Greetings from Beijing, China

Hello Everyone!

Beijing has been awesome to me so far! All 3 performances were a huge success, and we enjoyed all of them. Marching past the great wall and forming a block p there are some things I will never forget. It took some time to adjust to the culture here, as it is very different from that of the United States or even Europe. Souvenir shopping has been going pretty well, also. The food has had its ups and downs, but I can't wait to have Pizza again. The pollution was horrible the first day, but has been fine ever since. Temperatures have been usually in the 20's but the first day it was like 43. I can't wait to share my memories with you when I get home. For now, have a great day.

Itinerary

Here is my Itinerary for the next week or so...
Please note, Beijing is 13 hours ahead of Chicago, and 12 hours ahead of Purdue

Times in Eastern Standard Time
Friday, May 23
Arrival in Indianapolis
Checking into Butler University

Saturday, May 24
12:00 pm Indianapolis Festival Parade
5:30 pm AAMB Awards Banquet

Sunday, May 25
8:00 am Parade of Bands at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway
9:45 am AAMB Pre-Race Track Show
1:00 pm Indianapolis 500 Race Begins
Return to Purdue for China Rehersal


Monday, May 26
2:45 am Check in at Elliott for Uniforms and Passports
3:30 am Depart for O'Hare
Times in Central Standard Time
5:30 am Arrive at O'Hare and Check in
8:01 am Depart for Washington-Dulles
Times in Eastern Standard Time
12:31 pm Depart for Beijing

Tuesday, May 27
Times in China Standard Time
2:25 pm Arrive Beijing Capital Airport
5:00 pm Check into Hotel
7:00 pm Dinner at a Restaurant famous for Peking Duck

Wednesday, May 28
Beijing Cultural Program
Tiananmen Square
Forbidden City
Temple of Heaven
Pearl Factory

Thursday, May 29
Tour of Summer Palace
Afternoon Marching Exhibition and Standstill Concert @ Beijing No. 4 Middle School

Friday, May 30
7:30 pm Joint Indoor Concert in the Concert Hall of the Military Band of China
This performance is by invitation Only
Entire day is dedicated to this very important performance

Saturday, May 31
10:00 am Marching Performance and concert at Juyongguan Section of the Great Wall of China
Afternoon Sightseeing and Shopping at the Great Wall

Sunday, June 1
9:00 am Shopping at Silk Market
4:00 pm Shopping at Yashow Market
5:15 pm Chinese Acrobatics Show
Dinner at Hard Rock Coffee Bar

Monday, June 2
12:00 pm depart Beijing for San Francisco
Times in Pacific Standard Time
8:28 am Arrive in San Francisco
10:44 am Depart for O'Hare
Times in Central Standard Time
4:55 pm Arrive in Chicago at O'Hare

I'm off to China, Other Places

Tomorrow morning at 5:30 am I leave for Indianapolis, IN. Saturday my band will be performing at the Indianapolis festival parade, and Sunday we will be playing at the Indianapolis 500 race. Monday morning at 2:30 am we will depart Purdue for O'Hare. From O'Hare we catch a flight to Washington-Dulles. Then we get on a flight direct to Beijing, China. This will be a very exciting trip. The "All American" Marching Band is the first American College band to be invited by the Ministry of Culture of the Peoples' Republic of China. We will be performing in a new Military concert hall, a secondary school, and of course at the Great Wall of China. I will try to update my blog while I am in Beijing, but I make no promises!