Saturday in the park, it feels like the fourth of July

Early Sunday morning:  Jet lag has hit,  Carolyn, Nate and I are awake in the middle of the night.  I will do some writing. 

Saturday (yesterday) we woke up in Beijing at 5:30.  We packed up and met our guide David at 7 to beat the traffic.  I don't think it worked.  You can't believe the number of cars here, or how close together they are, or the different rhythm of the traffic (that is, everyone cutting in).  And our guide, David, drove like a maniac.  At some points I was sure we were going to hit something, but we got through unscratched.  Mostly I felt oddly at peace. 

We drove down past downtown Beijing and along Tiananmen Square and then David let us out near the Temple of Heaven.  The Temple of Heaven area is like a giant park filled with groups of people who are doing different things, e.g. Tai Chi, dance, yoyo, many different games.  Nate joined several games of hacky sack.  MeiLi tried the yoyos with a group of men.  We wandered there for a couple of hours, then lunch, then to the airport to fly to Kunming.  We arrived at the hotel about 8:30 PM and met a woman in the lobby with a KC Royals t-shirt on.  She was from Overland Park, currently living and working in San Francisco and here on business. 

The above was a very brief description for a lot of activity, so we fell into bed exhausted.  But a travel day doesn't typically give much to write about so I will give a couple of impressions about being back in China. 

Last time being in China seemed strange, this time seems strangely familiar and comfortable.  This is unexpected.  Some things are different.  There is a lot more English on signs, street signs, menus now.  Four years ago there was no hope of figuring anything out.

The Chinese people are very happy and friendly.  Yes, many long stares, but very friendly as soon as you start interacting with them. 

Our adoption agency and travel agency could have done more to prepare us for Kunming.  When we arrived it was cold and raining.  Our guide announced "It's rainy season here, I hope you brought the right clothes and an umbrella."  Well, that news could have been helpful a little earlier.   

Kunming is the largest city I've never heard of, I think about 6.5 million people.  Jet lag ending - I will lay down for a while.  Hoping this makes sense.