Letter #4 September 14 – 20, 2008
Sunday, September 14, 2008 – Mom – We began the 3-hour block church today. We had sharing time during the 2nd hour or Sunday School time and Elva did sharing time. Then during the 3rd hour, I taught the lesson for our 11 year old primary child. I taught in our kitchen so that he could have a table to color on. He is a very bright boy. He is the son of the branch president and he has a 13 year old brother and a 16 year old brother. All of them are home schooled. Afterwards, the branch presidency set everyone apart in their new callings and then the Jessops invited all 4 of us new couples to have dinner at their apartment. We all contributed something and she made us a yummy soup with store bought rolls. It was very tasty. We are realizing that we can’t eat the Chinese food every day. We need something more American or familiar in between. Today, is the Mid-Autumn holiday and when it was dark, the fireworks started. We could not see them, only hear the loud booms. We walked outside and could see the smoke from the fireworks, but the buildings around us were too tall to see the fireworks themselves. A Chinese girl saw us standing outside from her window and came out to talk English with us. She is going to a university in Atlanta in the spring and is very worried about her accent. Also, earlier in the day, I was stopped by a young Chinese man who wanted to know if he could speak English with me.
Sunday, September 14, 2008 – Mom – We began the 3-hour block church today. We had sharing time during the 2nd hour or Sunday School time and Elva did sharing time. Then during the 3rd hour, I taught the lesson for our 11 year old primary child. I taught in our kitchen so that he could have a table to color on. He is a very bright boy. He is the son of the branch president and he has a 13 year old brother and a 16 year old brother. All of them are home schooled. Afterwards, the branch presidency set everyone apart in their new callings and then the Jessops invited all 4 of us new couples to have dinner at their apartment. We all contributed something and she made us a yummy soup with store bought rolls. It was very tasty. We are realizing that we can’t eat the Chinese food every day. We need something more American or familiar in between. Today, is the Mid-Autumn holiday and when it was dark, the fireworks started. We could not see them, only hear the loud booms. We walked outside and could see the smoke from the fireworks, but the buildings around us were too tall to see the fireworks themselves. A Chinese girl saw us standing outside from her window and came out to talk English with us. She is going to a university in Atlanta in the spring and is very worried about her accent. Also, earlier in the day, I was stopped by a young Chinese man who wanted to know if he could speak English with me.
Monday, September 15, 2008 – Clifford’s birthday – Dad – Today was a day off from school. I guess since the Australian teacher arrived last week we are off for another two weeks until our freshman arrive from military training. We did decide to go downtown to the artist street and the Muslim market with another couple to do some shopping. But first we all went for a massage from the “Blind Massage” store. We all were in the same room lying on separate beds with a hole in the bed to place our heads. We were fully dressed with blind men working on our muscles. My muscles were screaming as he dug into my back muscles and neck muscles. I thought I would come off the bench at times. They used no oils or creams. As if a whistle blew, they all stopped what they were doing and left. He only had time to work on my back and legs but the others had a full message. In the USA that would have cost $100, here in China it cost $5. My body will pay for this tomorrow. We then went to the artist street while the other couple (Jessops) purchased many items. We then went to the Muslim market, having a MacDonald’s on the way (cost $4 for a chicken filet combo over here), to have some oriental blouses made for mom. Cost: $100 for two. They are really pretty though and she will enjoy them. Tuesday, September 16, 2008 – Mom – On our visit downtown yesterday, we saw some interesting things. People are always sweeping the roads, the steps, the walks. We noticed this sweeper swinging his homemade broom quite wildly and soon realized he was chasing and hitting a big mouse (perhaps a rat). We watched him beat the “beast” to death. In the market, we saw a man walking away with a very tiny bird cage with something in it. It was a very large cricket. I took a picture of the vender who sold crickets in the cages and the crickets were making their sounds.
We visited with the assistant dean of our department today and got a lot of questions answered regarding our assignments. Dad has 14 hours (7 classes) and I have 16 hours (8 classes). All of the foreign teachers have the same mailing address and we take turns for a week at a time of gathering the mail. I volunteered for this week because I was expecting a package from LeRoy (another pair of pants and a shirt). And I did get the package today. Thanks. LeRoy. We were told to come back today after 5:00 pm to pick up my Chinese shirts. So we took our little pieces of paper to show the taxi driver where we want to go and survived another taxi ride. The shirts are beautiful and I am very pleased with how they turned out. We met Professor Dong tonight when she brought us the draft of what we will be recording to help the students with their phonetics in speaking English. We will begin recording tomorrow morning. Also, today, we received a copy of the newspaper that had my and Elva Orton’s picture in for picking the pomegranates.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008 – Dad – I hope my stomach makes it through China. It seems that I have abandoned most Chinese food in favor for the small choice of foods which look to be American. From my peak weight to now, 30 pounds have fallen off – still need more. Today Professor Dong picked us up and the first thing she said is that she is afraid of driving in China and that she has poor eyesight - Oh great! With her cautious driving and lots of honking at her driving skills, we made it to the recording studio. I expected to get rammed in the back since I was in the back seat but protected again. Thank you Lord. We recorded for three hours. Mom and I usually would tag team through a reading. Her being the female speaker and I the male. At the end there were additional readings – they wanted mom to do the speaking on those but her voice wasn’t what they wanted so I read them all. I was gloating that Mom had to read them and that I was finished – surprise. We hope to get two of the books that she is publishing. We will be the stars. We made 600 Yuan and a free lunch. Our little hostess is a widow, an English professor, one daughter in England and was in Ohio for a year of study. We stopped at a restaurant for lunch. It just so happened to be a Tibetan Restaurant with unfamiliar foods. We let our Chinese Professor Dong do the talking since we didn’t understand anything nor could we talk, but, we could point and grunt. She finally negotiated to have rice for us, salads, and when they brought out our fish, it was still alive. With her approval the fish went in the kitchen, still wiggling as well, and was prepared immediately and brought out in a pan cooking with vegetables on it. I didn’t mind the recently prepared fish, it was the eyes and its smile still on his face. We did make it through but our stomachs are still rebelling. I failed to mention that on our way walking to the restaurant I saw a lady shining shoes. She squatted down right where was, put a very small stool down for the customer to sit, took his shoe off, put his foot in a plastic bag, reinserted his foot into his shoe and then polished the shoe. I realized that the plastic bag was to keep the paste off his socks. When she finished she removed his polished shoe, removed the bag from his foot, put his foot into his shoe and then proceeded to do the other shoe in the exact same manner. Cost: 5 Yuan or approximately 60 cents. It is amazing how new and different experiences keep showing up every day.
Thursday, September 18, 2008 – Mom – Clint’s birthday – We talked with Jenna and kids on Skype this morning. Everybody, get your Skype working! Today, it rained and we walked to the store to buy Oreo cookies (they were on sale at our grocery store). Then we walked to the open market to buy tomatoes and apples. Elva Orton and I went to the fabric mart with our branch president’s wife, Elise Britton. She has been here for 4 years and can speak some Chinese. This was a brave adventure for us because we got a taxi, showed the driver the Chinese writing that someone had written down for us. He took us to a spot and we realized that we had no idea if it was the right spot or not, but it was!! Thank goodness. It was a huge place with little fabric shops, probably a whole city block in size. This evening we had a grilled cheese sandwich and went to English Corner. The English speaking teachers are surrounded by Chinese students and civilians who come to this campus on Thursday evening just to speak English. Alice Jessop said we were giving service to the Chinese by being there. I thought that was a nice way to look at it. In bed at 10:30 pm.
Friday, September 19, 2008 – Dad – A slow day. The maid came over and cleaned the apartment today. She worked for two hours and we paid her the going rate – 40 Yuan or approx. $3 an hour. We then called Clint for his birthday – it was good to talk with him. Then off to the Korean Bakery to purchase Corn Syrup and there was none there. So we purchased some goodies that tasted sugarless but ok. We finally got our bank cards and got paid today. Edith drew 2000 Yuan out ($300) for our use during the month. We went to dinner at the Village Inn – both of us had hamburgers and root beer. The root beer tasted like medicine. Spent some time with the Jessop’s this evening. A good day. A funny thing is that the Chinese think cleaning your teeth in public is improper, but picking your nose in public is ok. Wow!
Saturday, September 20, 2008 – Mom – Today, we walked to Metro (a store like Costco). We just received our membership cards. The university pays for them. It is about a 30 minute walk. We enjoy walking, but it is always a very crowded sidewalk and road. We are totally amazed that there are not more accidents because people cross the street any time and any where they want. Remember, the traffic does not stop for pedestrians. So, in addition to that danger to our lives, we add the rides in the taxis (again, remembering no traffic rules are obeyed. Many times they are two taxis driving in one lane with a big bus trying to squeeze in). Add to that, there is much pollution, the water we drink should only come from bottled water or boiled 15 minutes and the food and our intestines sometimes do not agree. What I am trying to say is each day, many prayers for safety are sent heavenward and they are answered daily!!
Wednesday, September 17, 2008 – Dad – I hope my stomach makes it through China. It seems that I have abandoned most Chinese food in favor for the small choice of foods which look to be American. From my peak weight to now, 30 pounds have fallen off – still need more. Today Professor Dong picked us up and the first thing she said is that she is afraid of driving in China and that she has poor eyesight - Oh great! With her cautious driving and lots of honking at her driving skills, we made it to the recording studio. I expected to get rammed in the back since I was in the back seat but protected again. Thank you Lord. We recorded for three hours. Mom and I usually would tag team through a reading. Her being the female speaker and I the male. At the end there were additional readings – they wanted mom to do the speaking on those but her voice wasn’t what they wanted so I read them all. I was gloating that Mom had to read them and that I was finished – surprise. We hope to get two of the books that she is publishing. We will be the stars. We made 600 Yuan and a free lunch. Our little hostess is a widow, an English professor, one daughter in England and was in Ohio for a year of study. We stopped at a restaurant for lunch. It just so happened to be a Tibetan Restaurant with unfamiliar foods. We let our Chinese Professor Dong do the talking since we didn’t understand anything nor could we talk, but, we could point and grunt. She finally negotiated to have rice for us, salads, and when they brought out our fish, it was still alive. With her approval the fish went in the kitchen, still wiggling as well, and was prepared immediately and brought out in a pan cooking with vegetables on it. I didn’t mind the recently prepared fish, it was the eyes and its smile still on his face. We did make it through but our stomachs are still rebelling. I failed to mention that on our way walking to the restaurant I saw a lady shining shoes. She squatted down right where was, put a very small stool down for the customer to sit, took his shoe off, put his foot in a plastic bag, reinserted his foot into his shoe and then polished the shoe. I realized that the plastic bag was to keep the paste off his socks. When she finished she removed his polished shoe, removed the bag from his foot, put his foot into his shoe and then proceeded to do the other shoe in the exact same manner. Cost: 5 Yuan or approximately 60 cents. It is amazing how new and different experiences keep showing up every day.
Thursday, September 18, 2008 – Mom – Clint’s birthday – We talked with Jenna and kids on Skype this morning. Everybody, get your Skype working! Today, it rained and we walked to the store to buy Oreo cookies (they were on sale at our grocery store). Then we walked to the open market to buy tomatoes and apples. Elva Orton and I went to the fabric mart with our branch president’s wife, Elise Britton. She has been here for 4 years and can speak some Chinese. This was a brave adventure for us because we got a taxi, showed the driver the Chinese writing that someone had written down for us. He took us to a spot and we realized that we had no idea if it was the right spot or not, but it was!! Thank goodness. It was a huge place with little fabric shops, probably a whole city block in size. This evening we had a grilled cheese sandwich and went to English Corner. The English speaking teachers are surrounded by Chinese students and civilians who come to this campus on Thursday evening just to speak English. Alice Jessop said we were giving service to the Chinese by being there. I thought that was a nice way to look at it. In bed at 10:30 pm.
Friday, September 19, 2008 – Dad – A slow day. The maid came over and cleaned the apartment today. She worked for two hours and we paid her the going rate – 40 Yuan or approx. $3 an hour. We then called Clint for his birthday – it was good to talk with him. Then off to the Korean Bakery to purchase Corn Syrup and there was none there. So we purchased some goodies that tasted sugarless but ok. We finally got our bank cards and got paid today. Edith drew 2000 Yuan out ($300) for our use during the month. We went to dinner at the Village Inn – both of us had hamburgers and root beer. The root beer tasted like medicine. Spent some time with the Jessop’s this evening. A good day. A funny thing is that the Chinese think cleaning your teeth in public is improper, but picking your nose in public is ok. Wow!
Saturday, September 20, 2008 – Mom – Today, we walked to Metro (a store like Costco). We just received our membership cards. The university pays for them. It is about a 30 minute walk. We enjoy walking, but it is always a very crowded sidewalk and road. We are totally amazed that there are not more accidents because people cross the street any time and any where they want. Remember, the traffic does not stop for pedestrians. So, in addition to that danger to our lives, we add the rides in the taxis (again, remembering no traffic rules are obeyed. Many times they are two taxis driving in one lane with a big bus trying to squeeze in). Add to that, there is much pollution, the water we drink should only come from bottled water or boiled 15 minutes and the food and our intestines sometimes do not agree. What I am trying to say is each day, many prayers for safety are sent heavenward and they are answered daily!!
2 comments:
Mom, your shirt looks really pretty. What color is your other one? Dad- I can't believe you've lost 30 lbs. You both always use the foreign experiences to drop weight. Good for you but bad you don't care for the food.
Whoa---
Mumsy, you look like a Hottie chinagrandma. Your shirt looks really nice. Dad good splurge!
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