Tomorrow we leave for Hong Kong and SW China. We'll return 2/12 sometime. I'm trying to pack for 8 days in two carry-ons. It's not easy!
Last Sat. we were invited by a friend,Henry, to go to his friends house to make dumplings and have dinner. The friends' son is 24 yrs.old and speaks English. His parents don't neither does Henrys' wife.
The table was spread with all sorts of fruit, nuts and candy before our meal. Then another English couple showed up. They work for the International School here and know the two young girls from our church. We had a wonderful dinner! There was so-o-o much food. At least 21 different dishes; fish, shrimp,chicken,pork, boiled bacon,lotus root and more!! And then they brought out the dumplings! There had been a dumpling making party earlier. The filling was shrimp, pork,cabbage, etc.We were certainly well fed. They were so excited to have us in their home ( 3 bdrm apt. of 4th floor) and so gracious.
Dad has succeeded in giving me his cold, but I'm fighting it like crazy. I don't want to go on vacation with a cold. I've been taking Airborn 3 times a day. We went out to dinner tonight so we wouldn't have any food in the refrigerator. We took two young girls with us and they took the left-overs home!
Take care. We love you all!! Be safe while we're gone!! Mom
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Monday, January 23, 2012
Jan 22
Our total congregation was 21 on Sunday. We met in the Relief Society room again to stay warm. I conducted and taught Rel. Soc. There were 4 of us! But the Church is true, even in China!! "Wherever two or three shall meet in my name....."
We were all invited to dinner that night at the home of our Rel. Soc. pres. It was New Year's Eve in China. We left here at 2:30 and walked to the subway station and then when we got off the subway took a taxi from the subway station to her house. We arrived at 4:00. She has a very nice house in a gated community. She's from Taiwan and has been in China for several years. Her daughter goes to BYU Provo and her son will go to BYU Hawaii next Sept. Smart kids!
So her I.E. (maid) made about 12 dishes for dinner! There was shrimp cooked with the shell,eyes and legs still on it and they just eat it like that. I passed. I tried everything but I didn't go back for seconds. The dessert were OK. They don't cook with sugar, so even though it looks delicious it still tastes bland.
Then her son set off fireworks. The sparklers were about 3 ft. long and every thing that he lit was loud! The whole neighborhood was loud! There were some beautiful night displays too.
Then the subway ride home (she took us to the subway station) and then the walked home. It was -12 C(10 F )I had on earmuffs, a scarf wrapped around my mouth and nose and neck, my hood on and my glasses, besides my long johns, sweater and big coat and gloves. It was DARN cold! The walk is about 1 1/2 mi. unless it's freezing cold, then it's like 5 mi. Nelson didn't want to take a taxi, he wanted to walk!
All night fireworks were going off, especially at midnight. There's mostly old people where we live so it wasn't too bad. We slept through the 12-1 barrage. But they're still going off today. The celebration lasts for 15 days. The fireworks booths are huge. You wouldn't believe the packs of firecrackers they sell. And they let them off at 7:30 in the morning! We even see some of the things we used to sell at our fireworks booth.
Gung Hay Fat Choy! ( that's Cantonese and we speak Mandarin here, but I don't know it in Mandarin. You know what I mean.) XO Mom
We were all invited to dinner that night at the home of our Rel. Soc. pres. It was New Year's Eve in China. We left here at 2:30 and walked to the subway station and then when we got off the subway took a taxi from the subway station to her house. We arrived at 4:00. She has a very nice house in a gated community. She's from Taiwan and has been in China for several years. Her daughter goes to BYU Provo and her son will go to BYU Hawaii next Sept. Smart kids!
So her I.E. (maid) made about 12 dishes for dinner! There was shrimp cooked with the shell,eyes and legs still on it and they just eat it like that. I passed. I tried everything but I didn't go back for seconds. The dessert were OK. They don't cook with sugar, so even though it looks delicious it still tastes bland.
Then her son set off fireworks. The sparklers were about 3 ft. long and every thing that he lit was loud! The whole neighborhood was loud! There were some beautiful night displays too.
Then the subway ride home (she took us to the subway station) and then the walked home. It was -12 C(10 F )I had on earmuffs, a scarf wrapped around my mouth and nose and neck, my hood on and my glasses, besides my long johns, sweater and big coat and gloves. It was DARN cold! The walk is about 1 1/2 mi. unless it's freezing cold, then it's like 5 mi. Nelson didn't want to take a taxi, he wanted to walk!
All night fireworks were going off, especially at midnight. There's mostly old people where we live so it wasn't too bad. We slept through the 12-1 barrage. But they're still going off today. The celebration lasts for 15 days. The fireworks booths are huge. You wouldn't believe the packs of firecrackers they sell. And they let them off at 7:30 in the morning! We even see some of the things we used to sell at our fireworks booth.
Gung Hay Fat Choy! ( that's Cantonese and we speak Mandarin here, but I don't know it in Mandarin. You know what I mean.) XO Mom
Friday, January 20, 2012
Jan 20th
Yesterday five of us went to visit the Boeing plant that's here. Our Branch President is the General Manager and he gave us a power point presentation, pizza and a tour! It was very interesting. The starting wage for an assembly line person is about 1200 yuan a month, that's about $189.00 US. That's not very much. They employ over 800 people. In fact, most of the work we saw was being done by hand; smoothing fabric over shapes to be cooked and hardened into parts of the airplane. And then those parts have to be cleaned up and shipped out. Afterwards we went to another market place; full of watches, binoculars, knives, and phones.
I bought a few scarfs and Dad bought some matches that last forever.
It is definitely a holiday season. Lots of people were around.
I watched a man at one of the street vendors sample 6 different sauces that were out there in open pans and then he put the spoon back in the sauce each time!
There were a lot of fish out also. The shrimp looks interesting but we're just not sure where it was raised at. The water is so polluted.
The foreigners who live here, like our Branch Pres, are not allowed to drive. They all have a driver, sometimes two, one for the husband and one for the wife. It's probably safer that way too. Although the local drivers drive like crazy people!! I always make sure I sit in the back seat so I can't see.
Dad's in Beijing today with another BYU teacher, Marv Johnson. Marv's looking for golf clubs. Dad got a blood test. Heaven only knows what else they'll find!
Love you all!! Take care of each other!! Love Mom
I bought a few scarfs and Dad bought some matches that last forever.
It is definitely a holiday season. Lots of people were around.
I watched a man at one of the street vendors sample 6 different sauces that were out there in open pans and then he put the spoon back in the sauce each time!
There were a lot of fish out also. The shrimp looks interesting but we're just not sure where it was raised at. The water is so polluted.
The foreigners who live here, like our Branch Pres, are not allowed to drive. They all have a driver, sometimes two, one for the husband and one for the wife. It's probably safer that way too. Although the local drivers drive like crazy people!! I always make sure I sit in the back seat so I can't see.
Dad's in Beijing today with another BYU teacher, Marv Johnson. Marv's looking for golf clubs. Dad got a blood test. Heaven only knows what else they'll find!
Love you all!! Take care of each other!! Love Mom
Friday, January 13, 2012
Jan 13th
This is" The Great Subway Adventure" ! Jeanne Boren had a meeting to go to in Beijing at 10:00 Thursday. Nelson was going with her to lead the way so Ernie and I went along too. Actually, Nelson was going to a new shopping area while Jeanne was at her meeting :)
We left at 6:30 am, got the Bullet train to Beijing and then...Nelson led us to the subway. The Beijing subway has 10 lines and it's only 2 yuan ($.32) to ride as far as you want. He and Jeanne had tried it our a few weeks ago. In Beijing it was morning rush hour and the subways were packed! Jeanne, Nelson and I stepped on and Ernie was in the threshold. The attendant that was outside gave Ernie a push in his back(Nelson mentioned linebacker) and we were all in!!..like sardines! It was an adventure all day. We changed lines after about 3 stops and then changed again a few stops later. Every train was full, and then some. We walked Jeanne to her meeting and were invited back for lunch.
The shopping area was either a short subway ride or a 20 minute walk. We opted to walk. It was a beautiful morning, and a long 20 min. walk. But it was worth it! We bought some fun things.The building was 5 stories of little stalls. The salespeople were not too aggressive and they could be bargained with.
I bought a D & G coat for spring. Dark red ,short trench coat. After I got the right size ,XXXL ,we haggled the price. She started out at 880 yuan ($138.00) I said NO and then she asked me for my best price. I said 130 yuan ( about $20.00). She didn't like that, but that's what we've been paying for coats. We haggled for awhile and then we walked away. She quickly called us back and Ernie paid 135 yuan for it. I would have held out for 130. As I got out my money from my money belt she asked for "ice cream money". I refused.
We bought a few other things, but what we were really looking for were North Face coats. We were trying to haggle for some for 130 yuan when Nelson came up and said he found them for 100 yuan! His salesgirl was happy to sell us four of them.
We took the subway back to get Jeanne and enjoyed a delicious lunch with her hostess and the other 5 women from her meeting.
Then we got on the subway and went to the Pearl Mart. Ernie chose pearls while I looked around. It was a 5 story building and every jeweler only sold pearls. You've never seen so many different colors and styles.
Right around the corner was the Toy Mart. Luckily it was only one story!
On the way to the next subway station we passed a man selling kites. Did I say passed? Not before buying a few.
Now back to the train station. There are 3 train stations and I got us on the wrong subway going to the wrong train station. At the same time Nelson and Jeanne missed the subway that we were on, but they showed up 5 min. later. We got on another subway and went the other direction and eventually got to the right train station. We had to change subways 3 times. But it was only $.32!
Taking a taxi would have put us in hours of heavy traffic and cost a lot more.
When we got back to Tianjin the line to get a taxi was about an hour wait. So we decided to walk outside and try to find one. It was such a nice night. We walked for about a half hour before we found a taxi. We got home about 7:30. What a day!! We slept well last night
We left at 6:30 am, got the Bullet train to Beijing and then...Nelson led us to the subway. The Beijing subway has 10 lines and it's only 2 yuan ($.32) to ride as far as you want. He and Jeanne had tried it our a few weeks ago. In Beijing it was morning rush hour and the subways were packed! Jeanne, Nelson and I stepped on and Ernie was in the threshold. The attendant that was outside gave Ernie a push in his back(Nelson mentioned linebacker) and we were all in!!..like sardines! It was an adventure all day. We changed lines after about 3 stops and then changed again a few stops later. Every train was full, and then some. We walked Jeanne to her meeting and were invited back for lunch.
The shopping area was either a short subway ride or a 20 minute walk. We opted to walk. It was a beautiful morning, and a long 20 min. walk. But it was worth it! We bought some fun things.The building was 5 stories of little stalls. The salespeople were not too aggressive and they could be bargained with.
I bought a D & G coat for spring. Dark red ,short trench coat. After I got the right size ,XXXL ,we haggled the price. She started out at 880 yuan ($138.00) I said NO and then she asked me for my best price. I said 130 yuan ( about $20.00). She didn't like that, but that's what we've been paying for coats. We haggled for awhile and then we walked away. She quickly called us back and Ernie paid 135 yuan for it. I would have held out for 130. As I got out my money from my money belt she asked for "ice cream money". I refused.
We bought a few other things, but what we were really looking for were North Face coats. We were trying to haggle for some for 130 yuan when Nelson came up and said he found them for 100 yuan! His salesgirl was happy to sell us four of them.
We took the subway back to get Jeanne and enjoyed a delicious lunch with her hostess and the other 5 women from her meeting.
Then we got on the subway and went to the Pearl Mart. Ernie chose pearls while I looked around. It was a 5 story building and every jeweler only sold pearls. You've never seen so many different colors and styles.
Right around the corner was the Toy Mart. Luckily it was only one story!
On the way to the next subway station we passed a man selling kites. Did I say passed? Not before buying a few.
Now back to the train station. There are 3 train stations and I got us on the wrong subway going to the wrong train station. At the same time Nelson and Jeanne missed the subway that we were on, but they showed up 5 min. later. We got on another subway and went the other direction and eventually got to the right train station. We had to change subways 3 times. But it was only $.32!
Taking a taxi would have put us in hours of heavy traffic and cost a lot more.
When we got back to Tianjin the line to get a taxi was about an hour wait. So we decided to walk outside and try to find one. It was such a nice night. We walked for about a half hour before we found a taxi. We got home about 7:30. What a day!! We slept well last night
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Jan 10th
We were at our family home evening group and went over a story about a LDS pilot
who was shot down during the Vietnam war. He was a prisoner for 2 years and was listed as MIA. (missing in action).
His family did not know he was alive. He was finally allowed to write a letter to his family and had to write 25 words or less. We all got to try and write our family a letter of 25 words or less and see what we would have written. It was interesting.
Anyway, Elder Nelson, who Jodi got to shake his hand many years ago, said this and
I/we wanted to share it with you.
"When I see how carefully Heavenly Father has prepared for my present
circumstances, how can I be frightened about my future? Surely He is putting
into place today all that I will need to face the unknown times ahead."
We miss and love you all very much.
Have a good week and if it is not a good week, make it one.
Love you,
Dad
who was shot down during the Vietnam war. He was a prisoner for 2 years and was listed as MIA. (missing in action).
His family did not know he was alive. He was finally allowed to write a letter to his family and had to write 25 words or less. We all got to try and write our family a letter of 25 words or less and see what we would have written. It was interesting.
Anyway, Elder Nelson, who Jodi got to shake his hand many years ago, said this and
I/we wanted to share it with you.
"When I see how carefully Heavenly Father has prepared for my present
circumstances, how can I be frightened about my future? Surely He is putting
into place today all that I will need to face the unknown times ahead."
We miss and love you all very much.
Have a good week and if it is not a good week, make it one.
Love you,
Dad
Monday, January 9, 2012
Jan 9th
I got snookered last week. I needed a scarf and I've been looking but,no luck. We were at a different marketplace and this old lady had some . They were 25 yuan, about $3.50. I know you can get them cheaper, but she was so sweet. So I chose two of them and offered her 40 yuan. She took it. All the while she is comparing her dark weather-beaten hands and face to my "white" skin. Then Ernie came up and I told him to take a picture of us. She's all smiles(even good teeth). Ernie starts admiring some other scarfs ,pashminas, that she had, and she puts one on me. She's still smiling and chatttering away in Chinese. I thought she wanted me to have it. Which I didn't want to happen. They don't make much money. So finally, she pointed to the price and Ernie pulled out his wallet and paid her 30 yuan for it. She was asking 35. So I got another scarf, and it's not even one that we were admiring! Maybe I should say Ernie got snookered!!
We just got back from a huge shopping trip. We went to Da Hu Tong for 5 hrs. It's about 5 mi. away. It is blocks and blocks of stalls in buildings that are 3 stories high, plus all the street stalls. We looked all over and didn't find any North Face coats! But we didn't come home empty -handed:)
My beautiful bag ,that was a Christmas present from Betty, was full, and Dad had two large bags too. I'm not sure what we bought, but it was fun. Chinese New Year is in a few weeks and everyone gets new clothes then, so for a Monday it was really crowded!
I took my own PBJ but Dad bought a hot dog (?) off the street. He still seems OK. Although he did trip in a store and fall on his knee! The one thing you cannot do in China is fall. Especially at our age.
Love you all. Mom XXOO
We just got back from a huge shopping trip. We went to Da Hu Tong for 5 hrs. It's about 5 mi. away. It is blocks and blocks of stalls in buildings that are 3 stories high, plus all the street stalls. We looked all over and didn't find any North Face coats! But we didn't come home empty -handed:)
My beautiful bag ,that was a Christmas present from Betty, was full, and Dad had two large bags too. I'm not sure what we bought, but it was fun. Chinese New Year is in a few weeks and everyone gets new clothes then, so for a Monday it was really crowded!
I took my own PBJ but Dad bought a hot dog (?) off the street. He still seems OK. Although he did trip in a store and fall on his knee! The one thing you cannot do in China is fall. Especially at our age.
Love you all. Mom XXOO
Jan 7th
Fruit and vegetables are so plentiful in China. Pineapples just came in season. Ernie bought one for 5 yuan,that's like$.90. Strawberries have been in , but we're told they'll be better next month. Of course, mandarin oranges are all over the place, for cheap. On our street the vendors drive little carts that are full of fruit. There is a wide variety of apples. I don't know what their names are but they're all good.They also have lots of oranges. Most of the vegetables I don't recognize. I thought I was buying zucchini the other day and it was a cucumber. There must be 5 different kinds of cucumbers at least.
I just went outside to take pictures of the vendors and they're all gone. Lunchtime is from 11:30 to 2:00. That's when there is lots of people out. Then the shoppers die down and the vendors go home or sleep. It will be busy again at dinner time.
The pictures show the mandarin orange vendor.
The pineapple man, he peels it and takes out the eyes.
The paper goods vendor, T.P., napkins,kleenex.
XXOO
I just went outside to take pictures of the vendors and they're all gone. Lunchtime is from 11:30 to 2:00. That's when there is lots of people out. Then the shoppers die down and the vendors go home or sleep. It will be busy again at dinner time.
The pictures show the mandarin orange vendor.
The pineapple man, he peels it and takes out the eyes.
The paper goods vendor, T.P., napkins,kleenex.
XXOO
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Jan 3rd 2012
So our finals are all over. Our grade sheets are turned in. We're free!!! Now what do we do??? We're sleeping better; not so much stress about teaching. In fact, We're sleeping longer/later !!
Last night we went to a Vienna Philharmonic New Year's Concert. A lot of Strauss and cartoon music.( You know, what you hear during the cartoons. Did you realize it was classical music?)The University bought us tickets.
We were so adventurous we even took the subway! Nelson & Jeanne had been on it before. Of course, we had to walk 2 miles to get to it, but it only cost $.16 each and it was fast. There was a lot of traffic last night. There's always a lot of traffic here. It's one of their biggest problems.
Today we walked over and bought an ink cartridge for our printer! It cost 100 yuan, about $15.50. The store is four stories of electronics. Every company you can think of has at least one stall there. I didn't know there were so many phone and computer and others things available!
Tonight we're having FHE at our house. I made lemon bars. The lemons say Del monte USA.They are big and wonderful and cheap. I will miss the convenience of walking across the street and buying fresh food at cheap prices. But I won't miss the dirt.
It is always dusty. I laugh at the women who shake their dust mops out the window. Isn't it just going to the sidewalk to be tracked inside again? But I've been doing it too lately. It's China! I don't know if rain will make it cleaner or worse. So far it's just been cold and windy.(I love my sunglasses Lori sent me!)
I need to mop the kitchen before our guests come. Dad's in there making something.
Camping at Cape Lookout July 16-19. Shellee reserved 6 spaces, no yurts available.
We will be done with our classes June 15th and then we have to do grade sheets.
Love you !!!!!!!! Mom & DAD XXXOOO
Last night we went to a Vienna Philharmonic New Year's Concert. A lot of Strauss and cartoon music.( You know, what you hear during the cartoons. Did you realize it was classical music?)The University bought us tickets.
We were so adventurous we even took the subway! Nelson & Jeanne had been on it before. Of course, we had to walk 2 miles to get to it, but it only cost $.16 each and it was fast. There was a lot of traffic last night. There's always a lot of traffic here. It's one of their biggest problems.
Today we walked over and bought an ink cartridge for our printer! It cost 100 yuan, about $15.50. The store is four stories of electronics. Every company you can think of has at least one stall there. I didn't know there were so many phone and computer and others things available!
Tonight we're having FHE at our house. I made lemon bars. The lemons say Del monte USA.They are big and wonderful and cheap. I will miss the convenience of walking across the street and buying fresh food at cheap prices. But I won't miss the dirt.
It is always dusty. I laugh at the women who shake their dust mops out the window. Isn't it just going to the sidewalk to be tracked inside again? But I've been doing it too lately. It's China! I don't know if rain will make it cleaner or worse. So far it's just been cold and windy.(I love my sunglasses Lori sent me!)
I need to mop the kitchen before our guests come. Dad's in there making something.
Camping at Cape Lookout July 16-19. Shellee reserved 6 spaces, no yurts available.
We will be done with our classes June 15th and then we have to do grade sheets.
Love you !!!!!!!! Mom & DAD XXXOOO
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