Getting ready!

Visas acquired, passports ready, flight booked, translator arranged, workshop data forwarded, bags packed (almost) and, best of all, the new audiometer (Macro MA1)was delivered! We'll be screening the children in both Swallow's Nest and New Day and will be donating the new audiometer. Hearing screenings are virtually non-existent in these facilities, and in the special needs population hearing loss is a huge risk. Hopefully the audiometer will help identify which children are currently in need of aural rehab, and will benefit those in the future as well. Aural rehab...something to think about for the next visit. We'll be flying out on Thursday at noon, arriving in Beijing 14 hours later, and New Day has arranged for someone to meet us at the airport and drive us to Qingyundian. In an interesting little twist, we will make a stop at Sam's Club in Beijing to pick up "American" things to eat. Our volunteer coordinator has also arranged for us to re-visit Beijing on Sunday so we can do some sightseeing. A bonus we weren't expecting. They think of everything!