IT'S MAY

Last weekend Kim had a former student contact him and ask if we would like to go see Avengers Endgame with her.  So, of course, we wouldn't say no, even though we know very little about the Avenger movies and Katie and Brandon tell us there really are 22 movies you need to see to truly understand.  But that's ok.  I enjoyed it anyway.  It was a cold and rainy day so what better way to spend 3 hours! 

 The next day at church we had lots of visitors from all over the world, so they took a picture.  I just have to share as well.  We had people from England, Iran, Brazil, Korea, Hungary, and Benin (a country in West Africa).  We have a member from South Africa but she just had a baby and wasn't there.  It was really fun to see all the diversity.

Time is really going by fast.  It's crazy.  We have about 2 months left and then we'll have a quick trip home and then off we got to Fiji.  It's just all going so fast that sometimes my head is spinning.  I had a bit of a hard week last week.  We have a family trip planned and organized for the first week in June.  We planned the trip before we were asked to come back to China.  But it was non-refundable and all the kids had made plans to be there so we decided to fly back for that week.  Well, making arrangements for that has not been as easy as anticipated.  My department requires me to make up the classes, which I knew they would and I'm alright with that.  BUT finding a time to makeup all 6 of my classes has been very difficult.  Because the students attendance is all done on a computer, it's difficult to get the computer to allow you to have class at a different time.  It's all very confusing and frustrating.  I've been able to finally get 5 classes rescheduled but the computer keeps saying that not ALL the students are available at different times.  So my human brain says, "OK.  Then we'll have class without those 5 students who can't come then and probably wouldn't come no matter when the makeup is!"  But we're dealing with a computer here and a secretary that's not much better.  Anyway, I got a bit discouraged and frustrated and it's a good thing that we had a holiday on Wednesday with no school Wednesday through Friday.  I needed the break.  We were able to go off to Hangzhou and Suzhou and see West Lake and the "Venice" of China.  It was beautiful and restful.

Before we left on Tuesday night, Kim and I had gone out to get some groceries and were stopped right outside the store by two mothers and their two little girls.  The girls had made tissue flowers at school and given the assignment to find someone to give them to.  They chose Kim and I.  They stopped and gave us the flowers and then talked to us for quite a while.  The little girls just kept holding my hand.  The one girl kept taking her flower back and then the mom would make her give it back to me.  We took several pictures, exchanged wechat and went on our way.  Judy wechatted (messaged) me several times that night.  It was a highlight of being here.  Especially when I was feeling discouraged from my makeup classes and homesick for my family.

Then early on Wednesday morning we headed off to the airport with several other teachers from the China Teacher Program with BYU for Hangzhou and Suzhou. We visited West Lake and what is know as the Venice of China.  There are many beautiful parks, pagodas and water canals throughout the city.
Here are some pictures from the former residence of Hu Xue Yan. Xueyan was a business man at the end of the Qing Dynasty around 1875.  He obviously was very wealthy.  He had 11 wives and I think 18 children.  His residence was amazing with beautiful wood carvings throughout.

The garden.  I'd like a garden like this.

Rickshaws

He had several doors with these door handles!

Kitchen

more garden

We saw girls all over all week dressed in the traditional old costumes/clothing and taking pictures.  They are all so beautiful.  Needless to say we have several pictures of young girls like this.

Next we went to an old Pharmacy where they practice the old style Chinese medicine.    Many said they felt like they were at Diagon Alley with Harry Potter.

Close!  🤣

No idea what was in these jars!!!

Beautiful Porcelain Jars

One of the teachers wanted to go into this shop selling these traditional silk dresses.  We asked how much and this one was 25,000 RMB.  That's about $4000.  I think it's just a little over my budget.  But they were amazing.  Very heavy fine silk.  Beautiful!

We had a very traditional family style Chinese dinner.

The next day we went to West Lake.  These are the gardens around the lake.  I would have loved to walk around the lake and see more but when you're with a tour group you're pretty stuck to do what's on the agenda.  We pretty much walked to the boat, got on, took the boat ride around the lake and left.  Oh well.  The lake was beautiful and is very famous.

The group we were with: Diane Downs, Bob Bowen, Debbie Bowen, Jerry Roundtree, Debi Roundtree, Nancy Rounds, US, Dan Guillen, Tresa Wilkins, Bonita Guillen and Jay Wilkins

Beautiful Hydrangea

Jay Wilkins moved with his family to Joplin, Missouri in 1968.  At that time we lived in Niangua, Missouri until the summer of 1969.  We both went to church in Springfield, Missouri to the Springfield Branch.  He mentioned a few names of families that I actually remembered--at least the names.  Even though he's 4 years younger, he has a brother my age and I remember names of his brothers.  We kind of knew each other ALL those years ago.  It was so cool to meet him and be on the trip with him.  The church makes the world much smaller!  What a highlight!

This little "thingy" is on the back of their 1yuan. (money)

This 13 year old boy and his mother were on the same boat as us.  He spoke perfect English.  He was born in Germany and Kim has his Germany shirt on so they had a great talk together.  His father speaks perfect German.  He wasn't on the boat tour with us but we met him when we got off.  What a wonderful little family.  The boy plans to go to America one day to further his education.  This is a dream of many Chinese people.

Cutest Baby Girl and Her Mommy

Bobby was our fantastic tour guide.  We liked him a lot.

Nancy, Debbie & Diane

Then we had a couple of hours driving to Suzhou.  Here there are canals like you would see in Venice.  The canals go on forever -- well not quite.  But some do go all the way to Beijing and Suzhou is close to Shanghai we are talking about 100's of miles.

 We got in a little boat like this and went up the canal to the other end of the city.

We bought a wall hanging from this man.  He was pounding brass sheets making something when we came in.

What can I say??????

Kim bought a couple of these small sketches from this woman.

He was painting fans.

We had so many people stop us and want to take our picture with them that it got to the point where I was feeling a little overwhelmed.

Oh to be famous.  NO THANK YOU!

So the next day....another garden and another city on the canal, a leaning pagoda and yep, another garden.  I like this city more than the day before because it was less of a tourist city.  The houses along the canal were authentic houses of  people who live there.  Way cool!

Breakfast at our hotel.  The best thing---Chocolate Chex.  YUM! A little taste of home.

Humble Administrator's Garden.  Beautiful but as you can see--very crowded.

Bonsai Trees

Another Photo Op

I was waiting for this woman's husband to take her picture before I crossed in front of her.  She started "barking" at me so I thought she just wanted me to go.  BUT on no.  She wanted me to come in the picture with her.  HaHa!  Sometimes you don't know if they're yelling at you or just talking to you.  It all sounds the same.

The walk ways were all these mosaic of stones.  So pretty.

A little heart in the middle of this rock.  I want that in my yard.

Soooo many people!

This little girl was so cute-hanging her umbrella in the tree and so proud to show her dad.

If we hadn't been with a group, we might have taken a ride!

 Then we went back on another canal on another boat ride.  This man was fishing in the canal.  I honestly don't know if I'd want to eat any fish that come from this dirty water.  But maybe???

These people know how to grow roses! 

We saw this along the canal.  It may be too small for you to read...it says it's a vending machine.  WHAT?  What are they selling?  We laughed and said it's probably condoms.  And went on our way.  Well just now, I took my google translate camera to see if it says what they are selling.  AND yep!  They are selling condoms.  Hahahaha!  Only in China.  You can buy condoms at the check outs in the grocery store and many other stores as well!  I have no words.

On the way to the next "garden" we walked by many many wedding gown stores.  Most told us we could not take pictures but we were able to get a couple.  They were amazing.  The traditional Chinese wedding dress is red.  Many are starting to go with the western style of wearing a white dress.  Many of my students tell me they want a white dress and some say they want both!  

This one isn't red, but I think it's gorgeous!