Thanksgiving Times Two...

12.1.13 – Xi’an Update

It is time for another update.  Especially since it is/was Thanksgiving time and I need to let you all know what I’m grateful for!  I am SO grateful for (in no particular order):

…All of you and the incredible individuals you are.  You all make me so happy!

...Wonderful children that are living amazing lives!

…Beautiful grandchildren that are healthy and happy and being raised by loving parents.

…Good health and strength over here in China (we need it!).

…Jordan.  He is amazing and I love him dearly!

…Real Chinese food!  It is SO yummy!  Nothing like the US Chinese food.

…Good friends and family everywhere! 

…This beautiful world.  I’m in awe of it most every day of my life.

…The gospel and the joy it brings to my life. 

…Our opportunity to be on the first of MANY missions to come. 

…A 2” piece of foam on our bed so we can have a little comfort at night. 

…The rain because it clears the horrible pollution out of the air here in Xi’an for at least a day!

…Tender mercies that come daily in various forms. 

I could go on for hours…. Just know that I am so grateful for my life and the opportunity that I have to be alive every day and enjoy every minute.

Life continues to march on here in Xi’an.  We are finding the weeks fly by at the speed of lightening!  I guess because we are so busy, time is just gone and we find ourselves at the end of another week and then the end of another month.  Pretty soon we will find ourselves at the end of another year!  Crazy how fast it goes!

FIRECRACKERS

Have I mentioned how many firecrackers are always going off in China?  It seems that every other hour or so, firecrackers are being set off to announce or celebrate something.  The sound of pop-pop-pop constantly fills the air here.  They LOVE their firecrackers!  The tradition of lighting them off says that the loud noise scares away evil spirits so there will be success in whatever area of life they are celebrating.  Seriously, they are sounding off all the time!

SPICY FOOD

Anyone who knows me and knows me well, knows I have never liked nor been able to handle spicy food.  Well, something drastic has changed in my life… I LOVE SPICY FOOD!  “What?  How can that be?  You were such a whimp before!”  I know… I can hardly believe it myself.  Spicy food is so good!  I can finally taste the flavor of spicy food and it doesn’t just burn, burn, burn.  The red peppers added to most everything here have such a good flavor.  I’m completely baffled by this new phenomenon!

MORNING TRUMPET

Every morning at precisely 0650, a trumpet plays in the distance, awakening all the students from a restful slumber.  Can’t you just hear it now?  I’m usually almost ready for the day by the time it goes off each morning and I look forward to hearing it faintly through an open window.

MASSAGE 

We found the BEST massage (neck, back, arms & feet) place here!  It only costs 20 RMB ($3.20) for one hour!  It is amazing and a weekly ritual for me now.  I took Jordan once and here are his comments:  “First, they put your feet in boiling hot water to soak which must be equal to Chinese water torture, then they start the physical abuse by trying to manipulate your torso into positions it shouldn't be in and pushing on some areas so hard that you feel your entire body go numb, after this they begin to shave your feet and trim your toenails with a scalpel that could scare feathers off a turkey!”  Ok, so he didn't actually say it like that, more like, “first the water torture, then the physical abuse and then the knife.”  But my way is so much more descriptive!  Anyway, to all that I say, “And what’s not to LOVE!”  It will continue to be a weekly ritual for me. 

MOVIES

Movies are interesting here.  We have yet to go see an actual movie in a theater, mostly because we have no idea where to find them and the one that we did find was not showing any US flicks.  We have however, been able to find several movies at little vendor stands along the streets.  It is like reaching into a goody-bag and not knowing what you will get when you open your hand.  Our favorite by far is when you can definitely tell that someone has been sitting in the back of a theater recording the movie.  Definite signs of “in-movie-theater-pirating” are: 

1.       The sound quality is so bad you have to learn to read lips or use earplugs when it all of a sudden goes LOUD.

2.      The beginning of the film seems to be in black & white but it is actually kinda greenish in color.  The color gradually gets better and worse.

3.      There are no beginning or ending credits.

4.      Occasionally the lens cap goes on but you can still hear the movie.  When the threat of discovery is gone, the lens cap comes back off.

5.      And our all-time favorite is:  You can watch people get up from their seats, go out to the bathroom (or for popcorn maybe) and then several minutes later you can watch their shadow return to their seat.  One lady had an up-doo (men, that is a hairdo that is on top of the head) as tall as the Eiffel Tower and it was very comical in shadow form. 

THANKSGIVING

Our Thanksgiving was a wee bit unconventional, but nonetheless enjoyable after a long day of teaching on Weds and Thurs.  We started a day early on Weds evening with a Foreign Teacher Faculty dinner that I organized at a nearby café.  We had 28 people in attendance.  The café actually prepared a real Thanksgiving Dinner for us with turkey, dressing, small potatoes (not mashed but still excellent) and a wee amount of gravy and cranberries.  Although a little more gravy and cranberries would have been awesome, it was a great dinner for only 88 RMB ($14.50)

On Thursday night we had a Branch Thanksgiving Dinner at the Sheraton Hotel Buffet.  A little pricier than Weds night but equally as good for 99 RMB ($16.50).  The Sheraton caters to foreigners and on Thursday night, they rolled out the red carpet.  Not only did they have a giant roasted turkey with dressing and gravy, they had a large pork leg and MANY other foods including: sushi, tacos, salads, fruits, cheeses, regular Chinese favorites and the BEST dessert bar in town!   

So, as you can tell, we have not lost our sense of humor or wonder.  We enjoy every day as if it were our first here and see the time passing VERY quickly.  Although we miss you all like CRAZY, we are content knowing that we are here doing a positive work that will change lives, hopefully for the better.  

Love you all SO much and hope your Thanksgiving was wonderful. We missed being with you and hope you could feel our love across the miles, WISHING YOU THE BEST THANKSGIVING EVER!!