My bags are packed - packed and then repacked a couple of times! I am leaving for China in the morning - Yikes!!! I am feeling excited and a little anxious too. It was tough leaving school today; however, all has been attended to and I am fortunate to work with a pretty amazing group of people so I know all is well. Stay tuned................my next post will be either enroute or once I arrive in Beijing.

Here is my itineary - my hope is to be able to enter a brief journal entry as often as possible so you can share in this experience. April 6 - Departure from the U.S. to Beijing April 7 - Arrive in Xi'an (loss of 1 day crossing the International Dateline) April 8 - Visit the History Museum and bicycle tour of the City Wall and South Gate Tower April 9 - Visit the Terra Cotta Warrior Museum April 10 - Visit Pangliu School April 11 - Visit Huixian Art Gallery - after lunch depart for Beijing April 12 - Meet with Chinese Ministry of Education, visit Tiananmen Square and Forbidden City April 13 - Workshop on role of the principal, curriculum and examination system, moral education, and mental and physical health in school, educational reform - visit Temple of Heaven April 14 - Workshop on Chinese Education: background on secondary education, international exchange, school finance, advance studies, teacher preparation, and professional development April 15 - Workshop on administrative management in elementary education and educational reform - visit Summer Palace April 16 - Visit the Great Wall and Hutong Tour April 17 - Shopping at the antique market - afternoon depart for host schools April 18-21 - Shadowing in host schools April 22 - Travel to Shanghai Arpil 23 - Visit Old Town, Party Museum, Shanghai Museum, shopping in Shanghai April 24 - Depart for the U.S. in the evening