"Facing the Yellow Sea, Laoshan Mountain is located in the northeast end of Qingdao City. It is one of China's first major scenic resorts to receive the approval of the state council - also a national 4A tourist area. The tall and majestic Laoshan Mountain is famous for its marvelous mountainous scenery and costal landscape. It also holds significant importance in Taoism. Among all the famous Chinese mountains it is the only one that shoots up directly from the seaside."
It was really something to see and it had about a million steps - some of the smallest steps you have ever seen!!! It took us about 2 hours to climb it and we were sure pooped and sweating at the end.
On the way to the mountain, we stopped by Oceans University satellite campus and picked up a teacher and that was when we saw all the college Freshmen in the uniforms - they were doing their 3 week training before they can enter the University.
Also, you will see a picture I took out of the bus window when we were a hands length next to another bus. And, the little shops along the way.. Also, see the swinging bridge. We were on the swinging bridge and that little Chinese guy grabbed Rog and had his friend take their picture together. Oh, all the sights,sounds and smells.....
And - what do you think of our little apartment?????????????
Today, at Fast and Testimony meeting, we had a baby blessed. It is so interesting to always have an intrepreter. In Relief Society, we all introduced each other and found out 3 things about all the sisters and how to pronounce names. To look in their faces and see the love there is really something... The one little sister, whose baby was blessed today, said that all she wants to do is spread the gospel message to her friends and family. The love in her eyes is evident in all her actions and she has the love of Christ for everyone. Sister Choi (pronounced Chang) is her name.
At the end of church, a little 10 year old girl ( Sister Choi's daughter) was running and playing, and someone asked her to stop and play the piano. I could not believe that it was a 10 year old girl playing.... It sounded more like a concert pianist....
And she had the entire song memorized. Amazing.
One small sideline... all the walkways or sidewalks in China are "bricks'" or pieces of 8"X8"cement and they are all just pushed together, not really secure. We were hurrying to get to the bus stop this morning and Victoria Brinton, one of the BYU China teachers, tripped on one of the cement pieces and fell flat on her face. She started to bleed all over the place and scared us all. However, she just got a 1 inch cut above her eyebrow and she got to miss church....
Joe Goodrich has a birthday on September 8, just 2 days before Rog's birthday SO-O-O-O we are planning a little birthday celebration dinner for Tuesday night with all the China teachers - about 15 -20 of us. Hopefully it will be a surprise for the two birthday "boys"...We are planning a potluck dinner and Joann and I will do the main dish. Hopefully we can find something American to celebrate with - maybe spaghetti with lots of meat. We will see what happens...
All the bus drivers and all the taxi drivers constantly honk their horns here in Qingdao - it is so noisy. After yesterdays trip and all the honking, we have decided that we will be using our car horns VERY LITTLE when we are driving at home in the USA!!!!
All my love - Mom/Jane
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