Lunches with Former Students

This is a common sight in China.  They really know how to load up their vehicles.
This is right outside my classroom at Xi'an International Studies University.  Our university is a language university.  The students say it is a "poor" university.  It doesn't have a lot of money.  Many of the buildings look like this.  This is actually inside the building.  My classroom, this year, is in a "language laboratory".  Each student has a computer that is synced with my computer.  They can see what is on my computer but they cannot manipulate the computer at all.  The computers, though, are quite out dated and won't run all of my files.  My computer keeps having problems and so I keep getting moved into another room.  I need to take a picture of my classroom.  I'll put that on my to do list.

These are 2 of my former students from last year, Nora and Lothar.  They are great!  I really love these two.  Last year, Lothar taught me how to play Mahjan.  I need him to re-teach me though.  It's quite complicated and if you're not playing it you forget!  This year they took me out to lunch.  We had a delicious meal and great conversation. (sweet & sour fish, green beans, tofu, and potatoes with a honey sauce).  I had to ride the city bus back to my apartment and they were so worried about me finding my way.  Haha!  They were so cute.  But it's quite simple.  I don't have to change buses.  I just have to watch for the right area to get off.  They were afraid I wouldn't know when to get off. 

A couple of days later we went to lunch with 2 other students I had last year.  DaSilva and the former Steve Jobs.  He has chosen to be Daniel now.  😂
 And for my birthday, four of Kim's former students that had come to Utah to visit us in August and September, took us to Hot Pot.  Hot Pot is the Chinese's favorite type of restaurant.  They have a big pot in the middle of the table with different kinds of broths and they cook the food right there and eat it.  It's not my favorite but it's ok.
 Yes, we all have aprons on.  The waitress was very worried that we would spill.  She even put our coats in a bag so they would stay clean.  Haha!  Here is Lee (he use to be HeyMan), Nicholas, Kim, Rhonda, Andy and Honor (but we call him Grayson).
This particular hot pot had 4 broths.  Most have two and some only have one.
Each of these cute kids gave me a gift.  Andy gave me oranges.  Nicholas gave me some special kind of honey.  Lee gave me a step tracker.  It's pretty cute.  You can't even tell that's what it is.  And Grayson (now he goes by Honor) gave me these chair mats that his grandmother made.  Pretty impressive.
I've also been able to go to lunch with Jackson and Emma from one of my classes last year.  They were both so fun to get together with.  Only problem was I forgot to take a picture.  Lilac and I went to lunch just yesterday and she bought me some scrumptious curry from the student canteen. Forgot to get a picture of Lilac also but she says that's ok because she'll be dying her hair purple next week and then I can take a picture of her!
Seven (yes, her name is Seven) and I didn't have lunch together, but she did come and visit me during classes.  She brought me a package of milk, a book mark and a very nice complimentary post card.  Seven was in the same class with Nora and Lothar.  She's such a sweet girl.  I loved seeing her.

We've almost completed our 3rd week of teaching.  We're still glad we got to come back. Watch for more to come. 



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