Greetings from Windsor Mountain!
Bridge China 2008 is rolling strong. After a long journey--about 7,000 miles from the West Coast of the US, and about 6,000 miles from Western Europe (where two of our students live)--the Windsor Mountain group checked in to the Jockey Club Youth Hostel atop Mt. Davis in Hong Kong and went straight to bed for some well-deserved rest. And they needed it, because the next three days were incredibly busy!
Day 1 of Orientation found the group in the busy Wangjiao shopping district, where they were given their first challenge: a timed scavenger hunt, during which they performed fabulously. March and Yi were totally impressed, and happy to find that the group is mature, responsible, and even punctual! This bodes very well for the rest of the program.
On Day 2 the group took the ferry across the Northern Edge of the South China Sea from Hong Kong to Macau, which has the distinction of being both the first and the last European colony in China. First settled by the Portuguese in the 16th century, control of Macau reverted to the People's Republic of China in 1999. 
Both Macau and Hong Kong are considered "special administrative districts" by the government of China (the PRC is responsible for defense and foreign relations; Macau and HK make their own civil laws and immigration rules). For our lucky Bridge China students, Macau offered an amazing opportunity to see the one place in the world where East and the West truly meet. Geographically Macau is part of Mainland China, yet the architecture and culture is a unique blend of Portuguese and Chinese. After walking through the center of the city, the group visited ruins of St. Paul's Cathedral, enjoyed a wonderful Portuguese dinner, then took the ferry back to Hong Kong for another well earned night's rest. Which they really needed this time, because…
Day 3 was even busier: the group ate Dim Sum for lunch, visited the Hong Kong Museum of Art, the Hong Kong Aerospace Museum, took a stroll down Starlight Road (HK's version of the Walk of Fame in Hollywood), and finished off with an excursion into Hong Kong's famous Night Shopping District. It sounds impossible, but March and Yi swear they managed it, and the group had an amazing time.
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