Finally we've sailed

Dear friends and family,

Wednesday 4 july:

There was still nothing arranged to sail or to teach. So we had a very long sleep and afterwards we visited computer city where Thomas bought an external hard drive. When we got out of computer city, Pia was so happy to see a Mcdonald's, so we couldn't stop her!

Because of the independance day of america, the americans gave a beach party with a lot of hamburgers and beer at beach nr. 3, which gave us a fantastic view over downtown Qingdao. Some of them even brought some fireworks.

Afterwards it was ladies night at the 'qbar' in Shangri-la hotel.

Thursday 5 july:

Today we finally got the opportunity to teach and sail. However it was pretty bad organised and we had to reorganise everything. In the morning was it very foggy and cold but after an hour a strong sea wind blew the fog awy and gave us a clear blue and sunny sky.

Unfortunately, we couldn't sail for more than one hour. Sebastian tought several chinese trainers to sail a Laser. Pia and Thomas thought each 4 chinese trainers + 1 translator the Laser 2000. We all had our problems during the course but we managed. (Pia got lost, Sebastian's kapsized many times, Thomas had linguistic problems)

During the lunch, Pia got sick ( stomach problems) so we went to the hotel, where she could get some 'immodiums'. After feeling better, we returned to the Olympic Marina to continue the sailing, but the wind was gone. According to the Chinese National Trainer the weather was insufficient to sail. So we had some free time and decided to go on the water by ourselfs.

We had a great time with our Jenny (translator) and visited some local owners of yaughts where we could fixe a 'Tsingtao Beer'.

After getting a beautiful tan we got some shirts and caps of the organisation.

After a hard day at work we treated ourselfs at a genuine chinese headmassage and had a walk in the city. Yes, we are big in China ( not in Japan). (just kidding)

Tonight we will meet 'Teddy' ( general manager of the optimist factory) for dinner.

Tomorrow Thomas and Pia will leave at 3.00pm to Rizhao. This is earlier than planned but we have to make in ordre over there. Unfortunately there is still nothing planned for tomorrow morning. So starting from tomorrow you can follow our Chinese adventures on the Rizhao blog.

Sebastian is leaving sunday for Weihai.

Oh by the way the weather is lovely here warm, sunny and hot! we LOVE China!!! We wish you all the luck for better weather in Belgium and Holland.

Greetings,

The one and only Qingdao team

surviving at Beijing airport

Surviving at Beijing airport.

dear friends and family,

here are our skype accounts

verhelst.pia

thomas_depaepe

if you want to contact us, you can send an email at which hour you want to hear from us, then we can see if it's possible for us at that hour.

hope to hear from you soon

the qingdao team

We are still alive and kicking

Hi everyone,

Our sincere appoligies for our late opening of the blog. We had some problemes with opening this blogpage!

Anyway we're still alive and enjoying Qingdao a lot. Altough the way to get here didn't go very smooth. The flight from Amsterdam to Bejing was very long and exhausting (Turbulences!!!). The belgians were not so smart enough to take sleeping pills with them but they have kept the fun in the plane, without Sebastiaan off course!

We've arrived at beijing airport at approximately 1.00pm local time. We picked up our luggage but we couldn't check in until 6.30pm. So we were forced to wonder around in the airport. Thanks to Pia's big soundsystem (check photo) we had a great time and lots of attention from the locals.

Finally we arrived at Qingdao airport at 9.30pm where Vicky and the new translator, named Jenny, picked us up.

Now are we staying in the Post hotel, Hong Kong middleroad, Qingdao.

Monday 03 july 07 :

After a good night of sleep but short anyway. We went to the NOCSP office at the Olympic Marina to meet Vicky and Jenny to have lunch in a famous japanese noodles joint. Really good by the way.
We have visited beach nr. 1, 2, 3 and nr.6. The project will take place at nr. 1 & 3.
We had a very interesting tour in the Olympic Marina where we met the Chinese olympic trainer, the official from the China Yachting Association and the manager of the Tsingtao Beer Brewery.
We took part of the training for the chinese trainers and had a very good laugh with the launching part of the chinese trainers (still lots of work to do...)

We went to the factory of Zou Inter Marine (Opti factory) where we met Penny Ma and Teodora (Teddy) Lazarova. which was very impressive. (the biggest Opti factory in the world!)

Afterwards we went to the biggest supermarket ever seen (also very impressive!). going back to the hotel was quite an experience because we took the local bus.

now we're preparing for our dinner tonight, beijing duck is on the menu.

Cheers,

the Qingdao team

Pia, Thomas and Sebastiaan.