Things We've Learned

We've been in China for 11 days.  It's been an amazing 11 days.  We've learned lots of things.  The people in China don't speak English but they're willing to work with you and try to figure out what it is you need.  There are little restaurants all along the street the seat about 15-20 people, if that many.  Everyone sells something different.  Usually they have pictures so you can order by pictures but you don't always know what you're getting.  One night we bought something at a dumpling restaurant.  She kept asking us if we wanted this or this as she pointed to the menu, and we kept telling her we didn't know.  Finally she just got us something.  It was delicious.  We told the other teachers we are here with so they wanted us to take them there and order the same thing for them. When we did just that, the food they brought out was different.  Not sure how that happened.  😏  But they still enjoyed it.

We've learned that when you're walking along the sidewalk, always be paying attention.  When the road get too crowded the electric scooters and bicycles come and join us on the sidewalk.  They beep their horns when they come up behind you to get you to move out of the way.  It can get a bit crazy and hectic.  Yesterday as we walk through the Muslim District and old man on a VERY old bicycle with a huge load of garbage on the back came through the crowd.  Usually the bicyclists have bells but he didn't so he was just yelling as he went.  It really struck me funny and as I laughed at this man I noticed there were others that stepped out of his way were laughing too. That's one way to get through the crowds.

We've learned that you don't go anywhere without an umbrella.  At least not in September, which is the rainy season.  We walked out of church (the Villa) on Sunday to rain coming down and we didn't have an umbrella.  We thought we'd be fine but the Branch President's wife insisted we take her umbrella.  It was a good thing we did because we ended up not finding our bus stop and had to walk the hour and a half home--in the rain--in our Sunday clothes.  😳 Thank goodness Sis. Hammond lent us her umbrella.

The fruits and vegetables and the outdoor markets are amazing.  Even though they sell the same things at the grocery store they seem to be better quality at the market.  They sell all kinds of things that I have no idea what are.  I'm hoping someone will teach me what some of those strange fruits and vegetables and roots are and how to cook with them.

China is less backward and more modern then we expected.  There is no graffiti anywhere.  You feel safe outside no matter what time of day it is and no matter where you are in the city.  Xi'an is huge and there is always a bustle of people everywhere.  There are cars and buses and bikes and scooters going in every direction.  Everyone is honking their horns.  When it's time to cross the street you just make sure that you're either in a group or the cars are moving slowly enough that you can make your way through and in and around them.  There are smells you've never smelled before--both good and bad.  There is usually an older person out sweeping the street with a big broom made of twigs and branches somewhere in your path.

I've learned you can do laundry without a dryer.  It's not very fun and it takes a whole day even though you've only washed one load of clothes.  Which means we're going to have to do laundry more often.  We bought a drying rack and it's in our shower--yes it's a big shower.  I'd show you pictures but it's all our underwear and I don't think anyone wants to see that!! 😂 I'll take a picture next time with regular clothes so you can see how much fun laundry day is.

We've been through so much bureaucracy it's been crazy.  We've become experts in filling out forms and waiting in lines.  I'm amazed that we haven't gotten our passport number memorized by now.

We have learned that the majority of the people are just good common people.  They are not caught up in trying to get ahead in life.  They are just trying to provide for themselves and their families. They're not caught up in things of the world.  At least in the area where we are living.

Today we were invited to a teacher's commendatory meeting.  Lin Zhu, who works for the university and helps the foreign teachers with all our needs, made sure we were there early and had us all sitting at the front of the auditorium.  The president of the University spoke after they handed out several awards to some of the teachers.  The large auditorium was full of faculty members from Xi'an International Studies University.  We couldn't understand a word of the 1 1/2 hour meeting but we learned that they are very formal in how they do some things.  I have a lot of respect for these people already.

Kim has survived his first week of teaching and he came over every day with great stories where we both just sat and laughed and laughed.  We haven't laughed so much in a long time.  It's been great.  I told him though that he has got to write his stories and add them to the blog because only he can tell stories the way he tells stories!!!  😁 Hopefully he will actually do it because he has some great stories.

Well this post has gotten to be way longer than anyone wants to read.  Mostly I guess it's for me so I will better appreciate everything we are experiencing.  I don't want to forget how much we have learned in such a short time.

Walking home from church in the rain.  Notice we are all still smiling!  😃

This doesn't show the crowds of people but even if the parking is on the sidewalk then you have to share the sidewalk with cars!!

Sometimes it's a little like a demolition derby with cars trying to turn and others going straight.  They just weave around each other.  I'm sure glad I don't have to drive in this craziness. 🤣

Our Teacher Commendatory Meeting

The President of the University, who just happened to have visited BYU last month.

Just a few of the awards they handed out.

We've learned many more things but for now this will have to do.....