China 2011: Day 46-48

We did not fall off the face of the earth. We are still alive and kicking, but just not as fast, and actually quite slow. Now that we can relax we are really tired! We just finished day one of our tour and feel as though we just got off the plane and are experiencing jet lag again. Anyway, a lot has happened in the last few days. Last I wrote it was Monday night and we had a big day ahead of us. It definitely was the sprint at the end of the marathon and we sprinted all day Tuesday finishing florals, hanging more pictures, rearranging shelves, putting up more curtain rods, hanging more curtains, building a door to cover a huge electrical panel, painting outside doors, and placing mums all over the building to give it a Fall festive look! After 6 1/2 weeks of planning and working we were really pleased with the results and received very positive comments from all who walked through the doors. It was a good ending. The staff took us out for dinner that night to celebrate the completion of "the project".

We left the Mac last night (Wed) at 9:30pm to come to our hotel to join the tour group. We really didn't want to leave as it just feels like home. We will go back on Friday with Bob's brother, sister and spouses to show them where we lived and worked and what we did.. It will be great to have someone from home see it. On Friday we will say goodbye to our new family and friends. We know it will be an emotional day.

Here are some pictures to show more of what we did which included re-purposing what was already there especially n the apartments and the new lounge area. Unfortunately pictures just don't quite capture how it really looks and feels. We wish you could be here to see it in person. I can post more pics tomorrow.

One more thing -- We did survive day one of our tour. We've been nervous about being on a tour since we love to travel on our own and on our own schedule. I don't enjoy moving at a snail pace behind an umbrella but having family with will be good and we will learn a lot about this huge country. However, I am the youngest person out of 39, enough said!