Jaaedyn: Arriving To Beijing

Jaedyn Fors
From HJ Hotel



When we got off the high speed train, a lady named Lisa came to pick us up but she was at the other exit  at the other side of the train station. After we found Lisa she took us to a hotel and after that we went to get fast food that was very fancy. Then a couple days later Lisa showed us around and we saw an apartment but it was really small. After Lisa showed us the apartment we went to a really fancy restaurant and the food was really good and we could see a whole bunch of fish while eating. When we were eating looked and I saw them taking out a fish I think they killed it.
Later that week Lisa showed us where she works and where my mom was going to work. We had to wait for like 30 minutes doing nothing. 
Another day my mom told us that we could walk around while she was looking at apartments so we went and then Lisa found us. After she found us then   when she found us she took us to meet her son Kevin he is in 7th grade. When we saw him he was playing basket ball  and the coach came over and talked to Lisa in Chinese and then translated for Jordan to go out and play basket ball with Kevin. After basket ball we went to Kentucky Fried Chicken and had lunch.

Jordan: In China

Jordan Fors

From Temp. Apartment
Zijin Digital Park

 

We were at the subway waiting for a girl named Lisa Zhang and she was looking for us. Once we found her she was in a raincoat and had a sign up and it said, Christine Fors. We knew it was her so she took us to a taxi van to take to the hotel and once we got there we ate really yummy noodles and soup and all fell asleep. A couple days later she took us to the place she works and where my mom is going to teach English. My mom works at New Oriental. She works at a very big building, the building she works in has a coffee store where we take sugar packets and fructose. When we went there we saw Lisa's assistant her name was Sarah. When my talks to Lisa or Sarah she sometimes gives us money to go to the mall not to far away from her building.

Jocelyn: Left for China Today!

 

Jocelyn Fors
Wednesday, April 29th, 2015
From Delta Airplane currently flying over Iceland

4:41 PM EST and 4:41 AM in China

-60 Degrees outside

32,000 feet above ground

5,000 miles to destination (Shanghai)

550 MPH

 

Today, we began our long journey to China! This morning, we woke up at 4 AM (after getting 3 hours of sleep) and finished packing. We left our home in Grove City, Pennsylvania at 6:15 AM.

***S/O to the Holtz family! Thanks for taking us to the Pittsburgh Airport!

When we arrived to the airport and checked our luggage, it was a close call! Our baggage can be 50 lbs. per luggage. Luckily, the were all under or EXACTLY 50 lbs.! To get to Beijing, we left Pittsburgh to Detroit at 9:55 for an hour long flight. Then we left the Detroit airport (after problems getting Toby, our emotional support dog, on to the plane) at 12:10. This is our longest time in the airplane, 14 hours (Although I'm extremely ecstatic because The Fault In Our Stars-My FAVORITE movie- is a movie on the plane! Along with "The Blind Side", "The Giver", "Frozen", "Mockingjay", "The Maze Runner", and many more!) When we arrive to our destination, we will be in Shanghai, China. Where we will have a 4 hour layover then get on the last plane to Guangzhou, China. When we get off of the plane at Guangzhou, we will take a taxi to the HJ hotel then catch the high speed train at 10 AM. I can't wait until we land in Guangzhou so I can finally move my legs!

Christine: China Here We Come!

 

Christine Fors

Wednesday, April 29th, 2015

From Delta Airplane currently flying over Iceland

5:39 PM EST and 5:39 AM CST
-62 Degrees outside
32,000 feet above ground
4,500 miles to destination (Shanghai)
575 MPH

 

Never enough time to do everything-- let alone pack up your life, say 'FAREWELL' to amazing friends-- sell last minute items of value in your household, attend a family dinner-- that NO ONE wanted to happen or be at-- except for FOOD-- delicious home made food- mac & cheese, mashed potatoes, chicken wings, salad with lots of great dressings, angel food cake, Italian Crème Cake and, the piece de resistance---- Crème Brule!!! With European chocolate in the bottom!!!

       Throw in packing extravaganza BIGGIE size-- which Jocelyn completely mastered-- finishing around 1:00 a.m.  Take our last showers in our house in the USA for at least 2 days-- bathe Toby-- try not to cry about rehoming our beloved kitties Callie, Katie, and Max-- remember to pack bills to be paid, shut off the internet service, weed out unwanted or clothes and items we just can't pack-- Remember NOT to  pack what you are wearing tomorrow-- and in the END--Leave the Veterinarian Verification of Toby's vaccines, etc. -- WHICH I WAS TOLD BY NUMEROUS WEBSITES AND THE DELTA CUSTOMER SERVICE THAT I DID NOT NEED UNTIL  ENTERING CHINA!!!! 

     **** Thanks the Blessed Lord for Marialyce Garvis-- a TRUE friend and ANGEL on earth!!! I had to call her from the DETROIT DELTA counter-- after running there from our Pittsburgh flight--!!! Miracle #2:  Marialyce JUST HAPPENED TO BE AT THE CHURCH-- WITH A SCANNER AND FAX MACHINE-- THE very MOMENT I CALLED IN DISTRESS FROM DETROIT AIRPORT-- AND, YES, THE PLANE WAS ALREADY BOARDING.. I OWE her BIG TIME!!! But, she knows I WOULD DO THE SAME THING FOR HER OR ANYONE ELSE IN THE SAME SITUATION-- HELPLESS AND ABOUT TO HAVE PANIC ATTACK ( FOR REAL, FOLKS, NOT A FIGURE OF SPEECH!) # 2 of the morning! The sweet lady at Delta kept me calm, called the SkyClub to tell them a FAX was coming for me! Marialyce had Mikey Bancroft FAX the Vet Affidavit of Health to Detroit Delta SkyClub-- We ALL had to run ( thank goodness not TOO FAR from  our GATE!) over to SkyClub, up the escalator, get the fax, back down to the Gate, show the other kind gentleman working for Delta and we DIDN'T have to stand in line! Got to board right then and there!!!!!!! SIGHHHHH --- WHEWWWW!!! No oxygen "bar" for Jocelyn and I -- oh, well, I've survived worse!

    Mad at myself for all my MONTHS OF PLANNING-- No quarantine of animals entering China via Guangzhou.. Well, guess what, Einstein-- our first port of entry into China is Shanghai…. DUH! Double DUH!!! So, for all the strife, extra $600, etc.-- He might still have trouble entering China via Shanghai…. They aren't as strict as Beijing, from what I've read… we'll see--- in about 8 hours:( WISH US LUCK! I might have to have another panic attack and pay someone enough $ to let Toby into China with us -- and not quarantined in Shanghai:( I'll figure something out! I always HAVE A PLAN B!

     More later on our adventures! The kids are loving the big plane and all the amenities-- warm towels before dinner, lots of FREE TV and movies, trivia games, etc. on the seatbacks for everyone!!! And TOBY is a big HIT with everyone! What a trooper he is! Little Sweetheart for sure!

 

Jocelyn: First Blog Entry!

Jocelyn Fors
April 28th, 2015
From Grove City, PA

Hello! This is my very first blogging entry! I'm currently posting from Grove City, Pennsylvania in the USA (pre-China Expedition). Today is our last day in the U.S.! After the long wait with visa processing, etc., it's finally here! We're so excited to begin our journey to China!