Our Last Day in China!

(This post was originally written on August 1st, our last night in China. However, we weren't able to post this until we returned home.)

None of us can believe it's our last night in China! This trip went by way too fast for all of us.

This morning our train arrived in Beijing around 7:15. (Note to self: book a later train next time. Waking up at 6:30 is not fun.) We had breakfast at a Western-style restaurant called "Grandma's Kitchen." They served delicious food, including waffles and omelets. They also had free wireless internet, and all of the girls with iPod touches were able to check email and update Myspace statuses.

We did some last minute shopping at the Silk Alley, a market famous for intense bargaining and cheap prices. Since it's August now, we all had back-to-school clothing in mind, and now we don't know how we're going to fit our new Ugg boots and Seven jeans into our suitcases. Ah well, that's what carry-on luggage is for...

After shopping, we checked in at the beautiful Beijing Oriental Culture Hotel, located pretty close to the Super 8 we stayed at last time. We split up after checking in--some of the girls wanted to catch up on sleep and grab some last minute gifts, and some of the girls wanted to swim at the Water Cube.

Those who went to the Water Cube had a great time! The lines to enter the swimming area were fairly short, and we got in without a problem, thanks to our guide Li Bing. It was amazing to swim laps in the same water that Michael Phelps was in a year ago! (Ok, so it was the practice pool, but still...!) We even smuggled a swim cap full of pool water into the locker room to fill small bottles with. Now the girls who didn't go to the Water Cube have their own souvenirs--
"Phelps water," as we've decided to call it. We were all really happy to finally swim in the Water Cube.

Once we got back to the hotel, it began to pour. The thunder and lightning came so close to our hotel that we could actually feel ourselves shaking in the lobby! Being Seattleites, we braved the wind and rain and walked to a nearby noodle restaurant. We all marveled at the fact that we could have a heaping plate of stir-fried beef noodles for 12 RMB (a little under $2.00.)

This concludes our last full day in China! Tomorrow we fly out of Beijing at noon, and we arrive in Seattle in the afternoon on the same day. We all miss our families, but we're going to miss China, as well. Not only have we experienced an extraordinary two and a half weeks, we've also made lifelong memories and forged new friendships. Working in the orphanages and foster homes was truly unforgettable, and we're grateful to have met the wonderful people who provide a home for China's orphans. We may have only spent seventeen days here, but this is a trip that we'll all remember for the rest of our lives.

Thank you so much for reading. Zai jian!

FCC-NW Teens