Grace takes off to China

Grace and her friend Maelin say goodbye to us as we leave SF International Airport.  Grace is readying herself for a 14 hour flight to Beijing.  Traveling with her are about 58 other 8th grade students from Alice Fong Yu School, 20 parents and about 6 teachers.  This has been an annual cultural exchange program for about 12 years, so the organizers have it down.  Her red suitcase is full, and as you can see, her backpack is packed to the gills.

In Beijing they will see Tiananmen Square, The Forbidden City, visit the Great Wall, and the Confucius Institute.
Then on to Hangzhou to visit a silk factory and a tea plantation. Then on to the world famous West Lake which inspired centuries of Chinese poets.
They will go to Xian where they will stay with host families and attend school for 4 days and visit the famous Army of Terra Cotta Soldiers.
Then to Zhongshan to visit the Sun Yat Sun memorial garden and Ningnan water town, and QiJiang Garden.
Last stop Guangzhou, where Grace was born, for a city tour.
Lots of food and shopping in between.
Home on Thursday, March 29.