Not Tired
After a twelve hour train ride from home town to Beijing, a thirteen hour plane ride from Beijing to O'Hare in Chicago, a four hour layover followed by an hour flight to Minneapolis/St.Paul, Wang Tian insists that she is, "not tired!" I can't seem to get that message, nor can the others who've arrived to meet her. We keep asking and she keeps insisting that she's not tired.
It is Tuesday night, August 29 and as we leave the airport to go off in separate directions - my wife and I back home, host parent Jon Cotner with Tina to the home in North Oaks where she will stay - I assure her that she need not feel obligated to come in to school Wednesday. Jon has offered to bring her in when and if she is ready.
Greeting party for Wang Tian, Tuesday night, August 29 - Minneapolis/St. Paul airport.
But it has become clear in those first few minutes that Tina is indeed not tired, running on the pure adrenaline and excitement of this grand experiment, and will likely be at school for the start of the day about ten hours later.
Sure enough, at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday morning (9:30 p.m. Wednesday Beijing time) Jon, kindergartner Stella and a very alert and ready Wang Tian make their way through the south entrance, finally launching the official start of the Chinese language and culture program at MPA.
Welcome to MPA, Wang Tian!