We've had internet difficulties so Tom Taylor and I have decided to combine our efforts.  His nightly email summary is now included as my blog commentary....

Yesterday we left Wuxi and headed for Nanjing. 

Before leaving Wuxi we explored the pearl "museum" in Wuxi and learned all about how pearls are formed in freshwater oysters. I also got a terrific lesson in bargaining from Margaret Wong ... Needless to say she's a pro. 

We ended our time in Wuxi with a nice lunch in a restaurant that used to be only for government officials. Now, however, under the new administration, the restaurant is open to the public. The new president of China has declared that special treatment for government officials is to end. 

We then boarded our bus for Nanjing and had a nice LONG ride. It gave me an opportunity to become the student for a couple of hours while I learned about Chinese characters and more about the structure of the language. I continue to be impressed by our students and their ability to speak in and explain Chinese. 

Our arrival in Nanjing was marked by our passage through the city wall which borders most of Nanjing. Many folks have remarked that there is something about Nanjing that feels a bit more familiar than some of the cities we've visited earlier. 

Our first stop was Xuan Wu park, which borders a lake near the city wall. Like the park in Wuxi, it was fun to explore an area that is so clearly frequented by locals and to see our kids interacting so freely (and in Chinese) with folks they meet. Despite the fact that some of our kids couldn't resist the lure of Chinese McDonald's, it was an exceptionally pleasant afternoon. 

From the park we enjoyed dinner with a Breck Alum, Andrew Upjohn and his parents and his new wife, who is Chinese. Andrew lives in Nanjing, though he and his wife will be moving back to the states soon. 

Following dinner, we had a few minutes to explore the Confucius temple night market. The area used to be a real temple, but it has, in recent years, become a market. An array of shops and lights filled the streets and I think it was a highlight for many. 

As we arrived at our hotel in Nanjing for the night, we met a new Breck family. Albert Kong  lives in Nanjing and will be a ninth grader in the fall.  He and his parents met us at the hotel to welcome us to Nanjing. They will join us today for our exploration of Nanjing. 

china Day 4 - Nanjing