Another Week in Xi'an

Well we are finished!!!! Over the last few days we have read and graded John's 320 summaries and argument essays. Because I was already done with my finals and had my grades turned in and because I had far fewer students, I helped him by reading a million essays arguing about whether or not Xi'an ought to implement heavy fines for both vehicle operators and pedestrians in order to curb the escalating traffic problems.


In this ancient city with its mostly narrow streets--certainly not designed to handle the growing numbers of private cars that have come into vogue in just the last five years--Xi'an is facing a serious problem that no one seems to know how to solve. The kids did their level best to think it through and get their thoughts on paper, not an easy task in English when you are Chinese. I guess reading all those arguments made me even more cognizant of just what being on the roads in Xi'an is all about.


Because we were up late getting the last class's grades logged in we got going slowly this morning so took a taxi to church, hauling with us our contributions to our monthly, after-church potluck. En route our driver went down a wrong lane of traffic, before--seeing cars headed his way--realizing that wasn't going to work, then made a U-turn where it was clearly marked that such a maneuverer was illegal, before safely delivering us to our hotel chapel. Usually I don't look out the window but the fluid dynamics of this morning's trip to church was really quite remarkable in that we got there without mishap! I began to think HEAVY fines for taxi drivers might be a really good idea after all!


But for now, the grades are in, the papers are stacked up high, John and Margy's book is written and edited for next semester and their power points are ready to go. Lucky them. I, on the other hand, have done nothing towards next term so still have that to face but we are dancing in the alley for right now to have a six-week break ahead.

Our biggest jobs this week are to get packed for our trip--we leave on Saturday--help Monsons pack for their required move to a new apartment, and help out on Friday at the foster home to move Amanda and her 42 babies and 21 nannies to their new facility. John and others of the men go to the new place Friday morning to receive and set up the cribs coming in by the movers. Our job, as the women in the branch, is to show up at noon to hold babies for the long van journey to their new home. Because we can fit about seven of us adults in the van--each of us holding one, maybe two babies per trip--we figure in seven trips we can ferry all the babies. Amanda says that there is no book on how to move a household of 42 babies, 21 nannies and all their stuff, but maybe she will write one when it is all done. John and I have just said repeatedly how grateful we are that there are no baby-seat requirements in China right now. We'd never get all the kids moved if there were!


Today was a banner day for us. For the first time in nearly five months we rode in a car for our trip home from church. Amanda has been given a really nice big van by some organization that has greatly blessed the foster home and made her life much easier, albeit that it has over 200,000 miles on it. Today she, with the help of her driver, whom she calls "Apple"--his Chinese name being impossible to say, even with her command of the language--brought us and the Monsons home though we live on opposite sides of the city. It was such luxury! En route she told us that she had hired "Apple" part time as a driver three months earlier for 1000 RMB/month. After two months though, he had told her she didn't need to pay him any more. He just wanted to help out. He owns a taxi and hires two men to drive for him so he is free during the day and he has plenty of money! We were really shocked to hear about his kindness because it is so rare for the Chinese to be philanthropic and so unusual for them not to put their top priority on acquiring as much money as possible. Yet here was this wonderful man who just wanted to serve. What a great example to us all.

In our branch meetings today we welcomed a new young couple--Patrick and Xiaoyu Belnap--who had truly been prayed here! The Brittons officially moved and the Belnaps arrived all on Wednesday after we enjoyed a last-supper with them at Monsons'.


Xiaoyu is from Xi'an, was converted five years ago in Hong Kong and later married Patrick, from Salt Lake City. (John used to work with his father, Kerry Belnap, at LDS Foundation. What a small world it is in the Church!) They have a little son, Lucas, plus Xiaoyu's mom lives a block from where they are now living--in the Brittons' former apartment. What a blessing they will be to have in the branch. Someone who can carry on in the branch and help out Amanda in the foster care home, when all of us BYU teachers leave for our next adventures when this school year is over. The Lord is so good to answer our prayers and bless the lives of His children, even those in Xi'an.

Happy New Year from Xi'an

We have welcomed in 2011 with an unusual event for us--we actually stayed up until past midnight! I don't remember that having happened for some 25 years. But it wasn't because we were out celebrating. We did have a New Year's Eve party at the Monsons' in our branch but after a challenging bus ride, once again balancing our contribution to the dinner on my head to keep from having it crushed by the very crowded New Year's Eve celebrants, we arrived at about 7:30--only about 45 minutes late. But no one minded. It is just a fact in Xi'an. You get there when the bus gets you there, no matter what time you start out!

We had a great time eating burritos (Cafe Rio style), while enjoying being together. It was a delightful evening. We left about 9:30 in order to try to make our way home before the buses quit running. We have found a new route to the other side of town, where everybody in the branch but us lives but it necessitates a transfer at the south gate of JiaoDa. Sometimes we are really lucky and hop off bus 700 and right onto 313, which brings us neatly in two stops to Rainbow Bridge and a short walk home. We had no problem getting a spot on 700 but didn't arrive in time to take the last 313 home so instead had a brisk walk through campus, walking off our dinner and getting John a little much-needed exercise. He has stayed in all week working on getting his grades caught up and his plans for next semester organized.

Earlier in the week, I gave my last final, this one for my writing students. These kids come to finals with fear and trepidation. I guess all students feel a little like that, but Chinese students really feel the pressure to perform. (The statistics are that every two minutes a Chinese student commits suicide--pretty sad.) I had spent the last day of class prepping them for my exam and hoped it would help. I graded the exams the following day, met with the assistant dean to have her help me put everything together. (It is tricky when you have to fill out all their forms, which are printed in Chinese. Everything has to be filled out accurately and submitted in the proper order)I turned everything in on New Years Eve, happy to have closed fall semester so quickly. John's final isn't until January 4. Then he, with my help, will grade his 320 papers and get grades submitted before we leave for our break.

On New Years Eve I began receiving emails from my cute students, wishing me a happy and prosperous New Year. They set great stock by being able to send wishes to those they care about. This is a sample: Dear Professor, Happy New Year~ I am happy that this is the first e-mail of this year. I love you very much. It is your encouragement that makes me want to write more and fall in love with English writing. You have encouraged me to feel more about my life. I really really appreciate your appearance in this semester, in my life. I hope you can keep healthy and energetic in the following years. Look forward to meeting you in the next semester. I love you! Tian Ning (Wendy).

As other teachers wrapped up their last classes some were more industrious than we were. Dave Monson, for example, made some 250 oatmeal cookies (their toaster oven is much bigger than ours) to give out in his classes. I thought that was pretty neat until hearing from Julie that she had come home from school and sampled the raw dough, left sitting out on the counter for hours waiting for the last batches to be baked. Shortly thereafter she becane deathly sick with food poisoning. I brewed up colloidal silver (which kills salmonella), grabbed some lecithin (which purges toxins) and headed out on a rescue trip to succor the sick. Not only is Julie our RS president, but I'm her visiting teacher (and furthermore she was heading up the New Year's dinner!)The remedies had her back on her feet by the next morning. Boy I'm glad we have our colloidal silver maker with us.

New Year's Day was a luxuriant day of doing next to nothing at home. I don't think either of us ever went out our front door, but to bring in the milk. I stayed in bed being cozy and warm reading a novel, something I rarely allow myself the time to do, and John puttered at his computer. We enjoyed our breather enormously.

A highlight of our New Year's week was to have our first video Skype connection with Adam and Kimmy's family. They bought a new home computer for Christmas and by New Year's Adam had gotten it hooked up with the webcam working so we were able to see them and the kids. That was a treat for us. Now to have both Chi and David's family and Adam and Kimmy's in regular contact with us is a joy. Wish we also had the chance to be in touch with Patrick's gang but we are grateful they are busy in their lives, doing good things. Kimmy had just picked up their Christmas package from the post office, which was still being held for them. We were glad it was, and not sent back to us here:) The kids modeled their Chinese robes and we coached them about how to work the Chinese musical spinning top we had sent along with their other things. What a fun visit for us.

Sunday morning brought big-time snow to Xi'an, which made for an interesting, very slow, trip to Church. We took a taxi for a change and were impressed with how carefully our guy drove. No one was speeding through the streets. We were crawling. We finally arrived for John's branch council meeting and then our fast meeting, Sunday school, and RS/priesthood meetings. It was a wonderful uplifting time together, though cold since the "heaters" in the room seemed to want to put out air conditioning instead of heat, but still the warmth of the Spirit was there in abundance for which we are most grateful.