China - February 20 - 22

What a few days it has been. After visiting the warriors, we went back to the hotel where we met up with our host family. Five of us were assigned each a Chinese family for the evening. The family took us back to their house where we were treated to a traditional dinner.

However, it was the last evening of the Chinese New Year, which means…fireworks. Wow, these shows put our firework shows to shame. First, everyone would start off by dancing (we met lots of new friends!). After dancing, everyone would watch the firework shows on their square…that’s right, each square had their own show and these shows would last for almost an hour. Also, the shows would be similar to our grand ending…for the entire hour! It was amazing. After the show, we went back to the house and fired over 2,000 firecrackers on the sidewalk. It was amazing, everywhere you looked, and there were thousands and I mean thousands of fireworks being shot off!

After the show, we retired, only to wake up early in the morning and make it to the airport, where we caught a plane and flew to Shanghai. So far, in Shanghai, we have toured a traditional medical facility where we witnessed a patient receive acupuncture. This is where a doctor puts needles into certain points into the body to relieve pain. After the tour, we visited a museum of traditional medicine and concluded by coming back to the hotel where we split up on our own for dinner. My group went for PIZZA!

Tomorrow, we tour old town where we will have several opportunities to buy, buy and buy!

Hope all is well and I hope everyone is being good. Tell Moose to keep being a good boy! I love you and give mom a big hug and kiss for me.

God Bless,

Ottster

Hello From Xian

Lots of fun items to report on from Xian. Yesterday we met with the Ambassador of the U.S. to China and then we toured the emperor's palace yesterday. We then toured the city of Hutong by rickshaw. Several of the lakes and rivers were still frozen over with the cold weather. (Picture of ostrich at zoo two days ago.).

From Beijing we then left by train to Xian where today we saw the largest insect collection in China. I have lots of good pictures that I will have to share with you tomorrow.

Right now, we are in Starbucks and having a Hot Coco. Tomorrow, we will tour the warriors where there are large armies made of clay. I will have more to report tomorrow. The connection is very slow today and we are having problems uploading items to the internet.

Tell Moose that daddy wants him to be good or mommy will start counting. Also, keep being good so you can go on your special trip on Sunday. I want both of you to be good for mom and dad...and if you are good I will have presents for you.

Here is a picture of daddy leading the group on the bus to the U.S. Embassy and the picture on the left is daddy and Denise at the Forbidden Palace.

Help mom and be GOOD!

I love you,

God Bless,

Ottster!

China - February 18, 2008

Lots of interesting things to learn and see today. First, we headed to a nursery. This nursery was big...I mean really big! Over 116 square miles big. Within the facility, they were growing several types of flowers and trees. Also, the facility was looking at how to grow new types of plants. This picture is of me in front of my favorite Asian fruit...Dragon Fruit. It looks like a cactus but taste like a sweet strawberry and looks like a white kiwi. Also, this research facility is so big, that it contains its own zoo, for the workers and visitors.

I also had the opportunity to visit some peach and apple trees at the facility.

After touring the facility, we headed to the bamboo factory. This is another facility dedicated to research of the different types of uses for bamboo. Lots of stuff is made with bamboo, including: furniture, cloths, pictures and statues.

During the tour, we saw a map of where all the bamboo is grown. They also had a stuffed panda. Our hosts were very kind as we were treated to royal treatment.

After the tour, we came back to our hotel and I had the pleasure of visiting with a gentleman regarding trade over a duck dinner. The duck was very good. I learned a new way to make a duck taco.

Beijing is a gigantic city. It is going to host the summer games this year and they are building several new facilities.

Tomorrow will be a very busy day. We start with a meeting with the U.S. Ambassador to China and then tour the Forbidden Palace. After the tour, we will board a train to Xian. I will probably not have the opportunity to blog tomorrow but will try and catch-up on Wednesday. I have lots of other pictures to share when I get home.

Love you very much and give Jordan and mom big hugs and kisses.

God Bless,

Ottster

P.S. Tell mom I saw Hudson in China!

Day 3 - China

Today was a beautiful and cold day in China. Started off with breakfast at the hotel. I had an "Americanized" breakfast - Onion rings, baby hot dogs, bread and china dumpling. It was good!

After a meeting with the U.S. Foreign Ag Service, our class boarded the bus and took the long climb up the Great Wall of China. This portion of the wall was very different from the area that Lisa and I visited last July. First, I had to take a sky bucket up to the top of the mountain. After the steep ride, several of us hiked to the top of the wall and had a toast with "Great Wall" wine (thank you Richard Nunes)!

After the long trek up the wall, the gang of us began our heading back to the bus. However, instead of climbing down or taking our sky bucket down the hill, we road a chute car down a long and winding track. This device had two speeds, fast and break. You had to lean into the corners just like a bobsled. WOW! What a ride!

After our time at the wall, we went to see several Chinese performers. These were amazing folks that performed amazing tricks. After the performance, our class met up with the South Dakota Agricultural Leadership Class (Class 4) and had a Chinese dinner while we told ag leadership stories.

Over all, it was a fun be very tiring day.

Until tomorrow, God Bless,

Ottster

Ag Leadership Class Arrives!

We arrived safe and sound in Beijing, China. We arrived late afternoon...just in time to unpack and go to dinner. The first picture is of downtown. Yes, there is a McDonalds and a Starbucks! The second picture is of my dinner group. I had two pork dumplings, steamed rice and orange chicken. It was excellent! After dinner we toured some of the downtown shops looking at several different stores.

I am going to make day 1 & 2 short because we left on Friday at 11:30am and arrived Saturday at 3:00pm. Also, I did not sleep at all on the plane. Tomorrow, our class has a meeting in the morning and then travels to the Great Wall of China. Following the Wall tour, we will go to dinner and watch the dinner show. More to come.

Hope all is well, Give mom a hug & kiss!

God Bless,

Ottster

DAVIS - DAY 2

Greetings from Davis Day 2. Not much to report today, except that there were lots of speakers regarding our upcoming trip to China and Laos. The picture on the Right is of a gentleman who lived in Laos and talked to us about what we will do when we are there. Some of the food they eat in Laos includes bugs...hmmmm. The second picture is what I did all day long...listen to where we are going and what to expect.

This trip sounds fun and there will be lots of interesting things that we will see.

Tomorrow, we will be doing more research on our trip and then we will drive to the coast to mommy's school, Santa Clara.

Hope you are doing good and keep practicing your piano. Give Moose a big hug for me and a kiss to mommy.

God Bless,

Ottster

Happy New Year - Day One Davis, CA

Greetings from Davis, CA! After leaving Fresno this morning, I had a couple of meetings in Sacramento. From there, to Davis where our Ag Leadership program kicked off this evening.

All day, it has been raining. The two pics above are: (Left) the merry-go-round is covered up at the "K" street mall. Rain has closed most of the rides and activities that take place in the open area. (Right) This is the entrance to Old Town Sacramento. Next time our family comes up, we will have to take you there so you may see the old paddle boat and horses.

Tomorrow will be a full day and we will be learning about the places where we will be going to in China next Month.

Hope all is well, give Jordan and mommy hugs and kisses.

God Bless,

Ottster!