The People of Xi'an

We are leaving in the morning to come back to Utah.  We have missed our family so much.  We have missed our friends and neighbors and ward members.  But there is a part of me that doesn't want to go home.  We don't want to live here forever, but we have loved the people.  We have loved the shops.  We have loved the markets with the fresh vegetables and fresh fruits.  We have learned to love some of the food.  We have loved our experiences and our teaching.  We have loved our students the most.  We have seen many tender mercies.  We see all kinds and all sorts of people and we love them all.
 Too cute to not take a picture.
 
Taking a nap wherever you happen to be is very common!
 
This woman just stopped and talked to us.  She's accomplished a lot in her life and spoke perfect English.
 Easter Egg Hunt with our branch. Many people invited their Chinese friends so they could experience a little of the American Culture.  The boy below was going off to find Easter Eggs.  If your Chinese or American and you're 8 years old. it doesn't matter.  They are all the same.
We see "Ginger" dogs all over the city.  Funny thing is, when I see these dogs it  makes me homesick.
Need a shoe fixed.  No problem.  Need a backpack fixed.  No problem.  Such a handy little man.

Just a random boy we stopped and talked with on the street one day.
The men are often playing games along the street.  This is a popular one.  Mahjong is another one you often see.  And of course, they have their card games.

Women dance every night on the street or in the parks.  Many do Tai Chi and other exercises.  It's quite fun to watch them.


I loved watching this lady.  What a gorgeous dress.  And the people above we lots of fun too. 
 We went and saw a show one night.  These were the greeters at the door.

 He was playing the drums outside the theater.  He even let me have a try at it.
The man in the blue, Tadios, was at a conference we went to.  He grew up in Ethiopia but is now a US citizen and a lawyer in LA.  He is working on a doctorate degree in education, which was why he was in Xi'an.  While talking with him the other 2 boys walked by.  The boy in the purple was from Ethiopia.  Of course, Tadios was beyond himself with glee.
 Cute girl!
 Just a random couple on the subway in traditional costumes going somewhere!
 Cute girls we met at a restaurant.
 A mom and her boy!
Grandma out with the baby for a stroll.

 These people are on this corner we pass by every morning.  They milk the goats for "fresh" milk!
There are ALWAYS people out sweeping the streets--collecting all the leaves, twigs, blossoms, whatever falls!

 The children are adorable.  I could have taken dozens of more pictures.  This girl and her mother were making a picture inside the Moslem Museum.
 This little boy was singing and English song so we stopped to talked to him.  He found us pretty frightening!
These kids were waiting for the city bus after school.  They were so excited to see Americans and stopped us to talk.
 More random kids out with their parents or grandparents.

 Catching Bubbles!  Kids are kids no matter where they live.

 This father wanted his boy to meet me.  Isn't he adorable!
 Have you ever seen anything so cute?!
Playing in the square while grandma and grandpa tend. Many children are raised by their grandparents because the parents are "too busy" working.  
The "old" people are generally as cute as the kids.  It's just a little harder to get a picture of them.  We always say, "she's got a story!"  when we see them.  When you hear the history of the past 50 years that this country has been through--then you know she has a story!  I would love to hear it.  I've heard many from my students.  They have lived hard lives.  They have a story.
 This is a common sight.  It makes me laugh.  Just taking a break! 
 We see lots of kids with scooters.
When you see a little girl all bundled up like this you have to take a picture!
 Oh the subway.  We go a lot of places using the subway.  It's always a great place to people watch!
 Met this lovely woman at a dinner we had been invited to.  She actually knew Tadios whom I mentioned earlier.  She was very lovely, inside and out.
A group of college graduates taking selfies.  They were so fun to see!
 This is on the track field of the elementary school by where we live.  It looked like they were getting their pictures taken.  I'm assuming they're 6th graders and getting ready to graduate from "Primary School".


 Some more older people.  They were selling fruit outside the Terra Cotta Warriors.  "They've Got a Story!"

This man is often right outside our campus.  He's always building something.  It's fun to see what projects he's got going.
 This poor man was playing his instrument along the main road.  I think these are all his belongings!  He couldn't sing worth anything and you couldn't help but feel for him.  We gave him some money this cold winter night.
 Just a couple of women who wanted their picture taken with me.  I can't tell you how many times this happens.  The last couple of weeks, Kim has been getting his picture taken a ton!  I'm afraid we won't be so famous once we get back home.  😂
 This cutie was fascinated by me as I waited for Kim in a shop.  So I had to take his picture.  Wish I could have taken a picture of his open-crotch pants!  Haha!  That's a whole 'nother story.
This man looks like he's 12 but we're told he's more like 40.  That's his wife behind him.  Kim got his hair cut by him and he wanted American Dollars.  So we had to go back to our apartment and get him the only American Dollar we still had!
 These people are the hardest working people in the world!
This guy is slicing this dough into noodles and dropping them in that big pot of boiling water to the left.  Fascinating.
 People taking naps in the beds at IKEA!  What????

 strangers who want their pictures taken with Kim!
 a student we had lunch with in Xi'an.  HE has a story too!
Ping Pong!
 These girls stopped us at the Muslim District and wanted to practice their English.  They were super cute.  Mom and dad were at home!!!!
 No words!
We have bought several things from this sweet lady and her daughter at the Muslim District.  

This doesn't even touch the surface.  Maybe you can see a little bit of why we are having such a hard time saying goodbye and leaving these beautiful people.  We are all God's children and He loves us all the same.  I love these people!







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