A Little Rain Won't Stop Us from Climbing the Great Wall of China!

By Denise Sturrock, PSYO parent & 2016 Tour Blogger

and  Desiree Sturrock, Age 12, Assistant Tour Blogger and Editor with the amazing bonus multiple choice PAT question and emoji's😇😏

So before I launch into today's dispatch, I need to circle back to a surprise event from last night. As we rode back to the hotel, a flurry of messages started coming from chaperone central - all having to do with travel logistics 📲📩📃. Initial communications indicated a change in packing plans to allow for a more seamless trip to Shanghai. But...as you can imagine, communicating a change in plans, a challenge in any organization, was particularly difficult following such a super-charged performance. However, I was totally impressed with how PSYO staff handled things 👍. Knowing how tuned in your kids are to standardized test-taking, PSYO staff administered the PAT, also known as the Packing Aptitude Test ✍🏼. This test was given in 2 parts after we returned to the hotel. Sadly, the adults had to take it too (let TEST ANXIETY ensue!!!) 😱😰😥. I initially panicked, because I did not have a number 2 lead pencil, but thankfully I located one in our hotel room ✏. We were told that a score of 100% was required to pass, that multiple tests would not be given (sorry, no super score option 😫), no subject tests were available to make a participant seem more appealing (e.g., specifics of toiletry management, juxtaposition of clean and dirty clothes), and that scores below 100% would bar travelers from participation in future tours 😳. In short, no pressure 😁! So the first part was multiple choice and to give you a sense of the academic rigor of this test, here is a sample question...

For a 5 hour train trip from Beijing to Shanghai, there is no overhead bin luggage space, nor is there an option to check large bags or instruments. You cannot pack anything from your suitcase other than a change of clothes, your concert attire and music, basic toiletries and pajamas. It's 11pm and you are exhausted after playing a brilliant concert at the Forbidden City Concert Hall. What must you do in order to be prepared for this trip?

A. Ask your parent to pack for you because they are a chaperone or shadow tour participant.

B. Follow PSYO staff instructions to the letter and don't make any mistakes.

C. Pool all the Chinese yuan you and your roommates have and hire room service to pack for you.

D. Throw everything you own in a room service laundry bag and attach that extra luggage tag your mom sent along. Hope for the best that your belongings make it intact.

E. Don't pack, just go to bed because you're exhausted. Buy all new clothes when you get to Shanghai and pay for it with that Visa card your parents gave you for the trip.

Answer: B

The second part was an essay question. Here is the prompt...

Provide a cogent argument either in support of or against the merits of packing monochromatically with the intent to mix and match all clothes or for pre-defining individual outfits for each day of your trip.

Thankfully a bonus question was included and if you could answer this one correctly, you were guaranteed continued tour participation, regardless of your overall score. Here it is...

The color/design of Kelsey Uydea's (PSYO Manager) suitcase is:

A. Blue

B. Navy blue

C. Periwinkle with a hint of orange/yellow

D. Marvel comic motif

E. No

Answer: D

You'll all be happy to know that thanks to the bonus question option, we all passed the PAT and will now be admitted (early decision) to the future PSYO tour of our choice. Phew...that was so stressful...

Ok so on to today's adventures...starting with Tiananmen Square followed by the Great Wall of China...

At Tiananmen Square the crowds were massive - not surprising! We had time to stop and walk the square, which was enough for taking in amazing views of the Tiananmen Gate (a large oil painting of chairman Mao adorns the center entrance), Mao's tomb, a massive government building, and the National Museum of China. I was particularly struck by the long line to view Mao's tomb - it seemed to stretch 1/2 way around the square. PSYO had plenty of leg-stretching opportunity walking this expansive space (I also heard some members singing our performance repertoire - music seems to exude from these kids at times - future pacific youth chorale?). All this morning walking was probably a good warm-up for the challenges of the Great Wall. Apparently, it can be quite strenuous, depending on your walking/hiking/climbing strategy.

A little history of the Great Wall - actually no - I'm going to leave this one for Google or Wikipedia - why? Because it's soooooo long (literally and historically). Construction commenced about 2800 years ago by multiple clans, but the sections (over 300 miles long in total) were never fully joined together except for one section (during the Ming Dynasty). Anyhow, this is enough history, what's more important is an explanation of our experience. Most important to know is that the weather figured prominently. As we arrived at the visitor center, it was drizzling slightly - no big deal - nothing a little windbreaker and travel umbrella can't withstand. After picking up tickets and running the gauntlet of Great Wall souvenir proprietors (they literally shout at you as you walk by in their efforts to get you to strike a bargain and make a purchase), we boarded another bus that took us to a sky tram for access to the top of the wall. All the while, slight drizzle was becoming light rain. Still, we remained undaunted. It's the Great Wall for goodness sakes! It’s one of the 7 wonders of the world! We've traveled over 6000 miles for this! Rain will not deter us! We are PSYO - we are young, strong and talented, and we aren't going to melt or turn into gremlins if we get wet...well, maybe most of us won't. I also had my hidden agenda - the family holiday card photo op - and a mother on a holiday card photo mission is not to be deterred. Apparently none of our PSYO members were easily deterred either. Maybe they were all secretly working on holiday card photos for their moms 😉. 

By the time our Great Wall free time was in full swing, everyone was hiking (this is actually not an adequate description for what it takes to get around up there - steps are sometimes more than a foot high, the slope of staircases are quite steep, and sometimes the path is more like a ramp that you almost have to brace yourself against as you descend) to and from the watch towers, taking group photos and selfies, and generally refusing to let the now continuous downpour (well, sometimes it eased up a little) spoil this unbelievably amazing opportunity. Overall; however, I think the weather actually made the experience more special - the views, though limited, were more shrouded and mysterious. The crowds were minimal - locals probably elected to stay home and try it another day. People from many nations huddled quietly in the watch towers to take shelter when the rain was really coming down hard. I even came across two PSYO members - again, I will refrain from revealing what section they are from - who elected to go au natural with their foot wear and keep their shoes dry by holding them under their rain jackets. Excellent! Another PSYO member I ran into covered his shoes with plastic bags. Genius! Honestly, I think the weather made it better. The experience was great! Truly! And for those of you who are wondering if I did manage to get that holiday card photo op, the answer is YES! Of course, it's not the quintessential national geographic-style Great Wall photo you might imagine (seriously, I can barely get my kids to pose and smile for any picture💃🏻🙅🏻), but it's our Great Wall moment, and that's good enough.

The bus trip back was uneventful until nature called. You know that terrible feeling when you have to go so bad, you're sure your bladder will explode if you wait any longer - it's the worst! This problem was brewing unbeknownst to the adults. But suddenly a conversation erupted in Chinese between Emily and our tour guide. The topic was clearly intense and urgent, but much giggling was interspersed throughout - mostly from other PSYO members who clearly understand Mandarin. Suddenly, our bus pulled over and the clueless adults realized that Emily needed a potty break. The whole bus erupted in laughter and greeted her with applause upon return. So to Emily's parents - be proud - all that Chinese school 🀄 paid off. She used her language skills with confidence and achieved her objective. Way to go Emily! Props to you! Danielle was her bathroom buddy🚽for this stop, and she later remarked of the experience of using the public squat potties, "I'll get a bladder infection before using one of those." But the saga continued as traffic delays to the restaurant caused continued bladder issues. Another unplanned stop was made, but this time at the Westin hotel. No squat potties - hooray! Plenty of toilet paper - yes! Motion activated faucets with plenty of soap - bonus! Maddie had the quotable quote at this stop, "I could feel the exact location of my bladder in my body🙊".

The drowned rats💦- I mean PSYO -  finally made it to dinner with empty bladders and enjoyed the best Peking duck 🐥 ever! Perfectly cooked thinly sliced duck - delicate pancakes - savory plum sauce - julienned green onions - it was PERFECT and so TASTY! Whoever chose this restaurant - major kudos to you! I think we are all forever spoiled for Peking duck now! Good thing the only thing left to do for today is go to sleep. It should come easy now that we're all in a Peking duck-induced food coma. Perfect start to the next phase of our trip - were off to Shanghai by train bright and early tomorrow morning and the group has their next performance tomorrow evening. It's sure to be even more amazing than yesterday's!

Thanks so much for reading and we look forward to providing you with tomorrow's installment of PSYO China Tour 2016!