DAY 8 – Sat. August 16, 2008
This morning we experienced serious "Vacation Backlash" from the girls! (Shelly, I'm sure you're familiar with this term!) Everything was an issue; the food we had in the apartment, packing for the day, getting along with one another and so on. Truth be told, Jana's patience was short this morning too. Maybe 300 sq. ft. and stuff everywhere is getting to me.
Scott left before us to try and get tickets to other events and test the Subway system. We had hoped to get additional tickets to other events once here but, between the logistical and language challenges, it’s been hard. We’re still trying since we want to get in to the Olympic Green Area, where the Bird's Nest and Water Cube are. If we could only get our hands on tickets for an Athletic (Track & Field) or Swimming event we'd be good to go.
The girls and I finally left the apartment and I was proud for getting us in a taxi and our way to Volleyball. The taxi ride proved to be awful with me constantly “shoosing” the girls, threatening them, taking away the things they were arguing over and shooting them “the look” every few minutes. At one point, I contemplated having the taxi pull over to let them, or me, out but sensibility reigned! The only humor in it all is that the taxi driver couldn't understand anything I was saying to the girls!
My stress level was not helped in any way by the taxi driver looking back at the girls constantly and at one point making some noise and hand gesture that let me know Shelby’s feet must have been kicking the back of his seat. Needless to say, by the time we arrived at Vball and met up with Scott I was done with the girls.
Thankfully, USA won easily in 3 sets and the cheering from all the Americans kept the girls entertained. The other highlight was us being shown on the big screen – maybe you spotted us back home in the States???
Go USA!!! Always fun to sit with other Americans.
Pin trading!!!
The girls ran around outside the venue for a long while between trading pins and chatting with some other US kids we met. And then I made an executive decision to go visit the Hutongs (traditionally alleyways). The alleyways are lined by blank outer walls of “siheyuan”, which are inward-looking houses that are arranged around a central courtyard. Each siheyuan houses several families. We chose to tour the Hou Hai Park area by rickshaws which the girls loved.
Front door of a hutong
Hallways between building
Men playing Mahjong
In front of the Chinese Drum Tower Monument. Still closed because of the "incident".
Scott pedaling a rickshaw
Dinner afterwards, not one of our bests, was followed by an hour of pedaling a boat around the lake. Needless to say, another full day so we headed back to the apartment and all crashed versus trying to head out to an Olympic party or entertainment.
After a LONG day and bad ordering...
Maybe this will make up for a bad dinner. These are 5 small candied apples.
Getting the toilet working in our apartment
Sydney losing her tooth!
Doing laundry in the apartment. The hot water has to be turned off and when the wash cycle is done, we hang the clothes to dry on clotheslines on the enclosed balcony.
Question, will the Tooth Fairy bring Yuan or US Dollars???
21 floors up, our laundry is hanging out to dry!
FUNNY FORTUNE STUFF: The girls are completely enthralled with the Olympic Mascots and have provided hours of entertainment for them!
SEEING THINGS DIFFERENTLY
Pedestrians do not have the right of way here!
DAILY FAVORITES:
Shelby – The pedal boat ride on Lake Hou Hai
Sydney – The pedal boat and navigating
Jana – The rickshaw ride and seeing water
Scott – Rickshaw ride and hutong tour
OLYMPIC UPDATE: We attended the Men’s indoor match against China today. The best news was that Hugh the head coach was back on the sidelines. His wife and her sisters and their mother, who was stable enough to fly home, are back in Minneapolis. Johnson & Johnson along with Hilton and other Olympic sponsors pitched in for a private plane to take the family back. Barbara is supposedly in better spirits being at home now although crushed at the loss of her husband.
The Men’s team won an easy match 3-0 and Shelby and Sydney were both seen on the big screen. Not sure if that will make the NBC broadcast. USA Indoor Men’s finished 1st in their pool and will face an easier opponent in the Quarter Finals. After that anyone can win with Russia, Brazil, and Poland all playing well. Tomorrow we see women’s indoor vs. Poland, women’s beach quarterfinals Young-Branagh at night. On our final day we will see Rogers-Dalhausser play their quarterfinal match before we head to The Philippines.
Lisa & Val, just saw your Scorpion comments! We'll work on it for you. We're still optimistic about a Peking Duck meal for the entire family!
12 comments:
Never though about it, but now I know why they call the little restuarant across the street Rickshaw! Thanks for the little tidbit of info :) Learn something new everyday.
Try running your kids up and down the halls of your apt. Tell them you would like to time they to see which sister is the fastest and hand out Gold medals. After about 10 times, I bet they are too tired to say anything!! It seems to work for us with the dogs. Good luck!
Keep enjoying!!
Oh my gosh. I am overwhelmed. I was just able to access your blog for the first time since I had the wrong address (Lisa Stein sent me the right one). I am thrilled to be a part of your travel experiences, good and bad. I give you and Scott a ton of credit for giving your children this experience. I'm glad to say we're related.
Love to all,
Naomi
I just read your blog for the first time. I had the wrong address, but Lisa Stein saved the day and just sent me the correct one.
I am in awe of you and Scott and the wonderful experiences you are giving your children. I'm thrilled to say I'm related to you.
Love to all. Hope the rest of your trip is great.
Naomi
Jana,
Love the updates. If you haven't tried fried cat you haven't lived. Tell Scott to stick with the weinershcnitzel. Enjoyed your description of the taxi ride with the girls. Some times I love my kids I just want to squeeze them until they say "ouch!"
Keep on trucking and have a great time in the Phillipines
I am enjoying your blog...I have seriously laughed outloud...We started school today, YEA!!! But now no school tomorrow BOO!! as we are under hurricane "Fay watch", it's not even a Cat 1...whatever.
Thinking of you..AJ and gang
Hi Fortune Four!
Hope you are enjoying your trip! It sure sounds interesting as well as challenging! We sure do miss you here at home and are anxious to see you upon your return. GO USA!
Karen and Keith
no vacation is complete without a parent stating.... "don't make me stop this car"
nice that it translates to a cab in china! enjoying your blog!!! - cat
Hello Fortune Four-I left too many messages only to find out none of them went through without a Google account. Thanks God for Karen. Now we can blog away!! For the Girls-I cannot believe that you guys actually met Misty May. She is the best beach volley ball player ever, except for your mom on really good days. That must have been exciting! I have been reading your blogs with great interest. Thanks for the info. It has been great to learn of your trip 1st hand and all that comes with traveling in a country where English is not used too much. Travel safely, K,K,C&S
Hey there Fortune Four - we miss you! I spent the weekend at the USTA tournament in Costa Mesa, our team did not move on to nationals but the competition was great. The boys started school today, when I asked Sam about his first day of Kindergarten he said "it was easy." We've been looking for you at the Vball tournaments, the Brazilian babes just lost to USA on tv. Love the photo of all of you with the signs!
Hope the backlash has blown over, I know it all too well my friend.
So what did the Tooth Fairy bring Syd?
Hey Fortunes-before you leave China, stop by the store. Pick up eggs, flour, vanilla, milk, butter and sugar. Take them home and start baking. There aren't too many people who can say they made Chinese Fortune Cookies. We watched the women's beach volleyball tonight and were looking for you guys. Have a great time. Can't wait to hear all about it. Scott, missed you this past Sat.
I finally can leave comments too. I love reading your blog, feel like we are right there with you, well sort of, minus the fun cab rides. If you see any pj's in China for a special toddler boy, pick them up for me, the bigger boys had them and Elliot would love some too, from China. We have been looking for you on the screen. I've been watching a lot of womens' beach vb. Are you coaching Sydney yet? It's in her blood. Love you guys, enjoy the rest of your trip!
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