Hello everyone,

Attached please find our round-trip flight information. I apologize for neglecting to include the return flight information for Northern California teachers returning on Friday, July 18. Attached is the revised flight information sheet.

Tickets have been purchased, so this information is confirmed.

Those who requested a different return date should have received their return flight information from me via e-mail.

-Miranda

[Edit by="miranda k on Jun 2, 12:26:15 PM"][/Edit]

Miranda:

Thanks for the flight-schedule itinerary. A question: are we supposed to meet smewhere as a group after checking in but prior to boarding at San Francisco for some kind of pre-flight briefing? (I'm assuming we'll all see each other at some point on the plane but it will probably be difficult to meet as a group on a crowded transpacific flight.)

Leigh Clark
Monroe HS

We've scheduled time in a couple of places for you to explore on your own. Of course, you're always welcome to get up early and have a look about.

One of the places we've set time aside for is one of Beijing's preeminent shopping streets, Wangfujing. At the north end of the street there is an intersecting street which in the evening features a wide variety of odd delicacies. Chinese and foreign tourists love to gawk and to occasionally sample some of the treasures there.

I've been taking photos of the street for many years, but few of mine match those assembled in the attached presentation by someone named G. Pollack. The pdf is large, but well worth checking out. I hope that our group could put together and exchange useful collections such as this. (This is also posted in the Asia in My Classroom forum, in the contemporary China thread.)

By the way, I usually can provide more detail about the origins of the presentation. In this case, however, the file was forwarded to me from my nutritionist brother who received it from another nutritionist. I wish I knew who G. Pollack is -- it's a nice bit of work.

Leigh asks where we'll meet in SFO. The southern CA folks will fly to SFO and will be in the transit area (avoiding the joys of repeating the security screening). The northern CA folks will clear security and go to the same gate where we'll be located. We're flying United to Beijing. You'll get the gate number when you check in.

REMINDERS: We have e-tickets and everyone has a seat assignment.

Northern CA folks should have received their passports. Bring them and a credit card or other ID to check in.

Southern CA folks will assemble in front of the United check in counter. You must be on time (check your email and this thread for updates.) You will receive your passport at the check in line. We need the time to get checked in and clear security.

Attached please find your rooming assignments.

OK.... I am finally getting very excited after seeing the itinerary and rooming assignments!! And since my last day of school is this Friday the light at the end of the tunnel has appeared. I expect you will want us at the airport at 8:30am, maybe? Also, give us a clue as to what the teaching assignment is about Day 7 at Shaanxi Normal University High School.

Betse

Miranda:

Thanks for the updated itinerary. I notice that Mijyajima is no longer on the official itinerary although the Itsukushima Shrine (on the island of Miyajima) is still listed. Also, on that same day, when we travel from Osaka to Hiroshima (and presumably Miyajima) and then back to Osaka, with the evening on our own, will the evening be in Osaka or Hiroshima-Miyajima? (According to all the guidebooks, you can pay to have the monks light the tori of the Itsukushima Shrine at nightfall.)

Also, on one (or more) of the three nights we will be in Kyoto at the New Miyako, if there is room at one of the city's Zen monasteries, and if they will take someone (willing to pay) with no advance reservations, are we allowed to stay someplace other than our assigned room, as long as we check in and check out according to the itinerary?

Leigh Clark
Monroe HS