Tuesday was a day of Beijing firsts. Tuesday morning was the first day of class shopping.  I say class shopping because our students are able to shop around for their classes the first two weeks of the semester. Sit in, check it out, try it on for size, and then decide what they want to take. So, 8am we all go to visit International Trade Law; and I can’t wait. In my far too many years of schooling, I never took international trade law, so why not learn about it in China … in a Chinese classroom … where the teacher teaches in English. Right, you may have caught on by now, but this really is the coolest program! One could argue that I’m slightly biased; but one could also argue that, based on my educational background and personal experience, I do know a unique China program when I see one. And my friends, this is a truly unique program.

But I digress; the course we sat in on turned out to not be a great fit for Adam and Latisha, as the focus of the course will be on US trade law, and our fearless travelers already know a fair amount about that. However, because we are shopping for classes, nothing was lost, and we got to meet a very nice Chinese professor too.

After class we met up with Jon for Latisha and Adam’s first historical site seeing trip in China. Maria and Jon decided that their first visit should be to the figurative center of China, the Forbidden City. The Forbidden City is quite simply amazing. To think it was built 600 years ago! Words are completely inadequate, so I recommend just checking out on my photos for this one and (if I figure out how to post them) the two quick videos.

From the Forbidden City, we all had another China first: first trip on the Beijing subway … and Latisha’s first subway trip ever! The subway is amazing; clean, easy to navigate, with loads of bilingual signs!

We returned to Wu-Mart for a bit more shopping and then it was off to meet up with Josh, an Australian teacher at UIBE who has an electronic/ automatic Mahjong table. And can you believe it … I didn’t take any photos. I know, I’m rather disappointed in myself for that one! For those of you who don’t know, the general idea of Mahjong is a lot like Gin, or Rummy, or Gin Rummy; I forget which of those is the one where you don’t have to show your cards unless you pick something up from the discard pile. Anyhow, the main difference between Mahjong and Gin is that you play Mahjong with domino-like tiles, and you announce what you are laying down as you lay it down. ‘Real’ mahjong players are lightening fast and would play for money were gambling not illegal in China. We foreigners were far slower at the game, but still had a very good time; and Adam and Latisha had their first taste of ex-pat life. Josh is an excellent host and we all had a blast; and he was kind enough not to win every time, though I think he could have had he wanted to.

Right around midnight, we took a cab (for $2) back to campus, and off to bed.