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  • With our bags packed, we set off for Denver International Airport. Between Greeley and Denver, there are many flourishing farms. width:640;;height:434
  • Meghan and Kim carry on conversation as we wait in line to check in for our flight. width:321;;height:480
  • After our red-eye flight, we caught the morning sunrise in Newark. width:640;;height:428
  • Our departing flight was on-time. width:640;;height:428
  • We flew on Continental Airlines. This is our airplane, being prepared for departure. width:640;;height:428
  • Our flight left at about noon. Time of arrival? 1:35pm, the next day. width:640;;height:428
  • Our flight over the north pole. The frozen wasteland is other-worldly. width:640;;height:428
  • Free in-flight GPS allowed us to keep track of our position during the flight. width:640;;height:428
  • Don't worry, it doesn't get THIS cold in Hohhot. :) width:640;;height:428
  • Our home for the next 3 1/2 weeks. We stayed at the Ru Yi Business Hotel, in Haidian district. Very nice accomodations. width:640;;height:428
  • This was our view from outside our hotel room. We lived on the 12th floor. This is a fairly typical view of Beijing. width:640;;height:428
  • In China, hotels typically do not have a 14th floor (instead of 13th in the states). This is because the word for "four" in Chinese sounds similar to the word for "death". width:321;;height:480
  • A sampling of some Chinglish in a local store. Some are more understandable than others. width:640;;height:428
  • Welcome to the Wangfujing district! It is a major shopping area here. width:640;;height:428
  • Some of our team on the Beijing race. We completed a scavenger hunt of sorts, paired with two English speaking students from ELIC present and past. width:640;;height:428
  • The main avenue we walked down in this district. width:640;;height:428
  • As you will likely discover in future pictures, traffic flows in a very different way than in the United States. Here, a taxi drives up onto the sidewalk since there was room there. width:640;;height:428
  • Many women carry umbrellas even when it doesn't rain. These fancier umbrellas serve to keep the sun off their skin. width:321;;height:480
  • Chad, Amy, and their son Caleb in front of the old Catholic church in the district. width:321;;height:480
  • A bride and groom take pictures outside the church. width:640;;height:428
  • We stopped along the way to take a picture as well. width:480;;height:480
  • This picture was taken as an example of how Chinese strangers relate with one another. Generally (but not always), unless some kind of transaction is taking place, it is with indifference. width:640;;height:428
  • A common, and helpful, street sign to keep cars on the right track. width:640;;height:428
  • Clothing is mostly "western" in Beijing. To note, many wear shirts with English written on them, though it is not always grammatically correct. width:321;;height:480
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  • One of many subway entrances in Beijing. There are several lines running through the city, and all the ones we used during our time in Beijing were quite busy. The subway lines are easy to use and very inexpensive. width:321;;height:480
  • Caleb taking a short nap, using a local Chinese woman as a pillow. She did not seem to mind. width:640;;height:428
  • The subway car during a quieter time. Beijing has replaced many cars and most were air conditioned. width:640;;height:428
  • A large electronics market in Beijing. width:640;;height:428
  • Bikes and pedestrians are the norm. Many intersections have bike stoplights along side vehicle stoplights. width:321;;height:480
  • A digital parking sign to inform you of how many empty spaces are available. width:640;;height:428
  • A tree was cut to provide for the stakes for this new tree. This is not unlike what happens in the States, but it is an interesting irony all the same. width:321;;height:480
  • The Christian church in the Haidian district holds several services, one in English. In one service we attended, the church was full. width:640;;height:428
  • A mere misspelling catches the eye of the native English writer. width:640;;height:428
  • We were asked to buy the most unusual drink we could find. We didn't buy it, but it certainly is unusual. Our guides did not think it would taste particular great either. width:640;;height:428
  • Describing traffic in Beijing cannot be done in one sentence; it is very complex. It makes the name of our website make a lot more sense now though. width:640;;height:428
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