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!

Sidelined by Melanoma

So I'm in my training class at BYU, when I get a call from the dermatologist.  "You must come home," he says. "I'm in classes in Provo", I say.   Then he tells me I have a melanoma on my ankle and he'll meet me in the office in the morning.  I try to concentrate on my classes the rest of the day, rework my health insurance, drive home to Cedar City.

Dermatologist sends me to the surgeon, who schedules surgery and a skin graft 4 days later.  (No goofing around with cancer and an imminent trip to China.) I'm in and out of the hospital in a couple of hours.  Then home to recuperate with a soft cast and crutches... No walking for a week.  Then only minimal walking for another week...Very "not fun" trying to pack and to go to China.  Finally the Dr. tells me it's an 85% take with the graft and I'm good to go.

I'm so very grateful for prayers, blessings, food and kindnesses extended to me during  this time.