Ropers in Xi'an China

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....

We are amazed how quickly we have fit right back into the routines and way of life in China.  We feel like we never left.  Coming back right at the end of the Spring Festival (the Chinese New Year) we have been able to experience their decorations.  And Xi'an really knows how to decorate!!!  Here are decorations along the street at DaYanTa: The next day we went to old city wall and saw the decorations there as well. And then on the weekend we went to Tang Paradise.  And according to Kim, it is the most beautiful place in Xi'an.  It is pretty spectacular and at Spring Festival it is even better.        This has taken me all afternoon and I am exhausted and there is still so much to say.  But for now ENJOY these beautiful scenes of Xi'an.  Love to all.  We are happy to be back.  We miss you all though.  😘

Today is the first day since we have been here that I have had both wifi and VPN on my computer and been able to get onto my blog!  Wahoo!  So I have to make hay while the sun is shining!  😀.  Here is what I wrote when we first got here.  At the end of October, I got a wechat from Kim Malan.   Kim and her husband Alan are the directors over the China Teacher Program.   They “hire” the teachers for the program.   She said in her wechat that she needed to talk to us.   Of course, our immediate thought was, ”Oh, dear.   What’s up?”   And that’s exactly what it was…something was up!   The couple that replaced us in Xi’an in August had just been called to be a mission president for the the church and would have to leave China at the end of the semester.   The university had asked if we could come back and finish the year for them.   After much thought and prayers and discussions with our family…incl...