We finally caught a break today as far as travel goes! We got to leave the hotel at ten in the morning instead of at five like the rest of our group. We arrived at the airport and had to bargain to get all of our luggage on the plane. They are really strict about how much your things weigh and Kim and I had a little too much fun shopping. But we got on and flew two hours to Xian. The ride to the hotel took an hour. I was holding out for a five star bathroom and thought the ride to the hotel would never end. The hotel is amazing! However, the trip had started to take it's toll on some of us. Everyone was either tired or sick, or both. After getting here we crashed and had KFC for dinner (everyone ate for under $10). The Maroneys went swimming and Aunt Tiffani had some alone time with the first big and comfortable bed we have had since arriving. Allison loved her first time in the pool!
I was thinking about how I was going to describe China after I get home. The only word I can come up with is Unbelievable. I mean this sometimes in the best of ways and sometimes in the worst. The prices on everything is unbelievable. Three people can eat at McDonald's for less than one person can at home. I could buy a whole new wardrobe for under two hundred dollars and have nicer things than I have ever owned. The toilets in 90% of China are nothing short of disgusting. I love to go camping and never considered myself to care that much, but I do! The living conditions in the "slums" for lack of a better word is also unbelievable. Children are walking around by themselves either begging for money or trying to shove items in your hand so you will have to buy them. This is heartbreaking. The beauty of the countryside and the kindness of the people here is also amazing. They seem neither annoyed that we are here or worried about what we will think of their life. They are excited to show us that they can say hello. They see Allison and pinch her cheeks and call her "lucky girl" little do they know how lucky we are to have her. She is all happiness and giggles. I was saying that I was thankful Allison was a happy healthy girl and Abby let me know that she was thankful she was a "silly girl". The Great Wall and the Terracotta Warriors is, again for lack of a better word, Unbelievable. The same Emperor started both and after seeing them I can't help but think his subjects must have thought him a crazy man. I can only envision a short Chinese man saying to me (possibly at the age of 13, that is when he started his rule) "We are going to build a wall around China through the mountains that will be thousands of miles long, not only that but because I don't want to be bored and lonely after I die we (meaning you) will build clay soldiers (again thousands) and bury them in my tomb with me. They will guard me (from what I have no idea because they are clay and I am dead) and will stand guard for miles. No one will know they are here because they are underground and just to be sure no one knows they are here protecting me I will bury you with them after you have spent your life creating these masterpieces that no one will see." He must have been a terrifying man to get people to actually do these things. And yet they are beautiful, amazing, and unbelievable.
