It's hard to believe I have been here a week already (almost)

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So, I tried to keep this rather short, but I could go on for about another five pages, I willspare you. I am doing my best at the photos! You will see some soon, I have just not hadany time to sit in front of a computer to write.Hope you are doing well and talk to you soon.-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Ni Hao!Well, it has been a while since I have had the chance to sit at a computer we have been sobusy doing, well so many different things.I am not sure where I would even begin to tell you what we have been doing, but that iswhat the blog is for, which we have been trying EVER so hard to keep up on, but eventhat has fallen behind.I am now in Beijing! We got here the other day via the overnight train from Shanghai,and for the most part it was a smooth ride. It was strange leaving Shanghai because for amoment it felt like our time here was over because out group study exchange in Shanghaiis officially finished having to say our goodbyes, but then we remembered we still havetwo weeks left!Once arriving here on the morning of the 14th, we quickly hit the town and a few of usvisited Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City and the Temple of Heaven. It is alwaysamazing when you know a little bit about the city and when you arrive it is magical tofinally be in that place. I just read Red China Blues before arriving about aCanadian/Chinese that came to Beijing during the Cultural Revolution to study Mo aZedong and continued to be a journalist through the 80’s and documented the TiananmenSquare Massacre in 1989. I can’t even imagine what it was like. But always to stand aplace where such history takes blow me away.As for food, because I know that is always important, especially here in China. Tonightwe went to a famous Peking Duck restaurant, which was unbelievable, and well I triedduck tongue, um duck feet and of course the most delicious Peking Duck. It was a specialoccasion.Speaking of food, going backward, last week we had the opportunity to visit an AIDSVillage in Hanan Province. Before going into the experience just yet, I did try intestine ofsome sort of animal. Can’t say I loved it or I will plan to learn how to cook it, but I did itonly because I was pressured into it. As for the AIDS village itself it was an experiencewith mixed emotions. This was the first time we had the chance to get out of Shanghaiand see real China. When we got off the bus we were greeted by drums, flowers,hundreds of school children lined up for a ground breaking experience of a primaryschool that is being built. The people were amazing and so photogenic, I could havespend hours just photographing the people, young and old.
As for the rest of the experience it was very emotional and quite sad. It makes youwonder what can you do to help these people. Sometimes you feel they are happy, butother times you know there is so much more for them.Anyway, moving on, trying to keep this as short as possible, we are only days away fromthe Great Wall Marathon and we are all a little nervous, mainly because in the last 3weeks we have had very little opportunity to run or do exercise of ANY sort. All I cansay is, I am not running for the time, only to finish. On the morning of the 17th we headout to the Village for inspection day. I think this is mainly to let us know that we arecrazy for making this decision and to show us what we have in store for us!I hope everyone is doing well and as soon as I have time to breathe (probably sometimein late June), we will be able to catch up on life and everything else!Take care,MelanieHey there,I hope all is going well!! I haven't been very great on keeping up to date on this trip...but..Well, it seems like AGES ago, but I finished my first 1/2 marathon at the Great WallMarathon in my goal time.. of 2 hours and 58 minutes!http://www.great-wall-marathon.com/ - I finished 18th of 38people in the women of myage group. Ryan finished 7 of 30 in his age group for the half and Megan finished 8th of18 in her age group for the full marathon. It was an awesome weekend in a little village,we enjoyed blue skies (which is rare) and had very REAL China experiences.Now I am in Xi'an hanging out checking out the sites and having the chance to visit a fewi-to-i projects. Terracotta Warriors were just phenomenal, we visited the Panda projects,Ryan got scratched by one of them, and now it is just Amy and I still here, everyone elsefrom the GSE group is back in the USA. Today we visited an orphanage and aUniversity and primary school. Everyone has been awesome.Hope all is well and I will be back in the USA on Sunday!!Melanie
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Page 5 and 6: Background10 May 2007 is a signific
Page 7 and 8: Our overseas friends ….At 8:40am,
Page 9 and 10: The groundbreaking ceremony starts
Page 11 and 12: Speeches from Huaqiao FoundationSpe
Page 13 and 14: Speech from Rotary InternationalMs
Page 15: News in Henan newspapersNews of the

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