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.