To China (or bust)

[Pat Kelly]

My oldest son (15 years old) has an opportunity to go to the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Bejing China.
There will be a 2008 piece band of highschool student from all over the world performing and his school was invited to participate.
They get to see some sights (the Great Wall, the Forbidden City, etc) and will be performing in 3 cities. They also get a ticket to see one of the sporting events.
There's even a very good possability they will be performing in the opening ceremonies (still being negotiated).
Once in a lifetime opportunity for him. I may have to sell a bike to help finance it , we'll see. I told him if he works 2 eight hour shifts a week for 1 year he'll earn the money by himself (at minimum wage). I may take a 2nd job just to get him there.

[Wildkat]

How very exciting!

Truly a wonderful opportunity for him and the other kids...

Keep us posted on the progress...

Some of my favorite memeories are from band trips in high school... I know his adventure will be something he will never forget.

[prometheus578]

"You want eggroll with that?"

Nothing broadens the mind(and flattens the wallet) like world travel.
Though supervised, it also gives a sense of independence and adventure that can be gained in no other way.
Youngest son had a chance for a band trip two years ago to Vienna and Budapest. But as I was only working 6 months out of the year at the time, I saw no reason to have to go hungry so he could go Hungary.
As I'm sure you know, there will be band fundraisers and such to bring the cost down, but it's still gonna require some Daddy Bucks.(Mommy bucks, too)

Hey, there's a thought... Could smuggle opium back out to help defray some of the cost.
Hhmmm.. but might end up spending more time in China than the other kids, I suppose.
Yeah, bad idea... he's only fifteen and you may still like him. When he is older, unemployed and won't leave the house... this might be a good option for you then.

[TADracer]

Congrats to your son. It is a chance of a lifetime and I hope he gets to make the most of it.

BTW, sell the Suburban first!

[Incubus]

I wish I could send my kids to China. I sent them to Mexico once, but they found their way back home.....

[Special Ed]

A great opportunity for your kids, Pat. I think you are on the right track having your kid be responseable for a very sizeable share of the cost. And I hope his trip is accompanied with a little lesson in contemporary Far Eastern history. Of course this is a vast and multi-layered subject, but I hope he isn't left with the impression that the Chinese Communist Party is as enocuous as the Moose Lodge! Oh well, I stop now...
E.Liberty