Friday, hopefully we'll find out how it went soon:
So, if the kids didn't understand that this is a Communist country, they do now. Their performance tonight may have Chinese dignataries, and they have disallowed two songs: John the Revelator and Elijah Rock. The concert tonight should be exciting.
While it's a shame that they can't sing 2 of their songs - what a valuable lesson it is for them to learn about freedom of speech/expression.
We heard from our son-his mom got to speak to him. It was a 30 second phone call but it was good to hear his voice. I would suspect that they will have a renewed appreciation for what they have.
Heard from my daughter again last night, she is having the time of her life. She commented that all the kids are getting along so well, and as the other posting, The Great Wall was an experience of a lifetime. She was overwhelmed by it. It sounds like all is going so well, I'm so plesed for all the people who spent so much time putting all this together. I THANK YOU ALL!!! I will be very happy to have them come home soon though! Miss them!!!!
More from Shanghai:
Concert was very good. More people came and filled up the theater. The One World One Dream song was received with the most enthusiasm. As I said before, a couple of songs were not permitted, so the Choir took matters into their own hands and sang John the Revelator in the dressing room AFTER the performance ... they were thrilled! Heading to dinner at a Brazilian Steak House.
Amazing...
My daughter also is having a great time in Beijing and calls every morning around 10. She has enjoyed each sightseeing tour. She said the concert was a success but was amazed that the government pulled a few songs from the concert. It is truly a good lesson for the students. We all take our freedom for granted sometimes.
Heard from our son- thought we'd share
Hi mom I'm havin the greatest time of my life its so much fun and I've made so many new friends we saw the forbidden city today it was amazing everything was so big and pretty we had our formal concert today too it was so beautiful and everything we sang was perfect to top it off the whole bejing media came they didn't want to stay to hear the whole concert tho they just wanted a private showing of our choir
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T
How gret was that last post?? They are so proud of themselves. The experience of new friends, hard work and an amazing culture will last a lifetime!
Thanks for sharing!
Heard from my daughter on a regular basis and is having such a great time. Got a little worried when the time of her life in Shanghai was shopping! But when they got to Beijing, it was much better. She is studying China in class and was fascinated to see the Great Wall and all the things she's read about. What an experience! Yes, she said Shanghai food was terrible but Beijing was much better, a beautiful city and so modern. Can't wait to see them home already!!
As they leave Beijing:
Tonight was the farewell dinner and it was a good ending to an excellent trip.. The kids were all in good shape given the length of their day. The only complaint I heard was that they had a short time to shop! Everyone said that the University was a good experience and they enjoyed the singing of thie hosts. We are all heading out in the morning for our long flights home. The trip was clearly a success; it was well planned and executed and will be lasting memory. As with any undertaking this large, the challenges of a demanding group and fatigue from a packed schedule, little annoyances come to the surface for each of us. For some, the food began to prove challenging, others sought downtime, and still more worried about the pace for the kids. Honestly, the kids have held up extremely well. See you soon.
Only 12 hours until they leave China. I'm sorry their adventure is over, but I can't wait for them to get home!
Continental flight #88 left Beijing 8 minutes early and is scheduled to arrive at Newark 15 minutes early (8:15 pm). Hurray!!!
Did anyone hear anything about the air canada flight (flight group 1)?
flightview.com shows Air Canada left Beijing (PEK) at 4:20 (1/2 hour late)and is scheduled to arrive at Vancouver at 12:30 (local).
Flightview.com shows Group #3 (Cathay Pacific - CX840) left Hong Kong ontime and ETA is 10:00 as scheduled.
I went on Continental's website to get info. for Continental's flight. you could also try:
http://travel.flightexplorer.com
DLH
Will they be in school Monday........late night (or is that morning?)!
they are expected to be in school on Monday...there's going to be some exhausted (and hopefully excited and enthusiastic) kids there!
I know they're expected at school, but they'll arrive at the High School 24 - 30 hours after they got up in the (Beijing) morning - will have to see how much sleep they got/get tonight.
My daughter will not only be exhausted, she's expected to take a test (reviewed materials while she was away).
CO88 HAS LANDED - NEWARK INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
http://www.flightstats.com/go/FlightTracker/flightTracker.do?id=122327887&airlineCode=CX&flightNumber=840
This is the link for real time flight tracking of Cathay Pacific 840!
Air Canada landed in Vancouver and the group was racing to get their luggage and check it in for the flight to JFK. My daughter just texted me that they held the flight and our travelers are on board!
My daughter said if she sleeps on the way home and doesn't get sick, she will probably try to go to school at least to 11-12pm, which will be 11-12 in the evening in china. If she can she will try to stay the whole day.
ANY WORD ON A BUS ARRIVAL TIME AT
AT CRHS-N FOR THE CO88 FLIGHT?
My son and wife will roll into CRN on the last bus (Air Canada group) at around 2:30AM. Going to school tomorrow?...if they wake up tomorrow at all it will be for a hearty steak and potatoes dinner we have planned.
I think they all have earned "world travelor" status now.
The Cathay Pacific flight landed at JFK at 10:07. I am so excited that my daughter is home safely. I can't wait to see her and hear all about everything.
My daughter will also be arriving at school around 2:30 A.M., and my intention is to let her sleep comfortably, then relax and chill out.
I think it is unrealistic to think she will have a productive day at school.
Can't wait to see her and hear about her experience.
Air Canada just landed...
Thanks for the flight trakker website. I checked it and saw the Air Canada flight had landed and was able to call my parents and talk to them. They are all off the plane now!
Thanks to EMC, parent volunteers, faculty and students who put so much work into this trip. Your efforts are truly appreciated by everyone. DLH
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