Saturday August 15, 2009

We met in the lobby at 7 this morning and headed off to the Summer Palace, the place where the Empress and Emperor would go for relaxation/vacation. It was beautiful and also overwhelmingly huge. I couldn't believe only a couple of people lived there. There was a huge lake in the center of all the bridges and buildings. It was very pretty. Grace then took us to see the Olympic Sites. We had to be ready to eat dinner with the SMIC staff so we couldn't go inside. I was a little disappointed we didn't get to go inside, but she took us into a 7-star hotel and on the top floor we got to see an amazing view of the birds nest (where the opening ceremony was held and the aquatic cube (where Phelps got all his medals). That was neat! They were both so unique looking. The aquatic cube looked like bubbles all around and at night it lights up in multicolors.

The SMIC staff treated us to a really nice buffet at a five star hotel. There were so many different things to try so I tried to try as many things as I could. I even tried star fish. I can't believe tomorrow is our last full day in Beijing. It has gone by so fast, I don't know if I am ready to come home.

No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful.Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it." Hebrews 12:11