FLOTUS is here! Michelle Obama, her daughters Malia and Sasha, and her mother Marian Robinson arrived in Beijing yesterday evening and have already started posted photos on her Instagram account. The US First Lady is in China for a week-long trip sans husband, focusing on education and cultural exchange.
The US First Lady has already met with students at Beijing Normal School this morning. She practiced writing the Chinese character for “eternal” under the guidance of 16-year-old Lu Yuhong.
China’s First Lady Peng Liyuan then wrote out a four-character couplet and presented it as a gift to Obama, according to the South China Morning Post. This trip marks the first meeting between the two women.
Affiliated with Beijing Normal University, Beijing Normal School is the second ranked high school in the country and sister school to Sasha and Malia’s Sidwell Friends School in Washington DC. Mrs. Obama plans to make a speech at the Standford Center in Peking University, then go on a tour of the Summer Palace.
After going to Beijing Normal School, she visited the Forbidden City with Peng Liyuan amid tight security. This evening, Peng will host the American delegation for a dinner and performance.
FLOTUS plans on heading to Xi’an and Chengdu before going back to the US. Find the full schedule of her trip here.
On the White House website, Mrs. Obama plans to blog about her trip. She will be highlighting what she has learned and will answer questions from young people:
The First Lady’s travel journal: Each day, the First Lady will post a daily travel blog, complete with videos and photos (and you can sign up to get the latest entries delivered to your inbox).
Podcast series: In an audio series, First Lady Michelle Obama will share some of the interesting facts about Chinese history and culture as she experiences it.
Ask the First Lady: In the weeks leading up to the trip, hundreds of young people submitted questions for the First Lady. During the visit, Mrs. Obama will record video responses and engage directly with young people on social media. Use the hashtag #FLOTUSinChina to discuss the trip and ask questions on Twitter or Instagram.
Follow on social media: You can follow along through the First Lady’s Twitter and Instagram accounts.
Photo: Michelle Obama’s Instagram account
