Dear Family:
Been busy here and it seems that the weeks just fly by lately. Yesterday I saw some things that I do not want to forget, so I thought that I would write to you to post on the Blog.
We went to Jimo Market with the Blakes yesterday afternoon and had a good time helping Sister Blake shop for pearls for her family. Well, I will say that I had a good time pearl shopping, Dad was nervously pacing!!!!
The Blakes invited us to their apartment over by Oceans University after the shopping and as we prepared to return home, we noticed it was "rush hour" for the buses! All the school kids were at the bus stop, as we approached our bus stop and we looked at each other and wondered why we decided to leave at that particular time of the day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
When our bus - the "202" arrived, I noticed a cute junior high age girl board the bus at the same time we did. She sat by a much older gentleman and as I was sitting directly across from them, I couldn't help but notice them. He smiled at her and handed her a plastic container filled with sliced apples, which she ate. What made me notice them in the first place, was the love and concern the "Yah Yah" or Grandpa had for the young granddaughter! He was so patient and loving with her in a very Chinese way. I noted the pride in his eyes as he looked at her and spoke with her and especially the detail he took as he handed her each food item to eat. He watched her eat with such love. He had a newspaper that he kept reading to her and they would look at each other and smile. He did this for at least one hour, as the bus kept stopping at each stop - people coming and going constantly. I wondered if they lived together or if he had just "gone to pick her up" at her stop???.. I will never know. How sad for me! Finally, he got off the bus, smiling at her as he exited the bus. She then moved to a seat by herself and then she got off the bus three stops later.
Family Love is the same in any language or culture. It made me stop and think of my own grandchildren and how much I love each one and how proud I am of each one of them. I am sure that foreigners in our country can see the same thing I saw yesterday in my eyes - as I look at my grandchildren - at least I hope so...
Something else I wanted to comment on, is how strange the school system is in China! For the past week, as I arrive to teach my classes, there are two girls standing outside the classroom waiting until the bell rings, signifying that it is time to start class.
Just before I start the class, the two girls enter the classroom and ask if they can talk to the students. Then, they call names of the students in the class, at random. I was curious as to why they are doing this and I ask Li Yang and he told me that they were checking to see if the students are attending class. So interesting. And, why do they do this??? I don't think I will ever know.
As I taught my Easter lesson today and looked in those faces which I have grown to love, I wondered what they would be doing a year from today and how their lives will have changed. I know that I will no longer be a part of their lives in a year and it really makes me sad.
They have such a child-like innocence that is so refreshing and I will miss. They speak and act with such respect and admiration-I will never forget them and the things they have taught me. I can honestly say that I love every one of them.
We are looking forward to Lesa and her planned visit to China. It will be so exciting for us to have her here and see the things we see and experience the things we experience. We just wish that every member of our family could come as well.
Hope your Easter weekend is a great one. We will relax and stay here in Qingdao with the Henderson's from St. George. Do a little or a lot of shopping, sight seeing and preparing for next weeks classes. Our thoughts will be with all of you, as we remember the Savior's resurrection and the celebration that He lives. We strive daily to exemplify His life as we live among these dear people, hoping that someday they will be able to have the gospel in their lives. We know that our example is the only way to spread His love for each of His children here on the earth.
All our love,
Mom and Dad
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Life in China!
Dear Family:
It has been SO long since I wrote to you, I am embarrassed and thought I had better send an update.
Life here in China is wonderful and busy! Dad's schedule stayed the same as last semester with classes 14 hours per week. He has Mondays off and teaches two, two- hour classes Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays, with one class on Thursdays.
My schedule is very different! I should expect that I would have an crazy schedule, as I always have... I also have Mondays off BUT now I also have Fridays off, as well !!!!!! I teach the "odd" and "even" week schedule, with four, two-hour classes one week and three two-hour classes the next week!
A lot less hours than Dad, BUT all my classes are writing classes. I have mountains of paperwork every week because I have papers to read and grade. I am learning so many things about my students and I am starting to love it. What started as something that I dreaded, I am now loving...
I still have predominately the same students I started teaching in Fall 1908, therefore I am VERY emotionally attached to each one of them.
They are all like family and I know so many of the little things about each one that endears them to me with each passing week. Such precious, kind, thoughtful, loving people. HOW WILL I EVER BE ABLE TO LEAVE THEM - knowing that I will NEVER see them again in this life????????
We are so excited that Lesa is coming to visit us the first of May. The students are so anxious to meet her and become acquainted with her. They are all hoping that she is here on the week I teach their class. I have talked so much about my family - they all know our family members by name. This will be such an opportunity for them. I only wish that the entire family could see and experience what Lesa will see and experience in the time she is here. It is a "once in a lifetime" chance.
It has been a real adjustment for us this semester, with the new hot water schedule. We have to plan our morning showers between 6:00 and 8:00 a.m.daily. And the hot water is on nightly from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. Then weather is still cold here, but the heat in our building will be turned off in two weeks. I guess we shouldn't put our thermal underwear away yet!
We hear that Google is going to be discontinued in China soon, so we will have new e-mail addresses soon. The government here is doing some very strange things lately and we feel the effect.
We have not been able to update or view our Blog spot or the Facebook sites.
Now, we are not able to send any of our pictures on Picasa. . .
Even the computers are not dependable.
Three of Dad's students; Snow, Meili and Natalie came to our apartment the day after my birthday and brought a birthday cake and candles to celebrate. They are so thoughtful. Last year I made them spaghetti and meatballs, garlic bread, cabbage salad and apple crisp - they want the same meal again! It was amazing - those three little gals ate an entire loaf of bread and the entire batch of spaghetti. They love American food. But, they thought the apple crisp was too sweet!!! The Chinese do not like things that are too sweet. They LOVE meat.
Our days are passing so rapidly and I feel panicky, knowing that the time in China is short for us. I must enjoy every minute here with these dear people. I do not want to ever forget them - each smile, each facial expression and the looks on their sweet faces. I love to see their reaction to the crazy things I do. This week I am teaching them about Easter and the Easter bunny and everything concerning Easter - non religious. I made an Easter Bonnet and really gobbed it up with artificial flowers, a feather and brightly colored ribbon and as I sang "In your Easter Bonnet" to them, I flipped that crazy hat on, and they all smiled and cheered. They are so loving and accepting of anything I do in the classroom - I love it...
I have been very lax in reporting on the Blog, but I promise to do better.
I am looking forward to using my newly re-modelled kitchen and bathroom and "being there" and near to all of you.
Our prayers are with Keith and Mary NaDean at this time and we look forward to seeing them soon.
All Our Loves,
Dad and Mom
It has been SO long since I wrote to you, I am embarrassed and thought I had better send an update.
Life here in China is wonderful and busy! Dad's schedule stayed the same as last semester with classes 14 hours per week. He has Mondays off and teaches two, two- hour classes Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays, with one class on Thursdays.
My schedule is very different! I should expect that I would have an crazy schedule, as I always have... I also have Mondays off BUT now I also have Fridays off, as well !!!!!! I teach the "odd" and "even" week schedule, with four, two-hour classes one week and three two-hour classes the next week!
A lot less hours than Dad, BUT all my classes are writing classes. I have mountains of paperwork every week because I have papers to read and grade. I am learning so many things about my students and I am starting to love it. What started as something that I dreaded, I am now loving...
I still have predominately the same students I started teaching in Fall 1908, therefore I am VERY emotionally attached to each one of them.
They are all like family and I know so many of the little things about each one that endears them to me with each passing week. Such precious, kind, thoughtful, loving people. HOW WILL I EVER BE ABLE TO LEAVE THEM - knowing that I will NEVER see them again in this life????????
We are so excited that Lesa is coming to visit us the first of May. The students are so anxious to meet her and become acquainted with her. They are all hoping that she is here on the week I teach their class. I have talked so much about my family - they all know our family members by name. This will be such an opportunity for them. I only wish that the entire family could see and experience what Lesa will see and experience in the time she is here. It is a "once in a lifetime" chance.
It has been a real adjustment for us this semester, with the new hot water schedule. We have to plan our morning showers between 6:00 and 8:00 a.m.daily. And the hot water is on nightly from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. Then weather is still cold here, but the heat in our building will be turned off in two weeks. I guess we shouldn't put our thermal underwear away yet!
We hear that Google is going to be discontinued in China soon, so we will have new e-mail addresses soon. The government here is doing some very strange things lately and we feel the effect.
We have not been able to update or view our Blog spot or the Facebook sites.
Now, we are not able to send any of our pictures on Picasa. . .
Even the computers are not dependable.
Three of Dad's students; Snow, Meili and Natalie came to our apartment the day after my birthday and brought a birthday cake and candles to celebrate. They are so thoughtful. Last year I made them spaghetti and meatballs, garlic bread, cabbage salad and apple crisp - they want the same meal again! It was amazing - those three little gals ate an entire loaf of bread and the entire batch of spaghetti. They love American food. But, they thought the apple crisp was too sweet!!! The Chinese do not like things that are too sweet. They LOVE meat.
Our days are passing so rapidly and I feel panicky, knowing that the time in China is short for us. I must enjoy every minute here with these dear people. I do not want to ever forget them - each smile, each facial expression and the looks on their sweet faces. I love to see their reaction to the crazy things I do. This week I am teaching them about Easter and the Easter bunny and everything concerning Easter - non religious. I made an Easter Bonnet and really gobbed it up with artificial flowers, a feather and brightly colored ribbon and as I sang "In your Easter Bonnet" to them, I flipped that crazy hat on, and they all smiled and cheered. They are so loving and accepting of anything I do in the classroom - I love it...
I have been very lax in reporting on the Blog, but I promise to do better.
I am looking forward to using my newly re-modelled kitchen and bathroom and "being there" and near to all of you.
Our prayers are with Keith and Mary NaDean at this time and we look forward to seeing them soon.
All Our Loves,
Dad and Mom
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Back in China - at last!!!!
Dear Family:
Well, we FINALLY arrived back in our beloved China - without our luggage!
After a long flight from San Francisco, we discovered in Beijing that our luggage was NOT on the same flight we were on!
HOW FRUSTRATING !!!!!!!
We arrived back at our apartment at 11:30 p.m. to find that there was NO hot water in our apartment and there was a huge
mess in our building... ceiling tiles all over the place, pipes on the floors, paint splattered and white plaster everywhere !!
Luckily our dear friends, the Stevens', came in our apartment and cleaned our floors and wiped the dust off for us...
We had moved everything out of our kitchen and bathroom before we left for the USA and put it in our bedroom. So, we had
to clean all that up before we could even move around in our bedroom. Therefore,we finally fell into bed at 2:00 a.m.
And we STILL do not have hot water today. And we still DO NOT have our luggage today!!!!!!
I don't mean to sound ungrateful and like a complainer BUT it is really so funny...... I want to remember all these humorous things so that is the reason I am telling you! I think of those poor people in Haiti that were in the earthquake. They have nothing, not even a place to lay their heads, and I am just inconvenienced for a few days without the luxuries I am so accustomed to! It is a humbling thought....
It is very cold here and the wind has been howling since we arrived. We haven't been able to stay warm and I am back to
wearing my thick thermals again. To think that 3 days ago, in San Francisco, we wished we had worn shorts because it
was so warm!
Everyone we see is so happy to see us and we feel so loved. Li Yang has called us and is coming to see us
and the cleaning ladies in our building rush to me and give me hugs. It makes us feel so good. They are dear people and we have
learned to love them so much. I dread having to leave them for the final time....
I have my new teaching schedule and I am teaching writing classes this semester instead of oral English! Very intimidating.
The good news is that I only teach Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday and only 1-2 classes a day!
This really excites me, knowing that Lesa is coming to visit us in May and I will be able to tour with her!!!!
We are feeling lonesome for all of you and we want you to know of our love and appreciation for you. You are exceptional people
and we love you so very much. You are our reason for living and we have such great memories of our time spent with each of
you while we were in the states. Josh is the only one we didn't see and we are sad that he chose not to see us.
We want you to know that we are where we are supposed to be and that Satan knows we are here because he is doing everything he
can to discourage us. The Spirit is strong among these dear people and we are privileged to be here and feel of their love. We are
just a small part of the preparation for the gospel in China and we feel the responsibility to be a constant example of the Savior's love
for ALL of his children.
All our love,
Mom and Dad
Well, we FINALLY arrived back in our beloved China - without our luggage!
After a long flight from San Francisco, we discovered in Beijing that our luggage was NOT on the same flight we were on!
HOW FRUSTRATING !!!!!!!
We arrived back at our apartment at 11:30 p.m. to find that there was NO hot water in our apartment and there was a huge
mess in our building... ceiling tiles all over the place, pipes on the floors, paint splattered and white plaster everywhere !!
Luckily our dear friends, the Stevens', came in our apartment and cleaned our floors and wiped the dust off for us...
We had moved everything out of our kitchen and bathroom before we left for the USA and put it in our bedroom. So, we had
to clean all that up before we could even move around in our bedroom. Therefore,we finally fell into bed at 2:00 a.m.
And we STILL do not have hot water today. And we still DO NOT have our luggage today!!!!!!
I don't mean to sound ungrateful and like a complainer BUT it is really so funny...... I want to remember all these humorous things so that is the reason I am telling you! I think of those poor people in Haiti that were in the earthquake. They have nothing, not even a place to lay their heads, and I am just inconvenienced for a few days without the luxuries I am so accustomed to! It is a humbling thought....
It is very cold here and the wind has been howling since we arrived. We haven't been able to stay warm and I am back to
wearing my thick thermals again. To think that 3 days ago, in San Francisco, we wished we had worn shorts because it
was so warm!
Everyone we see is so happy to see us and we feel so loved. Li Yang has called us and is coming to see us
and the cleaning ladies in our building rush to me and give me hugs. It makes us feel so good. They are dear people and we have
learned to love them so much. I dread having to leave them for the final time....
I have my new teaching schedule and I am teaching writing classes this semester instead of oral English! Very intimidating.
The good news is that I only teach Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday and only 1-2 classes a day!
This really excites me, knowing that Lesa is coming to visit us in May and I will be able to tour with her!!!!
We are feeling lonesome for all of you and we want you to know of our love and appreciation for you. You are exceptional people
and we love you so very much. You are our reason for living and we have such great memories of our time spent with each of
you while we were in the states. Josh is the only one we didn't see and we are sad that he chose not to see us.
We want you to know that we are where we are supposed to be and that Satan knows we are here because he is doing everything he
can to discourage us. The Spirit is strong among these dear people and we are privileged to be here and feel of their love. We are
just a small part of the preparation for the gospel in China and we feel the responsibility to be a constant example of the Savior's love
for ALL of his children.
All our love,
Mom and Dad
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Chinese New Year - Dumplings and Student
Dear Jane and Roger,
I am so glad to hear from you. I checked my e-mail again and found that you are right. I think I forgot to send you the pictures. How forgetful I am. I will send them this time and some other pictures I took recently.
I am so happy that you have got the present ready. I am anxious to see it. I have a very good time here in my hometown. It is really great to have fun with your family and friends. So are you. I think you must have a very very good time with your daughter and grandchildren. I AM ANXIOUS TO SEE LESA,TOO.
I have had many big meals since the Spring Festival. It is customs. Your relatives will call on you and have lunch with your family. Genearlly,there will be more than fifteen people, and we will make two tables of food and drink. One is for the man relatives,and the other one is for women and children. In the ordinary course of events,women and children have temperance drinks and men have beer or white spirit. The food is the same in two tables. We talk a lot while eating. We talk about the life in the last year and our plan in the next year. Occationally, we tell jokes. And then, children will be the objects. It will bring lots of fun when we talk about children. They are always so cute, and we love them.
We will call on back out of pliteness. And then we will have another big meal again. So even it is very fun to have big meals and delicious food, I am very worried about my weight. Now I guess I am ten pounds weighter than last year. I am afraid I have to take some measures to limit it.
I am looking forward to see you now. Miss you and dear Roger. Love you.
love,
Doris
PS: I will send you some pictures.I hope you will like them.
picture
1:dough making
The way to make dough is very simple as you need only to mix flour with water.
2: knead dough divide the big pice fo dough into seveal smaller pieces and then knead them.Anbout two minutes later the dough will be very pliable and tough.
3 4 5 Each piece of dough can make twenty or thirty dumplings.
6 mix meat and cabbige together,enfold a small ball into the dumpling wrapper,that is a dumpling then.
7 We put dates and coins or sweets into some of the dumplings, which means sweet and rich life.
the next two pictures are my dear young sister. She is very cute.I love kissing her. It is so sweet.
IMG 2004 2005 2006 2010 That is my uncle and his son. They are pateing the Spring Festival couplets.
IMG 2011 2013 I think it is beautiful.
IMG 2037 My mom and my aunt. The left one is my mom. They always wear quite similar clothe in that days.
IMG 2055 She is my best friend. We'v known each other since we were young. I am two months older than her. We are neighbours and we are close sisters. We love each other and treat each other like family member.
IMG 2062 This is my naughty sister. Though she makes us angry very often, we all love her so much. I hope she will find that soon. She is very smart. She plays cards very well.
I am so glad to hear from you. I checked my e-mail again and found that you are right. I think I forgot to send you the pictures. How forgetful I am. I will send them this time and some other pictures I took recently.
I am so happy that you have got the present ready. I am anxious to see it. I have a very good time here in my hometown. It is really great to have fun with your family and friends. So are you. I think you must have a very very good time with your daughter and grandchildren. I AM ANXIOUS TO SEE LESA,TOO.
I have had many big meals since the Spring Festival. It is customs. Your relatives will call on you and have lunch with your family. Genearlly,there will be more than fifteen people, and we will make two tables of food and drink. One is for the man relatives,and the other one is for women and children. In the ordinary course of events,women and children have temperance drinks and men have beer or white spirit. The food is the same in two tables. We talk a lot while eating. We talk about the life in the last year and our plan in the next year. Occationally, we tell jokes. And then, children will be the objects. It will bring lots of fun when we talk about children. They are always so cute, and we love them.
We will call on back out of pliteness. And then we will have another big meal again. So even it is very fun to have big meals and delicious food, I am very worried about my weight. Now I guess I am ten pounds weighter than last year. I am afraid I have to take some measures to limit it.
I am looking forward to see you now. Miss you and dear Roger. Love you.
love,
Doris
PS: I will send you some pictures.I hope you will like them.
picture
1:dough making
The way to make dough is very simple as you need only to mix flour with water.
2: knead dough divide the big pice fo dough into seveal smaller pieces and then knead them.Anbout two minutes later the dough will be very pliable and tough.
3 4 5 Each piece of dough can make twenty or thirty dumplings.
6 mix meat and cabbige together,enfold a small ball into the dumpling wrapper,that is a dumpling then.
7 We put dates and coins or sweets into some of the dumplings, which means sweet and rich life.
the next two pictures are my dear young sister. She is very cute.I love kissing her. It is so sweet.
IMG 2004 2005 2006 2010 That is my uncle and his son. They are pateing the Spring Festival couplets.
IMG 2011 2013 I think it is beautiful.
IMG 2037 My mom and my aunt. The left one is my mom. They always wear quite similar clothe in that days.
IMG 2055 She is my best friend. We'v known each other since we were young. I am two months older than her. We are neighbours and we are close sisters. We love each other and treat each other like family member.
IMG 2062 This is my naughty sister. Though she makes us angry very often, we all love her so much. I hope she will find that soon. She is very smart. She plays cards very well.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Letter from a Student - Spring Festival
Dear Jane and Roger,
How is everything going there? The new year is coming, happy new year!
I have come home for five days already. Things are fine. I am long for coming back home. To be true, I didn't have a good time in the hospital for the first three weeks. Everything is new. For the department is smaller than before, people seem to be in a stew. Something changes, though not1 apparently.In the last few days before we came back home, everybody seems blundering and cannot wait to start off. I try to be calm and happy in those days. And so do they, I guess. Now, we are at home finally. I should and I do feel very happy.
Everybody is busy at preparing for the Spring Festival. We buy lots of canjdy,new dress and spring festival couplets. We buy plentiful vegetables and meets for the festival. That is traditional. We have lots of dishes during the Spring Festival. Generally, the first big meal begin at the night of the last day of the old year.let me see, we have tofu, it represents good fortune in the next year. We have fish, in Chinese, the pronunciation sounds like the meaning that things are enough and spare in this year as well as the next year. We have chicken, in the same way, it has the similarly pronunciation of another word which means everythings goes well. We also have many other dishes,they all have certain meanings. Now I cannot remember all of them, but I will tell you after that big meal.
In the last three or four days of this year, every family will make lots of steamed bread,usually two or three pots. Each pot can contain twenty or so steamed bread. We will have them during the festival. We treat our relatives and guests with them. We will make hundreds of dumplings in these days.Similarly, we eat part of them. The other part, we will treat our relatives and guests.
We will fry the fishes in advance. Then we can pick them out and re-heat them and fate our guests in short time. It is easy. Because we will have many relatives coming to our home and wish us happy new year. Generally, guests will come one by one from the first day of the new year to the fifth or seventh day. Traditionally, the second or the third day of the new year is the day for daughters coming home with their husbands and children. Relatives will pay a vist to each other in those days. For example, my relative A come to my home on the first day, then my father and my uncles will call on them on the forth or fifth day.That is funny and lovely.
Back to the theme.We will do spring-cleaning on the off year.Diferent places have diferent customes. I will show you some pictures.You will see the rich activities we do on that day. In my hometown, we do the spring-cleaning and sacrifice to the kitchen God.We have dumplings on that day,too. By the way, I think you must know that in China , on the night of Spring Festival, almost every family will see Spring Festival Gala together. It ends at 24:00. That means the first day of the new year.After the Spring Festival Party (Spring Festival Gala),we have dumplings for the fist meal of the new year. Do you still remember we have told you that we will put some special things in the dumplings. That is for this meal. We put some coins,sweets,jujubes in the dumplings. If you eat coins, it means you will make big money in the new year. If you have sweets or jujubes, it means you will feel sweet and happy in the new year,as like as having honey. We do this every year and we feel excited when somebody have them.
After the first meal, adult sons will wish their parents Happy New Year with their wife and children. The grandparents will give the young children some money,that is money given to children as a lunar New Year gift. Children like that part of the festival.
Well, in our village,we will call on our nearby relatives and good friends then. Generally, men and little kids do that for their family. The old and women will stay at home and wait for their guests. Then you will meet many people on the streets. That is funny.
Oh, another important thing. Everybody will put on their new dress before 24:00. Then we wish everybody happy new year.We will have them on for the next three or four days, and when we visit our relatives.
Well, I will tell you more thins next time. I think you will be very interested in them.
I miss you VERY MUCH. Wish both of you happy everyday.
love,
Doris
How is everything going there? The new year is coming, happy new year!
I have come home for five days already. Things are fine. I am long for coming back home. To be true, I didn't have a good time in the hospital for the first three weeks. Everything is new. For the department is smaller than before, people seem to be in a stew. Something changes, though not1 apparently.In the last few days before we came back home, everybody seems blundering and cannot wait to start off. I try to be calm and happy in those days. And so do they, I guess. Now, we are at home finally. I should and I do feel very happy.
Everybody is busy at preparing for the Spring Festival. We buy lots of canjdy,new dress and spring festival couplets. We buy plentiful vegetables and meets for the festival. That is traditional. We have lots of dishes during the Spring Festival. Generally, the first big meal begin at the night of the last day of the old year.let me see, we have tofu, it represents good fortune in the next year. We have fish, in Chinese, the pronunciation sounds like the meaning that things are enough and spare in this year as well as the next year. We have chicken, in the same way, it has the similarly pronunciation of another word which means everythings goes well. We also have many other dishes,they all have certain meanings. Now I cannot remember all of them, but I will tell you after that big meal.
In the last three or four days of this year, every family will make lots of steamed bread,usually two or three pots. Each pot can contain twenty or so steamed bread. We will have them during the festival. We treat our relatives and guests with them. We will make hundreds of dumplings in these days.Similarly, we eat part of them. The other part, we will treat our relatives and guests.
We will fry the fishes in advance. Then we can pick them out and re-heat them and fate our guests in short time. It is easy. Because we will have many relatives coming to our home and wish us happy new year. Generally, guests will come one by one from the first day of the new year to the fifth or seventh day. Traditionally, the second or the third day of the new year is the day for daughters coming home with their husbands and children. Relatives will pay a vist to each other in those days. For example, my relative A come to my home on the first day, then my father and my uncles will call on them on the forth or fifth day.That is funny and lovely.
Back to the theme.We will do spring-cleaning on the off year.Diferent places have diferent customes. I will show you some pictures.You will see the rich activities we do on that day. In my hometown, we do the spring-cleaning and sacrifice to the kitchen God.We have dumplings on that day,too. By the way, I think you must know that in China , on the night of Spring Festival, almost every family will see Spring Festival Gala together. It ends at 24:00. That means the first day of the new year.After the Spring Festival Party (Spring Festival Gala),we have dumplings for the fist meal of the new year. Do you still remember we have told you that we will put some special things in the dumplings. That is for this meal. We put some coins,sweets,jujubes in the dumplings. If you eat coins, it means you will make big money in the new year. If you have sweets or jujubes, it means you will feel sweet and happy in the new year,as like as having honey. We do this every year and we feel excited when somebody have them.
After the first meal, adult sons will wish their parents Happy New Year with their wife and children. The grandparents will give the young children some money,that is money given to children as a lunar New Year gift. Children like that part of the festival.
Well, in our village,we will call on our nearby relatives and good friends then. Generally, men and little kids do that for their family. The old and women will stay at home and wait for their guests. Then you will meet many people on the streets. That is funny.
Oh, another important thing. Everybody will put on their new dress before 24:00. Then we wish everybody happy new year.We will have them on for the next three or four days, and when we visit our relatives.
Well, I will tell you more thins next time. I think you will be very interested in them.
I miss you VERY MUCH. Wish both of you happy everyday.
love,
Doris
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Merry Christmas!
Dear Family,
I just wanted to take a few minutes to wish you all a Merry Christmas...
Just want you all to know that the Christmas Spirit is alive here in China! There are so many evidences of Christ's love in this beautiful country - even without Christianity!
As I have been telling my beloved students about Christmas and explaining our traditions, I can see in their eyes how they yearn for understanding. If only I could tell them about Jesus Christ, His mission and His atonement....
I pray daily that the doors will one day be open for the gospel message to be spread in China. They are ready for the gospel message and when it comes, it will spread like a fire. They are so family oriented and they have such a passion for their children! It is heartwarming to watch them with their children and see the love... And, I feel that same kind of love for them - they have such a child-like innocence! And this innocence makes me feel very protective of them.
I am talking about ALL of them - the children, my students, the street workers, the merchants, and the old people...
I was thinking the other day about what my life was like before I came to China and how "shallow" I was.
Oh, I had all of you - and you were and are, my reason to live, BUT I was doing nothing meaningful - not really making a difference in anyone's life...
Grandma Pearl used to tell me that the greatest "need" a person has, is to be needed! And, in China, I am really needed and I really can make a difference in my students lives. And they take every opportunity to express their appreciation and love to me.
You - my dear family - have your own lives and you are all busy raising your families. Dad and I are pretty much just "looking" for things to keep us occupied, at this stage of our lives.... In China, we are "needed" in so many ways.. We feel that what we are doing is really making a difference in the lives of our students. They give us their acceptance and love unconditionally. It is VERY rewarding at this stage of our lives.
We have never been so busy as we are now. And, we are always studying or going somewhere to see or help someone. The only void on our lives is YOU. We miss not seeing you and the grandchildren. It is evident when we are lonesome to talk to you, knowing that you are so far away... We miss hearing those sweet, familiar voices and looking in your beloved faces. YOU are our life.... our reason to live.
We figure this is our last "hoorah" at teaching and giving back to mankind - a payment of sorts, for the abundant life we have.
We realize every day, how we were blessed to be born in the good old USA and have all the advantages afforded us.
We know our Heavenly Father loves us and is with us daily. We can feel His love and protection.
We also know this is where we should be at this time. Sometimes we question why we are here, but sometimes it is very evident why we are here.
On Christmas Eve, as we read the story of the first Christmas, we will be thinking of you and your families.
We will be thinking of the many blessings we have and how much our Father in Heaven loves us all.
We have so much to be thankful for and we need to express to Him, our thanks.
Know that we are counting the days until we see each of you. We can hardly wait to see our dear grandchildren and received the hugs and kisses we have been missing.
May you each have the knowledge that our Heavenly Father loves you, that He came to earth to atone for our sins and that we will return to Him one day.
With All Our Love,
Dad and Mom
I just wanted to take a few minutes to wish you all a Merry Christmas...
Just want you all to know that the Christmas Spirit is alive here in China! There are so many evidences of Christ's love in this beautiful country - even without Christianity!
As I have been telling my beloved students about Christmas and explaining our traditions, I can see in their eyes how they yearn for understanding. If only I could tell them about Jesus Christ, His mission and His atonement....
I pray daily that the doors will one day be open for the gospel message to be spread in China. They are ready for the gospel message and when it comes, it will spread like a fire. They are so family oriented and they have such a passion for their children! It is heartwarming to watch them with their children and see the love... And, I feel that same kind of love for them - they have such a child-like innocence! And this innocence makes me feel very protective of them.
I am talking about ALL of them - the children, my students, the street workers, the merchants, and the old people...
I was thinking the other day about what my life was like before I came to China and how "shallow" I was.
Oh, I had all of you - and you were and are, my reason to live, BUT I was doing nothing meaningful - not really making a difference in anyone's life...
Grandma Pearl used to tell me that the greatest "need" a person has, is to be needed! And, in China, I am really needed and I really can make a difference in my students lives. And they take every opportunity to express their appreciation and love to me.
You - my dear family - have your own lives and you are all busy raising your families. Dad and I are pretty much just "looking" for things to keep us occupied, at this stage of our lives.... In China, we are "needed" in so many ways.. We feel that what we are doing is really making a difference in the lives of our students. They give us their acceptance and love unconditionally. It is VERY rewarding at this stage of our lives.
We have never been so busy as we are now. And, we are always studying or going somewhere to see or help someone. The only void on our lives is YOU. We miss not seeing you and the grandchildren. It is evident when we are lonesome to talk to you, knowing that you are so far away... We miss hearing those sweet, familiar voices and looking in your beloved faces. YOU are our life.... our reason to live.
We figure this is our last "hoorah" at teaching and giving back to mankind - a payment of sorts, for the abundant life we have.
We realize every day, how we were blessed to be born in the good old USA and have all the advantages afforded us.
We know our Heavenly Father loves us and is with us daily. We can feel His love and protection.
We also know this is where we should be at this time. Sometimes we question why we are here, but sometimes it is very evident why we are here.
On Christmas Eve, as we read the story of the first Christmas, we will be thinking of you and your families.
We will be thinking of the many blessings we have and how much our Father in Heaven loves us all.
We have so much to be thankful for and we need to express to Him, our thanks.
Know that we are counting the days until we see each of you. We can hardly wait to see our dear grandchildren and received the hugs and kisses we have been missing.
May you each have the knowledge that our Heavenly Father loves you, that He came to earth to atone for our sins and that we will return to Him one day.
With All Our Love,
Dad and Mom
Letter
This is a letter from one of the professors I teach:
Dear Jane,
Thank you for giving us the poem "Myself". It is really a good poem, after reading it, I was encouraged and impressed. I think over about myself and all things I have done, I am not very satisfied with myself. First, I haven't use my time enough and sensible. Some time I waste my time, I really regret for it. Second, I don't think I am a good mother. Some time I am lacking in pacience to my son. I think when he need me so much, but I didn't do what he want, he must be very disappointed for me.
I think I have to do some change, I have to treasure my time, I have to be more and more pacient to my son, I have to do whatever I can to make my mom happy. Four years ago, my dad died of lung cancer, it was very very diffficult for us, especially for my mom. Now my mom have to be single, she is only 53 years old, she hasn't retired, she is not in the same city with me. Some time she feels so lonely. I must be a good daughter to do something to make her happy.
I want to be a good person, only do good things, Just like the poem said, I want to be self respecting and conscience free!
Dear Jane, you don't know how much I like you! I always think it is not enough even use all good words to describe you. I want to have more time to be with you, I want to be your friend, but my mother in law is not in good health, now she go back her home, I am very busy for I have to look after my son by myself, my husband is very busy with his job, he can't help me. So I have not much time to do what I want to do. You said you will go back America soon, I am so sad, I will miss you very much!
I hope it will not use your too much time to read my mail. Best wishes to you!
Truely yours Bonnie
Dear Jane,
Thank you for giving us the poem "Myself". It is really a good poem, after reading it, I was encouraged and impressed. I think over about myself and all things I have done, I am not very satisfied with myself. First, I haven't use my time enough and sensible. Some time I waste my time, I really regret for it. Second, I don't think I am a good mother. Some time I am lacking in pacience to my son. I think when he need me so much, but I didn't do what he want, he must be very disappointed for me.
I think I have to do some change, I have to treasure my time, I have to be more and more pacient to my son, I have to do whatever I can to make my mom happy. Four years ago, my dad died of lung cancer, it was very very diffficult for us, especially for my mom. Now my mom have to be single, she is only 53 years old, she hasn't retired, she is not in the same city with me. Some time she feels so lonely. I must be a good daughter to do something to make her happy.
I want to be a good person, only do good things, Just like the poem said, I want to be self respecting and conscience free!
Dear Jane, you don't know how much I like you! I always think it is not enough even use all good words to describe you. I want to have more time to be with you, I want to be your friend, but my mother in law is not in good health, now she go back her home, I am very busy for I have to look after my son by myself, my husband is very busy with his job, he can't help me. So I have not much time to do what I want to do. You said you will go back America soon, I am so sad, I will miss you very much!
I hope it will not use your too much time to read my mail. Best wishes to you!
Truely yours Bonnie
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