Christmas in Xi'an

I've already mentioned there are Santas and Christmas trees aplenty--I'm so disappointed not to find gorgeous nativities, either to see or to buy.  But many people are aware of the coming holiday , and choose to celebrate with parties and good food.

Our focus has  been trying to provide service to our students and friends.  I've made several hotpads and ribbon bookmarks.  Tim hauled a Christmas tree on the bus to deliver to one of our teacher friends, Kristy.  We have enjoyed hosting home-cooked dinners for the foreign teachers from France and Slovakia, and our BYU friends.  My rolls were a hit!

Tim has dressed as Santa--to the delight of many students. We bought 350 large candy canes to distribute.  One little girl whispered in his ear that she would really like a beautiful white dress.  So I
hope her "Santa" can make that dream come true.

XJTU sponsored a dumpling-making demo.  We're getting pretty good at pinching them together.  They boiled them, we ate them, then took some fresh ones home.  I gave them a quick boil, then put a little oil in a pan and fried them up--They're even better as potstickers.  Tradition dictates that if you eat dumplings on the winter solstice (Dec. 21-22) you will not have cold ears in the winter...

XJTU also hosted a Christmas luncheon and gave us lovely bamboo silk scarves.  We had a nice anniversary dinner at an elegant restaurant called "The Moon" with Diane and Kristy.

The highlight of our celebrations was an invitation to a Christmas Eve buffet with our friends the Gaos--held at the Grand New World Hotel.  I nearly cried when I walked into the lobby and  found a glowing Christmas tree, angels, and elves.  It finally felt like the real holiday.  The food was sumptuous, and the program afterward lasted 3 hours! There were singers, dancers, magicians, a clown, and a talented trumpet/horn player.  Even Michael Jackson appeared--quite the imposter.  There were door prizes--the Gaos won an overnight stay at the hotel with 2 free breakfasts.  They gave the coupon to us, so when we finish our finals we will go back to celebrate.

Finally Christmas Day...Enjoyed a quick phone call to Clark and Char Family in St. George, then off to classes.  It was my writing class so I had them write descriptive paragraphs about Christmas trees and Santa.  The jolly old elf (Prof. Taylor) appeared and gave them each a candy cane.  My 20-year old university students were as delighted as any 7-year old you've ever seen.  Likewise Tim's students were thrilled and line up for hugs and pictures--needing a grandpa I suppose. 

That evening (after Tim taught all day) we were suddenly able to download the First Presidency Christmas fireside.  Our internet is pretty sporadic. That was a tender mercy to be able to watch those beautiful messages and listen to the beloved Christmas music.  Of course, the very best gift was reading the sweet service emails from our children and grandchildren, and visiting with them on the phone.  It was a very simple and uncomplicated Christmas, but one we will always remember--with ever greater appreciation for our Savior Jesus Christ.

December in Xi'an

Hurray, eight of my nine classes are over the first week in December.  I finally have a little free time to breathe.  The first week was warmish (mid-40’s) so Mr. Gao took us to Huaqing Palace Hot Springs near the Terra Cotta Warriors.  It was beautiful and tranquil--built long ago by. a Chinese Emperor for his lady love. Tim and the men tried to hike the mountains, but I just wandered the lovely gardens and shopped and found my favorite Magnum ice cream bar.

We've explored Xi'an a little more, experimenting with the bus system to find our way around.  At 16 cents a ride it's more than a bargain.  In fact sometimes we get a massage by being squished tighter than sardines, and trying to make our way from the front door to the middle when we need to exit.  We've enjoyed shopping in the Muslim Market, and eating noodles and gelato.  (Yes, 2 different stores).

We stopped at the Big Goose Pagoda and watched the synchronized water show.  We found the city wall, and the Shaanxi Museum which has artifacts that are 5000 years old.  They buried their beautiful treasures in the Emperors Caskets and mausoleums, so many brass, iron, and potteries are very well preserved.

I've discovered IKEA across the city.  It's worth the trip to eat some Western food (salmon or Swedish meatballs), buy lingonberry jam, and European chocolates! No they don't have a “cheese slicer” among the kitchen gadgets, nor does anyone else in China.  They told me to use a normal knife.  A brick of Gouda cheese is one of our luxuries here.

I was finally able to order some cotton crochet thread through Amazon China and a student, so I'm busily crocheting hot pads for friends and neighbors.  Plus I'm hosting a couple of Christmas dinners, so no boredom here even though I don't have to go to class so often. Tim still has a double-full load of classes twice a week, and we both have to teach on Christmas Day.  Boo-hoo!  We're planning to take the high-speed bullet train to Beijing for New Years, so that will give us something to look forward to.

Bookmarks

I had one of my students order me a huge skein of yarn from the Chinese equivalent of Amazon.  I've been crocheting like mad making hot pads for Christmas gifts.  I've also been making ribbon bookmarks for my students. 

One of my students said it was the "most precious gift she'd ever received" and she loved my intricate weaving.  Dad says she just wants a good grade. 

Thanksgiving

It has been really fun discussing Thanksgiving traditions with my culture classes.  I especially emphasized gratitude and thankfulness.  They were awed at pictures of a thanksgiving feast.  Most of them have never tasted turkey and they would love me to make bake them a turkey dinner with pumpkin pie.  But it ain't gonna happen, especially in my toaster oven!  I tried pumpkin snicker doodles.  They were just ok.  But we enjoyed traditional pumpkin pancakes.  i’m seeing how far I can stretch my can of pumpkin that cost $5.00!

I also assigned my students to write or We Chat me about what they were grateful for.  Most are truly devoted to their parents and thankful for their upbringing, and the sacrifices and efforts their parents and some grandparents have made to get them this far at XJTU university.  There were truly some poignant stories.

Instead of me cooking,Annie and her hubby, the chef at the Italian restaurant, are willing to serve a thanksgiving dinner every night for a week.  So on Friday, November 20 we enjoyed homemade cream of mushroom soup, Cobb salad, turkey with blueberry sauce, a dab of potatoes and peas, spaghetti (?), and cheesecake with a peach and ice cream for dessert.  All of our BYU friends came too.

Then the following Wednesday, Thanksgiving eve, we invited Mr. And Mrs. Gao to join us for another round of the same dinner.  They brought along her brother and sis- in-law, who surprisingly spoke some English!  The Gaos speak no English besides “good morning, beautiful,” and our names.  We also included George, our translator friend, and John, the middle school teacher who made the initial phone call that brought us all together.  Everyone enjoyed the meal. First time they had ever eaten turkey.  The men especially cleaned up every bite on their plates. ( I had the foresight to ask for my pasta in a takeout container).

We felt very fortunate to be able to share this special occasion with Chinese people who have truly become our friends.  It made missing our family a little easier.  Friday morning we called Clark and Char’s house and talked to all of our children and spouses, and most of the grandchildren as they ran past a phone.  I walked to class with a happy heart that morning.

My gratitude list is greatly expanded this year, with some basics like clean water and sunshine.  I am especially grateful for our new friends, wonderful students, challenging and adventurous experiences, our LDS Branch, and the opportunity to reflect the light of the gospel in China.

Mt. Hua

11/18/2015  Break out the winter woolies. Mr Gao is taking us to Mt. Huashan, a mini Mt. Everest. He says we will have a good time, rain or snow. So we pile on the layers and take our winter coats and gloves and are ready for pickup at 5:30 AM. 

Two hours later we pull into the parking lot of the ticket entrance. It's cloudy and misty and we can barely see a mountain. But soon we are on a cable car climbing to the 10,000 foot summit. It is so steep that in the middle it goes downward before climbing back up to the top. We are delighted to see some sunshine above the clouds. The view is absolutely spectacular! Steep gorges, colorful autumn leaves, and razor sharp mountain pinnacles. 

We arrive on the west side at a famous lookout point. Mr. Yao informs us we are going to traverse the mountain to the north face--a mere 10 kilometers. That translates to 6 miles--I'm an old woman. But he's not about to let me go back down the same cable car, so off I trudge with a prayer in my heart. 

I was foolish to think that at the top it would be a level path. I spent the next 6 hours climbing up and down rock stairs of every height and width (mostly very narrow, 6” max). They kept telling me we could take it slow.  In fact Mr. Gao preferred my pace instead of trying to keep up with Energizer Tim. (He smokes two packs a day!) The last mile or so it took Tim on one arm, and Mr. Gao on the other, to drag me down the last several flights of stairs. The only thing that kept me going (besides that I really had no other choice) was a couple of encounters with some poor workmen who were hauling over 100 lbs of goods on their shoulders, to the top of the mt. Things like 3-4 cases of water bottles, and boxes of food and vegetables.   I can't imagine how they do it--their backs must ache terribly. And I'm sure they don't get paid much!

The views above the clouds truly were gorgeous. It was a pleasant day, very little wind, so I didn't even need my heavy coat. George the translator carried that for me. At last we  arrived at the North face and gladly climbed aboard a cable car for the descent. He said the food wasn't "safe" on the mountain so finally took us to lunch/dinner back in the city at 5:00.  We had snacked on tangerines and cucumbers, but Tim was ready to eat most anything.  Chinese pork sandwiches, noodle soup (no spicy), and rice with scrambled eggs and tomatoes--always a sure bet.

Mr. Two seemed quite pleased that we made it before dark, and admitted that he was worried about how I would handle the whole experience. (Then why did he plan such an arduous climb?). I'm glad to say I've been there, and I did have a feeling of accomplishment when I survived. Plus I knew if I died up there, Rachel was the only one who would come to visit my old bones. 

I should retrace my vacation steps of the last few years. This was definitely harder than all the pyramids in Central America, and all the cobblestones, coliseums and cathedrals in Europe combined!  And I didn't climb most of those!

 

 

 

Movie Stars

So my newest BFF is named Diane.  She works at one of the other universities in Xi'an.  She invited/browbeat Tim and I into going to village north of the city with some of her journalism students.  Seems they are doing a video about tourists visiting sites in the area--and we're the stars.  We crammed into little cars--Tim got the center back on the hump! Off to visit Yuan Jia, in Liquan County.

They are famous for weaving cloth, paper cutting, and making vinegar and yogurt.  It is a charming little village, with lots of fun shops...for the perennial shopper!  First we check out the weaving and spinning loom.  The film crew sets up their tripod and catches us looking into the window and sitting at the looms, and buying a few scraps of cloth.  Next they film us going into the paper shop and learning how to fold and cut those intricate little patterns.  Yes we buy a beautiful peacock and some butterflies.  All the while spectators stare at the "movie stars" and want an extra picture with us.

After a lunch of delicious homemade noodle soup, and hot French Fried sweet potatoes, our friends played the starring roles making the vinegar and yogurt.  Then we wandered around and shopped some more.  Finally the film crew staged us meeting up with our friends and enjoying a bit of custard pie.  At every turn we were obliged to tell them how much we enjoyed the goods (we did) and how we were "feeling" about these wonderful crafts and old time culinary arts.  We also watched a great acrobatic exhibition from some young students, and learned to make tea.  Very tricky not to taste that when we were done!  They also found us some hot chocolate with marshmallow cream foam stencils on the top (Eiffel Tower and Hearts with an arrow).

It was another long day--the traffic coming back into Xi'an was horrible.  So instead of the 1 1/2 hours that it took us to go in the morning, it was 3 hours back home.  Fortunately, Tim got to ride in the front seat, but I was wedged into the back!  We went reluctantly, but it turned out to be a delightful day--the real China, updated.  We are anxious to see the video project--maybe they'll use it for the tourism bureau!

Taxis

Riding in taxis is pretty cheap and convenient in Xi'an. The problem is taxi drivers don't really like to pick up foreigners, because we can't tell them where we want to go.  So on Sundays when we need to travel clear across the city to attend church, we text Henry, a private taxi service.  His drivers know where we want to go, and even though it costs a little more we just schedule a taxi pickup and away we go.  Then he returns to pick us up when we're finished.

We've tried to take pix of our bus stop, and other landmarks to show the taxi drivers.  Last week we rode the bus, which is extremely cheap, but often smelly and crowded, to the German Metro (aka Costco).  It was raining when we emerged with our 4 bags of Gouda cheese, meat, cream, avocados, Greek yogurt and other delicacies.  Tim was anxious to get home to listen to the BYU game, so we hailed a taxi.  We stuffed our bags in and hopped aboard, only to discover a female taxi driver.  We showed her a picture of the Rainbow Bridge, which is our drop-off point.  She didn't have a clue where to go but took off anyway.  Finally she pulled a U-turn, so we thought we were headed in the right direction.

Unfortunately, she was a very timid, conservative driver, which does not serve one well in China.  We got into terrible traffic and she was letting all the cars cut in front of her.  I thought Tim would have apoplexy.  The meter was running, and we were still miles from home.  Soon we spied the International Mall, which has a bus stop  we recognized.  We motioned for the driver to pull over and let us out, paid the fee to nowhere, and climbed the steps of the footbridges over the street intersections to catch a bus.

Of course, it was standing room only, and still raining.  We tried to hang on to our 4 bags and case of yogurt.  I stood by the door so I could breathe occasionally when the bus stopped for passengers.  The windows were so fogged up we couldn't see anything familiar, and weren't sure when we were getting close to home.  Finally, after several miles, we rode into familiar territory, and were able to get off at the right bus stop.  Then we carried the bags home and up the stairs to our apartment--still training.  We really enjoyed the groceries, but basically it was the trip from Hades.  Tim will never get into another taxi with a female driver!

Basically, riding in a taxi is a bit of a gamble.  There are bars between the front and back seat, so you just hang on, cross your fingers they're taking you to the right place, and rejoice when you arrive at your destination!

Students in China

Education in China is really a different ballgame.  There's a pre-school nearby,  Each morning the grandparents take the little ones to pre-school, and then pick them up at 5:00.  Meanwhile both parents are working diligently to earn money.
Elementary age children spend a lot of time in music lessons, art, writing--creative things.  They do NO chores.  Their parents or grandparents do everything for them so they can study and be good students.
By middle school they are in school from 7:30 AM until 6:00 PM with a break for lunch and a rest in the middle.  Then they study until nearly midnight. They have “Tiger Moms” who insist on excellence and near perfection.   I'm not sure when or if they ever have much fun.
High school is even more demanding.  They are very studious and quite creative and artistic.  They memorize everything and read voraciously!  Their one main goal is to pass the national college entrance test which takes several hours.  That determines where they can go to college.

My university students go to school most days from 8:00 to 6:00. They have two 2-hour classes in the morning, and the same in the afternoon, with a 2-hour break for lunch and a rest.  Then they study until late, or perform in music groups, speech contests, etc.  They are rarely late to class and humbly apologize if they walk in after the bell rings.  Most score 100% on their vocabulary quizzes, and if they do less than 100% on their presentations, they ask for the chance to do it again and improve.  I hardly dare dock them 5 points, because it gives them such heartburn.  They are very thoughtful and interested in the United States.  They think college students have it much easier, which is probably true.

They live in very basic dorm rooms with a community bathroom and no privacy.  To shower they have to go to a public bath.  They suggested I stop by to see it, but Suggested I wouldn't want to stay long. There are no clothes dryers.  They hang their clothes out on the balcony/porch. Not sure if they have access to a washer, or use the sink.  There is no heat in the dorms, at least not yet.  They wear coats and heavy sweaters all day long, in and out of class.

I'm sure not every student is so conscientious, but they understand that education is the key to their future and a good job.  They are pretty addicted to their cell phones, and social media as they know it.  Some play pick-up sports, and video games.  I'm not sure when they fit those in.  Many MS and HS students go to extra classes on weekends to learn foreign languages and to be tutored to keep high performances.  It's a pleasure to have such diligent students, but it's heart-wrenching to see how hard they work with so few of the conveniences Americans take for granted (heat, cleanliness, soft beds, drinkable tap water, tv, instant Internet, fast food…)

Perhaps we should ship some of our high school dropouts over here to get a taste of “reality”.  How grateful we are for the abundance of blessings we have in America.

P.S.  I taught my students to square dance in my culture class.  There were as shy as 4th graders, especially the boys.  But they had a rollicking good time!

Halloween in China

It began a week early with my agreement to visit a middle school private tutoring class on a Friday night.  I met the teacher, John, and we walked over to the class of 7 eighth graders.  Fortunately the other BYU China teachers have shared their Halloween ppts. And film clips.  So I dressed up like a witch, complete with hat, cape, fingernails, and horrid nose.  The kids loved it; everyone had to have their picture taken with me.
I showed them everything I know about Halloween, sang a song, showed them scary film clips.  Then we played Bingo.  They thought it was great fun.
So I went through the same scenario all 9 classes, during the week before Halloween.  I scared a few of them with my costume and hairy spider, and isn't that the point of Halloween anyway?  Scaring people and saying, "Gotcha!"
Thursday night we were in charge of English Corner, which is a social gathering for anyone who wants to practice their English.  We showed them our video stuff, then played Bingo and had a cakewalk.  I printed Halloween symbols on some orange card stock, cut them out, had them laminated, and Tim taped them to the floor.  Then we played Michael Jackson's "Thriller" and made them walk the circle.  I had made chocolate cupcakes (from scratch), so each winner got one.  They were a big hit.  When we ran out of those, we gave away our stockpile of "moon cakes " which are a holiday specialty around here. But we weren't sad to see them go.  We also made little ghosts out of lollipops and Kleenex.  There were about 60 students, and they all had a great time.  Some even found a few small pumpkins to carve, complete with tealights.

By the time Halloween Saturday rolled around, it was raining and we were partied out.  When the rain stopped later in the afternoon Tim was hankering for a McDonalds dinner--fish fillets and fries.  Then he had a banana split at Dairy Queen. Yes I had a chocolate almond Blizzard (they threw in some raisins).  Then we found an English movie in 3-D--"Antman". We liked it, even though it cost $15 a ticket.  We picked up a few items from Walmart and found a bus to home.

By the way, both Walmart and the grocery store had a few costumes, masks, hats, and other Halloween paraphernalia for sale, even though they don't really understand what it's all about.  Do we?  We just like to dress up, decorate, and eat candy.  Anyway it was fun to see pix of our grandkids all decked out in their Halloween duds. Happy Halloween!  Onto Thanksgiving and Christmas, hopefully.

Mao and Gao

Mr. Gao says he's our best friend in China!  It's his personal mission to take us to all the sites in and around Xi'an.  “A year is not nearly long enough,”he says. On  Wednesday, October 21, he arranged to pick us up at 5:30 AM for a day trip to the Hokou Waterfalls.  We drove out of the city in the dark, but soon found ourselves in the beautiful countryside on a perfect autumn day.  The leaves were turning colors everywhere, and there were crisp apples for sale at every roadside stop.
About mid-morning we found ourselves detoured to Yan’an, which is the hotbed of the Communist Revolution before and during WWII.  There is a huge statue and museum dedicated to Chairman Mao, with a gazillion pictures of their infamous leader.  Mr. Gao holds him in extreme respect so we didn't express our viewpoint. ( difficult to do with the language barrier anyway).  We also visited Mao’s headquarters, home, meeting rooms, and many spartan cave homes lived in by his generals and other comrades.  It was quite interesting.  Later someone referred to this town as “Disneyland for the communists.”
Mr. Tao also showed us lots of red dates ripening up, but we're just not “date” fans.  No dates stuffed with sticky rice for us.
We then headed down the road and finally stopped for lunch in some little hometown cafe that only Mr. Gao knows about.  Tim ate a Chinese Hamburger, which is a steamed flatbread bun with pork inside.  Then he gobbled down a plate of rice with mushrooms, and a bowl of soup--all with a spoon,since he dreads those chopsticks.  Pretty soon the cook and hosts all come out to watch him eat.  They even offered him another “hamburger” on the house.  It turns out they have never had an American in their little establishment before, and they want to video him for an advertisement--or so they say.
With our tummies filled, we head off to the waterfalls, finally arriving about 5:00.  The Yellow River has cut away a narrow gorge, and when the water rushes through it creates a lot of spray and several cascading waterfalls. It was very lovely and a bit slick on the rocks.  Gao had a quick nap while we wandered around, bought a trinket bracelet, then headed home.  Just before getting back into the car, Tim said he was hungry again.  Gao was quite taken aback, as it had only been about 3 hours since Tim's record lunch.  When George, the translator, told Gao that Tim was just kidding, he howled with laughter.  He seemed to think that was a great joke.
The lights of Xi'an didn't appear until 10:00 PM, making for a 16 ½ hour day--much of it riding in the car without being able to converse very well.  When Mr. Gao dropped us off he said, “if you're exhausted, that means you had a fun day.” Well, we were!

Letter from mom to Kids

This is a letter Susan e-mailed to her kids.  I hope she doesn't mind that I added it to her blog.  It contains some nice information about church experiences, dad teaching double classes, and Halloween creativity that I thought she'd want to remember later...  Julie

Hello Dear Ones,

Seems like awhile since I’ve written a personal note.  I’m behind on the blog, but trying to catch up.  Our calendar is filled nearly every minute.  Soon I will write about the Terra Cotta Warriors and our excursion with Mr. Gao—which lasted 16 ½ hours on Wednesday. We were supposed to go to some waterfalls, but detoured to a city where the Chinese revolutionaries lived before and during WWII, including a museum for Chairman Mao, and his home and several others in the caves.  Stay tuned for that in the blog.

In the meantime we had a district conference today—which is like Stake Conference.  Only we dialed into Sat. night meeting from our home and listened.  Then we went to church today and phoned in and all listened together.  Themes included:  the importance of families, and family history, the atonement, and keeping the Sabbath Day Holy—which is my encouragement to you.

After our meeting today, our Branch Pres.’s daughter was baptized.  We had a sweet program, including a letter from her grandma in U.S. and singing of “I Am A Child of God” in both Spanish and Japanese.  I shed enough tears to fill the font myself.  We had hoped to use the swimming pool at their apt. Complex, but that was closed. So they filled the large round bathtub in the master bedroom and performed the baptism.  There was even room for all 30 of us in the bathroom! (We could have put our whole apt. in that bathroom.) The spirit is very strong in our little meetings.  We truly know the Lord is here with us.

I made her a little ribbon bookmark and a card using some paper we brought, and cut out a rose off a printed paper sack. We really have to be creative here. 

Elder Russell Nelson  spoke in Beijing on Thursday night.  No earth shattering news, but he did bestow an apostolic blessing on the saints in China—particular for protection—which he knows we need while/when crossing the streets!  Fortunately there are walking bridges out of both the main gates of the university, and the stores and restaurants in our neighborhood are on our side of the street.  I only cross the street once a week when I go to the Dutch bakery for delicious treats.

We are gearing up for a Halloween party for our English students on Thursday.  I bought round suckers and kleenex to make ghosts, and made chocolate cupcakes to give the winners of the “Cake Walk”.  And we’ll play Bingo and show some ppts. And video clips.

Some of you know that Herb, our neighbor had to fly to Beijing this week to have his toe amputated.  He has diabetes and it had turned black with gangrene.  Guess who the university asked to sub for him….Yes, DAD.  And their classes are taught at the very same time, next door to each other.  So dad starts in one class, gets them writing, them scoots over to the other class and gets them going.  I hope they find another solution quickly, because he’s going to wear out at this rate.  NO way he can handle both classes with  essays, etc.

Anyway,  Pres. Nelson also said “this life is about doing hard things; that will make us stronger and bring us closer to Christ.”  So I guess we shouldn’t shy away from hard things, but it would be nice to have a rest now and then….

You all know grandma Taylor is on hospice.  So Dad is preparing to lose her.  It will be a blessing in many ways, but still sad. We feel very far away, but close when we hear from you or get to chat occasionally.  We love you all very much, and miss you lots!
Mom

Terra Cotta Warriors

On October 17, Jiatong University invited the foreign teachers to go on a day long field trip. First we attended a lecture about the history or famous sites in this area. Then they fed us lunch. Next we boarded a bus to go visit the Terra Cotta Warriors. We saw them in the spring, but it was just as impressive and astonishing this time also. We even some some new sites. It was a beautiful, sunny fall day, so we really enjoyed ourselves.

Then they took us to quite a fancy restaurant for dinner. It was 10 courses, some far better than others. The "beef steak" was the size of a silver dollar. Tim was a good sport and dressed up in an ethnic robe for a picture of an ancient emperor.

The highlight of the day was an outdoor spectacular at the hot springs mountain. They acted out the story of the Ming Dynasty emperor and his lady love. It was quite the play / pageant complete with dancing, zip line, waterfalls, fire, 3- D screens, and costumes galore. We loved it and highly recommend it. We feel very honored for the university to treat us so well.

Dumplings (Potstickers)

Mr. Gao invited us to spend the day since we have no classes on Wednesday. He picked us up and meandered around town to his house two counties away, where we could make dumplings. Of course he lives on the 6th floor with no elevator! I have to rest after flight four.

Mrs. Gao had chopped pork, garlic, leeks, etc to make the filling. She even has a Bosch mixer to make the dumpling dough. Mr. Gao proceeded to roll the dough into a long snake, then cut it into about 1 1 / 2 inch chunks. They alternated rolling them into nice circles. Then we pitched in and put a spoonful of filling, folded them in half, and pitched the ends and corners together. Ours did not look very neat, but we cooked them anyway. They were quite delicious and we each ate 2 platefuls.

Mr. Bao insists he's our best friend in China and wants to show us every nook and cranny in and around Xi'an for the next year. I realize this is a coveted invitation, but help! I need to do some laundry and lesson plans on my day off. (Actually Tim has taken over the job of the laundry.)
Anyway he drives us around in the countryside. We found a lake with newly developed walkway and shops, so we stroll all the way around the lake and snack on yogurt. Then he drives us up to the mountains south of Xi'an. It's pleasant and the air is cleaner.

Finally when I think we're headed back to the city, he detours off to a farmer friend who grows kiwi fruit. Did you know kiwi originated in China (like most everything else)? So the farmer let us pick 2 boxes of kiwi off his trees. I'm hoping they ripen so I can take them to the potluck at church this week.

Eventually we reached Xi'an and familiar territory. But it was 8:00 PM before we got home. It was a great ride through the countryside, and we have plans for next week. Fun, but my free time has been expunged!

Speechless

On Monday, between classes, they came and asked me to show up for a speech contest on Tuesday night.  That means 2-30 minute round trip walks to campus in one day.  I arrived at 7:30 to hear 45 minutes of intros, comments, and musical talent numbers.  The speeches didn't begin until 8:15, and they were 30 of them!  Three minutes each and then I was instructed to ask a question at the end of every other speech.  The student then had one minute to reply.  That really kept me on my toes--coming up with a new question each time, and making sure I understood what they were saying.
Then at the conclusion of the speeches, they announced that Susan Taylor would say a few words.  I truly was "speechless" for a couple of minutes.  But I recovered, and expressed appreciation of being invited to participate.  It was pretty impressive to see how well these students spoke English, and the depth of their thoughts.  They really work so hard, both to learn English and in their other studies.
I didn't get home until nearly 11:30.  Fortunately, Tim came over and walked me safely home. The busses quit running at 11:00, so that wasn't even an option.  It was a lengthy, but rewarding experience.

Huangguoshu Falls--Guizhou trip continued

Guizhou trip continued:

Next our bus took us to the Dragon Palace Cave.  We walked along the river, and rode a boat through a huge cave, illuminated with neon lights. Pretty amazing to ride through huge karst caverns in a boat.  We had to keep our hands inside the rails, mind our heads for low hanging rocks, and look out for bumper-car boats!  Then we travelled on to Huangguoshu and stayed at a hotel in the national park.  For dinner we went to the restaurant and order a steaming plate of rice with 3-platters of sweet and sour pork.  We wanted a light meal, and that's what everyone likes to eat!

Next our bus took us to the Dragon Palace Cave.  We walked along the river, and rode a boat through a huge cave, illuminated with neon lights. Pretty amazing to ride through huge karst caverns in a boat.  We had to keep our hands inside the rails, mind our heads for low hanging rocks, and look out for bumper-car boats!  Then we travelled on to Huangguoshu and stayed at a hotel in the national park.  For dinner we went to the restaurant and order a steaming plate of rice with 3-platters of sweet and sour pork.  We wanted a light meal, and that's what everyone likes to eat!

Huangguoshu a Falls is a famous national park with various underground rivers and at least 18-different waterfalls.  One is as tall as Niagara.  We hiked to it in the morning, also took a huge escalator in and out to cut the number of steps in half.  Tim and the other adventurers hiked up to the falls and walked behind them. Mary Morgan and I stayed at the bottom and enjoyed the beautiful scenery and sun rising over the mountains.

Later we took a shuttle bus and continued hiking to more fabulous waterfalls.  Eventually we hiked what seemed like miles, up and down thousands of steps, but the scenery was gorgeous.  It was a beautiful day up in the mountains, clean air, and some sunshine.  Finally we rode a cable car to get out of the park and returned to the hotel for a delicious lunch.  We played a version of "Brainium" with our friends when we returned to Guiyang.

The next day we flew back to Xi'an.  We didn't realize how large a city it is until we flew over the mountains.  There are skyscrapers for miles in every direction.  And yes a thick haze hangs over the city.  It makes us appreciate when we can see clouds and a bit of blue sky between the tall buildings.  But guess what?  When we came out of the Xi'an airport, we actually felt at home!  Back in a familiar place.  I suppose that's what home is--the place where you feel comfortable.

However, when we arrived at our apt. We found that autumn has arrived and it is pretty chilly inside.  The Chinese government doesn't turn the heat on until November 15, so I guess we'll be bundled up while we sit around working on lessons, or go to bed early to get warm!  Now I know why everyone runs around drinking a bottle of warm water.  We're going shopping tomorrow. Hot chocolate mix is at the top of our list!

National Holiday--Golden Week

So our first trip out of town for the National Holiday (Golden Week--Oct. 2-7) began with a plane trip to Guizhou, landing in Guiyang city.  We took a taxi from the airport to our hotel and promptly started looking for lunch.  Bingo, we found a little dumpling eatery where we ordered a plate of pork dumplings.  They were so good we ordered another plate.  Then feasted on bakery treats on the way back.

When our whole group of BYU teachers arrived, we boarded a bus and headed to Qingyuan ancient town.  We visited a temple, saw a mountainside of terraced rice paddies, and shopped for embroidered purses and silver jewelry.  We ate in the back of a restaurant, circular style.  Tim was miserable because we only had chopsticks and he could hardly get anything to eat.  The veteran BYU teachers told him he would learn to use chopsticks, or starve!

Saturday morning we departed for Kaili to visit Langde Miao Minority Village.  What was supposed to be a 4-hour bus ride turned into almost 7-hours because of a leaking bus tire, and bumper to bumper traffic into the village.  We spent a couple of hours sight seeing.  Lots of cute girls in ethnic costumes with silver headdresses.  They're quite famous for their embroidery, so I had fun shopping for just the right picture to hang on my wall in the apartment.  A lovely hand-embroidered peacock.  It was in a circular mat with a square frame, but I made them take it out so I could fit in it my suitcase.  We also bargained for some embroidered squares and silver earrings.

Sunday began with checking the Internet for the announcement of the 3 new Apostles at General Conference.  We held our own short sacrament/fast and testimony meeting.  Tim and I were somehow elected to sing a duet, accompanied by our I-pad.

Jason, our guide, said there wouldn't be any shopping on this day, but we promptly proved him wrong.  We wandered through 2 ethnic villages Xijiang and Leishan.  There were wooden houses built right into the hillside.  Very primitive living from 100's of years ago, but still there were cell phones everywhere.  There was one little shop open with beautifully embroidered baby backpacks, ribbon trim, and other assorted fabrics. We nearly cleaned them out.  Is there a "Sariah" in our group, or perhaps grandbabies on the horizon?  In Datang we saw a little show with native dancers all dressed up in their native costumes.  We bought more embroidery goods and had lunch in a traditional family house.  Lots of good food, served on a very low table with very short stools.  Tim is getting better with his chopsticks.

We returned to Guiyang (stayed in the same hotel every other night).  There was a Walmart sign across the street.  We ventured forth, hoping for a McDonalds dinner.  Instead we encountered KFC, which really left us missing McD's, but we comforted ourselves with a Snickers bar.

Monday we travelled to Tintai. It was rainy and drizzly so we promptly purchased lovely batik scarves to keep us warm.  We wandered through an old stone ethnic village, sampled freshly fried potato chips with chili spice--yes it gave me heartburn.  We found cute ethnic dolls, an apron, silver necklace.  Next we watched the Grand Opera, a martial arts performance where all the characters were wearing wooden masks.  Some faces were white, others red and black.  Guess who were the victors.

First Pedicure

Y'all know how much I enjoy pedicures.  Some things I'm willing to do myself. My toes is not one of them.  So the university hosted a luncheon for all the foreign teachers one afternoon.  I met Valerie, a lovely French-Vietnamese lady who taught at Jiatong last year.  She is currently working on a Masters Degree about some Chinese author, and lives nearby with Michael.  He is my English writing mentor, from Boulder, Colorado--One of those retired single American men who finds a "Chinese" girlfriend/sweetie.

Anyway, I mentioned to Valerie that I needed a pedicure and that I was considering riding a bus to the international mall in hopes of a successful experience.  She promptly offered to make me an appointment right in our own neighborhood. Done deal!  Wednesday morning when I met her, she hedged about whether this place would remove or re-apply the product to my toes.  But off we went. She found a nail salon that removed my toenail polish for 10RMB ($1.60).  Then we went two doors away where they soaked my feet ( in tea?). They were pretty nervous about the bandage on my ankle, but I assured them it didn't hurt.  Then the fellow pulled out a sharp scalpel-like knife and promptly sliced off my toenails.  I held my breath, but there was no blood.  He just started at one corner of each toe, and sheared off the nail to the other corner!

Next I got a great foot massage, which was very welcome on my aching feet.  Then they brought a hot towel and washed up my toes.  Finally, they rubbed my feet with some oil to soften them up.  All for 35RMB (less than $6.00).  I could have gone back to the nail salon and had them paint my toes (with my product, or theirs) but I elected to go home and make sure my nails weren't jagged.  They weren't, so I painted my own toes.  But next time I'm going back to the nail salon to finish the job!  It wasn't the mall spa, but it was in the neighborhood, and the price was right!

A Walk in the Park

We decided to explore the lovely park that is right across the street from Jiatong University.  There were lovely flowers, a lake with little boats, and lots of walking paths.  We also discovered a ping pong court where a couple of guys challenged Tim to a game.  After he warmed up, he gave them his best effort, and saved face for the Americans in table tennis.

We found some ice cream and Carmel corn.  Then we came across the carnival rides.  I was willing to try the Ferris wheel, but Tim acted like a kid on this large swing that not only rotated around, but also upside down. That's how you get your jollies in China for 10 yuan, or $1.50!  We ended the day with a yummy dinner at Peter's Tex-Mex Grill with burritos, enchiladas, and chocolate. Chip pie and brownie Sundae for dessert! Yum!

Dinner with the Muslims

So I have a non-traditional student attending/observing some of my classes.  He is a former travel agent/teacher who is in Xi'an for a one year sabbatical. He calls me up and invites me to go to dinner with a group of friends/students.  Never one to turn down a dinner invite, I agree to meet him at the Rainbow Bridge the next evening.  Unfortunately, Tim had to teach a class, so off I go again to dinner with a stranger.

Twenty various individuals head downtown near the city wall, through a back alley and into the parking lot of a nice hotel.  Xin jiang--it's an autonomous ethnic group from nearly as far west as Afghanistan.  We proceed to eat a 20- course dinner, beginning and ending with lots of delicious fruit.  Watermelon, cantaloupe, grapes, dragon fruit, and "dragon eyes". Then comes the noodles, rice, veggies (tiny cucumbers the size of little green beans), mutton that was BBQed, roasted, and stewed.  Fish (a whole one) and various unknowns. Also Greek yogurt (yum) and moon cakes.

I was a good sport and tasted everything.  Even ate with chopsticks.  Yes, I had to toss my shirt into the laundry.  They had wine, and vodka, or something similar and toasted each other profusely.  I  think I downed 3 glasses of Coke trying to be gracious.  I was like the guest of honor, so they made a big fuss.  They also had 3 dancers perform wearing ethnic costumes.  It was great fun, but I was gone for 4-1/2 hours.  Tim thought maybe I'd been kidnapped.  Dining out is an all-night project here.  No such thing as diner and a movie on the same night.

We welcome opportunities to experience truly native customs.

Another Week

Yes, time is flying by, mostly because we are so busy.  I have long teaching days on Monday and Thursday, Timon Tuesday and Friday.  Wednesdays we have free time together to do laundry and go exploring.  You already know we found the International Mall, and Dairy Fairy.

We got our faculty charge cards—so now we can have lunch or dinner in the canteen—which is a mixed blessing.  We wander around until we find something that looks tasty, edible, and not too spicy.  Dad isn’t much with chopsticks, so the other day he ordered a plate of  rice and went to the utensil box, where they mostly have chopsticks.  There was a wire basket of soup spoons on top, so he grabbed one of those to shovel in his rice.  The next day when we went back, we realized there were clean spoons below the chopsticks—the ones in the basket on top were already used!  Gross, but everyone has laughed about that all week.

We met our BYU friends for dinner at the Pizza Place on Friday.  They have a wonderful chicken Caesar salad with bacon and parmesan cheese and real lettuce.  It’s been the only lettuce we dare eat.  They also have great pizza, lasagna, baked potato skins, and various other assorted burgers and steaks.  It is only 2 blocks from our apt.  So very convenient, and 2-for-1 on Wednesdays.

Tim has lost about 10 lbs.  I’ve lost 5. He is mostly like the energizer bunny—runs around the track on his days off, and over to the office once or twice a day…I can barely make it home in the afternoon, have discovered a bus near the south gate that delivers me to the Rainbow Bridge, and cuts about 20 min. off my walk time. I will be doing that on long days….

Saturday, Dad had interviews with the District Pres.  So while he was gone I was a good Hausfrau, and went shopping for vegetables on Market street.  I picked out some broccoli, pointed to a red onion said “yellow,” found a couple of zucchini (skin was lime green instead of dark.)  I grabbed a couple of ears of corn, and 2 peaches, put them all into my tote bag and brought home my own “Bountiful Basket”. Plus a stop at the bakery for some little treats.  Then I even made a macaroni tomato zucchini casserole for dinner!

Sunday we hailed a taxi for church.  The new Branch Presidency is 2 of the American men who work for Micron.  They called Dad to be the Young Men’s President.  (He wished he hadn’t told him so much about his Scouting experience).  So now he has one Deacon to teach, work on Duty to God, and Scouting merit badges.  It will help keep him in touch with his grandson’s activities, and he’ll be a nice surrogate grandpa to “Tommy.”  So send your scouting ideas.

In between, we’ve had to have extra passport pix taken for our “Work Permit.”  People on the street are very helpful with translating or helping us find bus stops, etc.  We have a couple of students who can order on Amazon.china or TaoBao for us.  We are going to request a paper punch!  Our neighbor Herb, is diabetic, and has an ulcerated sore on his foot.  We are quite worried about him—the walking is taking its toll—although they arranged a taxi for him today—right to his class building.  Yesterday he lost his keys to the apt. and office.  Last week he left his backpack in the taxi.  Poor Tim is basically taking care of 2 invalids.

Church in Xi'an

So we took a taxi to one of those fancy high-rise buildings across town..Up to the 24th floor and a young couple's apt.  He works for Micron and they have 3 children--12, 7, 2.  Lo and behold they have a 3,000 sq. foot spacious apt. complete with mother-in-law quarters.  Also  teensy pet dog and parrot.

We proceed to have Sacrament Mtg. with a dozen BYU teachers, a Korean couple, 2 American families, with a couple more kids, Iranian husband of one couple--not baptized yet for fear of his life.

It was a very special meeting.  The 12-year old deacon passed the sacrament.  The speakers told some touching life conversion stories.  I shed quite a few tears as I felt the spirit, so far away from Utah, high above the city, in a stranger's home.

We also had RS, Priesthood (the poor little deacon with a couple of Elders and the HP)., nursery, and primary.

Then we had a potluck luncheon and visited.  Finally called the taxi to take us home for a much needed Sunday nap.  Amazing how the  church is the same thousands of miles away.

Today I finished meeting the last of my 9 classes--held in 7 different classrooms, on 4 different days.  I have a killer schedule, but no classes tomorrow--YEAH!  Prep and laundry day.I finished teaching at noon, and finally made it home by 3:30 after doing some work, resting up, and walking home.

Tim, however, taught his very first time--three 2-hour classes until 6:30 tonight.He met me at the grocery store to carry some bags home, but could barely walk.  Evidently all his walking and running hasn't prepared him to stand for 6 hours on his feet teaching!  Now he knows why I moaned and groaned so much the last few days.  He thought I was a wimp, but now he knows better. Early to bed for him.  ( The TV is on the blink).

I feel the Lord's sustaining power with me. I get a little stronger everyday...Walked all the way home today without a single rest.

Found Skippy Peanut Butter with Nutella swirled in, and strawberry jam at the store tonight.  Life is good!

Education

The next time you complain about your child's school--think about this.

I teach in barren classrooms with no hint of a bulletin board.  There is a Green chalk board, computer using Windows 97, and a projector in the ceiling.  The floors are dirty, the walls unpainted.  The desks are large and cumbersome.  One room has tiny laminate square stools (no backs) for the students to sit on for 2 hours. The ceiling is open revealing pipes, etc.  

Copy machines for the teachers are limited and far away.  Paper and supplies are on your own. There is no drinking water fountain in a whole 10-story building. Don't even ask about the bathrooms, which are devoid of TP, soap, or paper towels. Not a vending machine in sight.   I haven't tried to use the Internet at school, so I can't vouch for its reliability.  

There is not a book or a map in sight--and this at the finest university in Xi'an, and one of the best in China.  Fortunately, the students are polite, respectful, eager to learn, and very appreciative of the Teacher's efforts.

Dinner with Gao's Parents

We have just had the most delightful experience! You know the story about Gao, the Chinese fellow we sat by at the Shakespeare Festival.. (see Amazing Coincidenses earlier post)

Well  a few days after we got here, we had a teacher friend call the Dad here in Xi'an, and tell him we met Gao, the son, in U.S.  and that he conveyed his good wishes and was well and doing fine.

So Wednesday, I got a call from Rudy, a cousin, Inviting us to be guests for dinner with Gao's parents.   We agreed, and bravely got into a nice Toyota at our meeting place under the Rainbow Bridge.  Rudy went along as the interpreter.  They asked if we wanted Chinese or American food.  So to be good sports, we said Chinese.

Off we went to dinner at a lovely, formal restaurant.  We pointed at pictures of good-looking food, and had quite a delicious meal--most of which we recognized.  It was quite an interesting experience conversing with a couple who speaks no English, and of course our limited Mandarin.  But Rudy kept up the conversation for all.  We only had chopsticks to eat with, but I managed to scoop up a fair amount.  Tim mostly used his little soup ladle.  We told them his short, stubby fingers were better suited to spinning a basketball, than using chopsticks.

It has rained for 3 days, and I had a rather long difficult day yesterday.  I walked to and from classes in the pouring rain, had to teach 3 classes, 2 hours each.  First one started at 8:00 AM, and last one ended at 6:30 PM.  Yes I had a little nap in the middle, and Tim walked me both ways, carrying my books--throwback to junior high school.  So this evening's dinner was sort of a "tender mercy" to end a rather trying week.  I feel like a pioneer for sure.  

We also had pizza with the foreign teachers, 2 Koreans, 1 from Slovakia, 2 from France, ! British, ! German.  Then we met another American at Subway, with a couple of Indians (from India).  It's quite the international  community here.

My leg is doing better and I can handle the stairs pretty well. We are looking forward to being able to attend church this weekend.  Tim is teaching Priesthood lesson.  We have one TV Channel and it's a sports network that has tennis and basketball, so he is appeased somewhat--although no Megan Kelly.

We also are noodle soup at the Muslim Market on Saturday night.  The city wall and pagodas were all lit up.  Beautiful sight, but extremely crowded!

 

First Day Teaching

I survived!  I walked the 35 min. To a mtg. With my dept. at 10:00AM.  Then found someplace to make some copies.  Dad and I bought snack/lunch at the student center, ate on a bench outside.  Then I went back to the office, (we share one), took a short nap, and appeared at my class.

We teach for 2 hours with a 10-min. Break in the middle.  I used my intro ppt., and did my quilt demo.  It went very well, my flash drives even worked!  The students are darling.  They are eager and co-operative.  Yes they have cell phones.  They speak quite well and seem to understand what I am saying.  I took pix of all of them with their name cards. This class had 25 girls and 3 boys, 2 of whom called themselves Vincent. So now one is just Vince.

Then I dragged myself back to Subway. The lady remembered us and gave me a straw for my can of coke this time without my asking.  Next door we found a delicious looking bakery.  We bought little square quiches and a small loaf of berry streusel bread.  Can't wait for breakfast.  They had a little decadent square chocolate cake (I hope it's chocolate) that I'll go get for dads birthday.

Then we met up with a student-friend of the Winders.  She came home and showed us how to use the washing machine (interpreted the cycles) so that's our plan for tomorrow,  no classes, so I'm hoping not to walk anywhere!

We're adjusting pretty well.  The weather is hot and humid, but lots of nice shade trees everywhere we go.  We took a taxi across town Saturday night to meet other BYU teachers for a traditional Chinese round dinner.  It cost us $8.00 for the taxi driver each way, but only $5.00 a piece for dinner.

Well my eyes are falling asleep. Dad is already in bed.  We're still jet lagged so wake up at 4:00 AM.  Dad has arisen and gone over to campus and run around the track early.  Then he still has energy to walk to class or Walmart or whatever.  He's amazing, and has taken good care of me.  He still wraps my foot.  It is healing, but swelling a bit too from all the walking.  I think I'll check out the bus for after my late class on Thursday.

 

People are very nice and friendly.  They try to be helpful and understand, even if it's mostly sign language. Be ever grateful for your blessings--like soap, warm water, paper towels, and TP in public toilets.  I think I'll hang a bottle of hand sanitizer around my neck.  They sweep the streets often ( with a broom). But no one has washed a handrail around here this century! 

First Days in China

Our first few days in China were truly an adventure...Our liaison basically threw us into the water and told us to swim, then seemed surprised when we didn't drown.  We found a great pizza place, Subway, and Walmart.  We set up a Chinese bank account and got SIM cards for our cell phones.  Since this was all dealing with Chinese speaking folks, we made some quick friends with students in the line who helped out these distressed senior citizens.

Students who helped us translate and get our cell phones

We hired a taxi and met other BYU teachers across town for dinner.  $8 for the taxi each way, only $10 for dinner for both of us.

Sunday morning found us standing in line for nearly 3 hours to have blood tests, while listening to BYU's "Hail Mary" finish. We nearly passed out from excitement, heat, and lack of water (before the lab tests).

Our apartment is tiny, but has some nice features--wood floors, and screens on the windows, and nice storage.  The kitchen is just wide enough for one person to walk through. We did laundry, and Tim had to hang it all out to dry as clothes dryers are non- existent in China. If the internet keeps functioning, we will be OK.

 We have nearly walked our legs off, but there are lots of shade trees.  The power lines are hanging in bundles, from tree to tree.  Certainly glad not to be an electric lineman here!  Found a grocery store--there are fruit and vegetable markets on nearly every corner.  Bananas are safe. We'll learn how to safely wash the others or use my handy peeler.

Our fellow teacher under the power lines

Bon Voyage

We arrived at the SL airport with 4 bags, each weighing between 50-51 pounds (that's cutting it close), 2 carry-ons, and 2 computer bags. They scanned my hands for traces of explosives.  Apparently they thought  I might be concealing something in the ace bandage on my ankle.  I requested wheelchair service, because I wasn't sure how my leg would be when I got to China.  They whisked me off the plane in Seattle and wheeled me through 2 concourses all the way to the end, right to my gate.  Slick!  Then I arrived in Shanghai.  This wheelchair was pushed by a tiny Chinese girl, but she said she was up to the task.  We had to retrieve all our bags and go through customs.  So Tim piled everything onto 2 carts.  He pushed one, and I pushed the other from the wheelchair, with the Chinese girls pushing me.  It was like 

When we tried to check-in to our flight to Xi'an, we got bogged down.  First we had to wait for changing of wheelchair attendants. Then we picked up a couple of other wheelchair gimps, and raced to security.  Tim had all 4 carry-ons and got separated to a different line.  So while I sailed right through, Tim had to practically undress and find the computers and 3-oz. liquids in everyone's bags. He was disheveled for sure!  Finally we raced up a back alley elevator, they dumped us and our bags on the plane, and it took off.

Our bags were the first ones off in Xi'an, since they were the last ones on in Shanghai.  But alas, only 3 of the 4 came off the runway.  After filling out forms, phone calls, and passport info, they sent us to find our driver.  I had little hope of ever seeing my bag again--with all my winter clothes.  Imagine my joy the next day when it was delivered to my apartment. Yeah!