Anticipation Builds

Greetings,

Well, my appointment at the travel medical clinic has been accomplished and I am shot up and provided with pills against all anticipated ailments as I travel to China. My paperwork is in order and my selected wardrobe for the trip is spread out on the bed in the guest bedroom waiting to be packed carefully away in the chosen suitcase. I am reading everything I can get my hands on that that would seem to offer some information that might come in handy as I seek to be a respectful guest in a foreign land. Some items of interest include the following:

• It is rude to clean your plate in China. It would imply that the amount of food was insufficient and be insulting to the host.
• When handing something (a business card or a gift) to a person in China, it should be held out toward the person with both hands. Using a single extended hand would be too casual and would be insulting to the person receiving the gift.
• People you meet in China in a business capacity should always be referred to by their title and their last name each time they are addressed as in, "Yes, it is a lovely day, School Superintendent, Chang."
• Countries of origin are personalized in Chinese as in "My United States of America," or, "Your China." This tends to make comments regarding features of the country...good roads....rainy weather....personal to the person hearing the comment.
  

I am very appreciative of the efforts of Hanban University in Beijing in providing me with the opportunity to visit their country and I do hope to be a respectful and appreciative guest.

We are informed that we will be staying in the Hotel Beijing for the days that we are in Beijing. Their web site follows if you would care to see the facilities with which we are being provided:

http://www.chinabeijinghotel.com.cn/en/sport.html

Again, I am filled with appreciation.

You will hear from us next as we are on the trip. Thanks for following our adventure.