I just woke up and I know the day's very early, though I feel well rested. 6 hours of deep sleep was satisfying. It's quite odd to hear Beijing asleep. The carhorns have come to a halt oh wait wait...damn it someone JUST honked their horn. Thanks man. Way to ruin the moment.

Aunt and I woke up around 5. I decided that we should go for a walk. So we walked around the old Great Wall. The morning was cool, still not opening up to the morning sun. The old people of Beijing were already up, ready to do their morning excercises in the square, jogging around in heeled wedge shoes, or setting up for a game of hacky sack...more like a hacky shuttle cock.

After an hour we walked back and decided that today we should ACTUALLY eat before heading out. Below the house a little pancake stand was set up. 3 scallion egg pancake sandwiches, 3 tea hard boiled eggs and two boxes of soymilk was our first legit breakfast in Beijing. Might I mention your typical Beijing breakfast.

The People's Military Museum: Your ultimate children's playground

Admissions into the museum: Free
What you get out of it: Noise...noise...and the screams of children

Flash....lights...lights...lights (It was like a brigade of children paparazzi w/their LCD screened digital camera's)

Children running amok while their parents looked at them with adoration as they frantically took pictures of their little angels. "LOOK AT THE CAMERA!! LOOK AT BABA!! LOOK!!! LOOK!!! SMILE!!! NOW SAY CHEESE!!!"

4 tablets of Tylenol and step on it.

To my brother this was a moment to actually get a look at actual displays of weapons, artillery, military equipment, and the history of the Chinese military. I'm glad we found something for him and that he's enjoying China rather than bitching and moaning the next three weeks.

I wonder (for these native kids/younger generation) what this museum signifies for them. From my perspective I wonder if they entered the museum to really appreciate the importance of this institute. From the looks of this visit and to other sites, people just screw around. If the sign says "Don't make noise" people yell and shout. If the sign says "don't touch the tank." DON'T TOUCH IT! Kids wouldn't stop hugging the gun of the tank. Keep your children on a leash! especially the obese ones. The amount of obesity among children (Chinese television was spot on about this rising issue) is indeed an epidemic. Yeah children won't starve now, but don't stuff them like turkeys. Please. It's not healthy to see a 160 lb pre teen.

Beijing University: THE BIGGEST BLOODY CAMPUS!
Where the hell is Shao Yuan? ghh the Long March begins. Follow the arrow pointing up for the next 30 minutes, ask pedestrians who also have no clue where Shao Yuan is..OH FINALLY. It looked like a washed out post-hurricane hotel, but then after blurting out "C.I.E.E" to security, he pointed to the right.
"OH!! SO YOU'RE SUSAN!" (much correspondence)

I met my Director Tian Yuan and the CIEE staff who are very kind. My Dad later said "they're only nice because they're after your American dollars." Funny Dad.
I then remembered that my friend Chad was here when Tian Yuan mentioned that they were just finishing their summer session. Just so happened he was next door doing eval's. We talked for a bit. It was so pleasant to see a familiar face.

Later that night I was a supposed to chill w/my Uncle Ru who was going to show us around (free food,service, & alcohol) a Chinese '5 star Hotel' courtesy of his friend. That didn't happen. We were ambushed by my parents friends who wouldn't release us until we had dinner with them.