And they're off...

So tonight, at 9:30 pm, the freshman, minus a few, gathered in Ordway Living Room to wait for the 2 am bus to Boston. A few students chose to nap a bit.
Tomorrow (which is a confusing idea as you look to travel forward 13 hours) is Abbi Fitzpatrick's 15th birthday. Some of her friends got her a birthday cake and, at midnight, we sang a round of "Happy Birthday" to welcome her into year 16 (24 hours early.) Hopeful she can get a few long noodles (a traditional birthday food symbolizing long life) at her first dinner in Beijing.
At 1 am, the students learned the groups that they will be traveling in.

Chengdu Group 1

Chengdu group 2

Xi'an Group

Finally the bus arrived and everyone is out the door. There was a great sense of excitement to the scene as bags were wheeled out and last minute shuffling happened.

The bus was quickly filled and they were off.


The bus pulled out...
at 2 am on the nose!
You'll hear more from all the groups once they hit the ground in China.

I'll post one more brief update from Gould as the second group heads out.

-Colin Penley