I was pumped to get to see Beijing's Olympic Village! I watched for two weeks straight in 2008 during the summer Olympics and lost many good nights sleep wanting to watch the games live vs. on replay! It was so neat to see Bird's Nest and walk inside! They have now turned the stadium into a kind of theme park for kids which looked like a lot of fun!
As we were waiting to get inside, these two boys desperately wanted these kite-like birds a man was selling. Their father kept telling them he didn't have any money. Jake's a softy and bought the two kids the birds then taught them how to use it. Their faces were priceless. They couldn't really figure out how to say "thank you" in English but were familiar with "Merry Christmas"...so they attempted it though it sounded like segmented grunts of happiness- which is a-okay! Naturally, Mom and I started to cry.
A Hallmark moment.
I think he got a little misty-eyed, too. Shhhhhh...
Inside the stadium
Aren't they cute!?!?!
Inside the Water Cube!
Where Michael Phelps won his 8 gold medals!!
Getting ready to eat Peking Duck! It is also called Beijing Duck which is a specialty when visiting this area of China. The restaurant we went to was famous for their duck preparation and grade! It was very nice and yet, we were in sweatshirts.
Our duck's liver...it was good.
The chef hacking our duck at the table
The spread: Duck, Duck kung pow, broccoli and wraps
Our card verifying the health and well being of our duck. We can look up with the duck's ID # and see the duck (alive) and it's surroundings in the days before we ate him. Now, that is true service. I'll be expecting this next time I eat at McDonald's.
Five little ducks...hanging in a row (with their heads still attached).
The service of the duck head cut down the middle. All brains are fair game! I have to laugh at Mom because she ate the eyeball before she knew it was the head. She thought it was just part of the wing. HA! That was a funny moment.
And then this is the welcome in the restrooms.
Hahahahaha!
Hey Jake! This is Cat (Jessica Beethe). Not sure if you remember me from the OC Design Department but, Hi.
ReplyDeleteStrange how life works out. Keegan and I are moving to Incheon South, Kora to teach for a year.
We'd love to get in touch to talk about what you guys went through before departure from the states and after. Also, it would be fun to have someone we know where we're going.
Email me, if you don't mind. I don't use Blogger. Just make the account to talk to ya.
jmbeethe@gmail.com
Hope all is well.
Jess