I love riding the buses in China

I saw that the #45 bus was already crowded when it pulled up to the stop.  I was able to squeeze onto the bus right before the driver shut the door.  I heard yelling coming from the back of the bus and I was so confused.  I wasn't sure if someone was fighting or was in pain.  There were so many people packed in that I couldn't see around the person in front of me to get a good look.

The bus stopped at the train station and a lot of people got off, I was now being pushed and shoved (like cattle) towards the middle of the bus.  The yelling never stopped though.  The only thing I figured out was that it wasn't in 普通话  (mandarin, China's national language), it was in 闽南话  minnanhua, the local dialect for Fu Qian (it doesn't sound anything like mandarin).  

Thats when I saw him.  When I saw others taking out their cameras to record and take pictures of him I realized it was okay for me too (something I try to be cautious and sensitive to about here).  This older gentlemen was so sweet and kind.  He was so incredibly happy and cheerful.  I asked some people next to me on the bus what he was singing, and they guessed it was a 'national song for the minnan people of China,' (they are one of the minority groups here) but it was hard for them to understand too.  I'm not sure how long he had been on the bus before me, but he sang his heart out for the next 15 minutes and then got off at his stop. 

Just wanted to share an interesting experience I had on the bus the other day with you.

Engagement Pictures!

Thanks to our friend Serge we were able to get our engagement pictures done! 

Short note about Serge:  He decided to sell his stuff, pack ONE bag, and is traveling the world to serve people!  He's been in contact with organizations, ngo's, and people all over the world and is volunteering his time and skills (as an IT guy and photographer).  He stayed in Xiamen for a month and lived in David's living room, helping at the orphanage, and doing some IT work for different companies here.  Serge was such an encouragement to all of us and we are all very grateful for him.  As soon as he found out we got engaged, he quickly volunteered to take some pictures for us! 
 
You can follow Serge on his blog at:  http://www.atomicdots.com/  

In China people do not do "engagement pictures."  When they see the pictures of Dave and I they are confused and ask, "Why didn't you do wedding pictures?"

In China, most people don't have a cermony, they just have a big banquet and lots of big extravagent pictures taken.  I'll work on getting some pictures and will post them soon to show you what I mean.

HE ASKED ME TO MARRY HIM!

I went to back to Xi’an to visit friends for a few days.  It had been five months since I had been there and I was really looking forward to seeing them.  I had packed my schedule full with visiting friends and was having a great time.  With our work schedules David and I had decided the first trip back to Xi’an I would go by myself, plus it just happened that David had customers visiting the factory during the same time and would be busy working with them.  

Saturday evening Amber hosted a party for Emma and Michael to celebrate their engagement.  We had invited all of our local friends and spent the evening eating really good food and playing games.  

 

 Towards the end of the evening I was getting a little emotional knowing I was going to have to say goodbye and wasn’t sure when I was going to see some of them again.  

Karla and I left the party at nine to get back and see our friends the Kellers.  They had just flown in that evening from the States and I wanted to spend a little time with them before I flew out the next morning.  

 When I got back to Karla's house the Keller's had put an enveople on the table for me.  On it was written my Chinese name (which I was confused because I was pretty sure they didn't know my Chinese name).  They said the letter was for me and that I should open it. 

I thought they had written a 'goodbye' letter, and was pretty frank and said, “I’ve already cried twice tonight with saying goodbye to friends…. I really don’t want to do it again.  I’ll wait till tomorrow to read it.”  Karla, Les, and the Kellers all looked at me kind of strangely.  John said, “No, I would like for you to open it now.”  When I tried to interject that I would really like to wait till the next day, John was laughing and said, “Stacy, just open it now.” 

I was really surprised when I opened it and inside wasn’t a letter, but a photograph.  It was of David and I taken a year ago in front of 大雁塔 The Big Goose Pagoda in Xi’an.  At the bottom of it he had written that he wanted me to go back to the Pagoda.

I looked at Karla and said, “There is no way he is here.  It’s not possible!  He called me earlier today from the store in Xiamen!”  She just said, “I don’t know… why don’t you go find out!” 

I walked around the house for a few minutes in shock, trying to find my coat only to realize I was already wearing it.  I walked in the bathroom and was trying to figure out if I should redo my makeup real quick because I had pretty much cried it all off earlier that evening.  I figured it wasn’t worth it, and just wanted to get out the door.  Karla knew I was in a state of shock and double-checked to make sure I had money to get there and my cell phone.  

I went to the backside of the pagoda and found Dave standing in the middle of the big fountains (at this time there wasn’t any water).  He gave me a big hug and said ‘hi,’ and then started talking a lot about Chinese history.  I was really confused and trying to figure out what was going on.  

Next thing I know, he said that he loved me and asked me to marry him!!

I said, "YES!"

Later that evening we went back to hang out with my friends and celebrated!

David had taken an afternoon flight to Xi'an and had the whole situation planned out to surprise me.  Only a few of my friends knew about it, it was a wonderful surprise!

He guessed on the ring size and it fits perfectly!  He had the Kellers bring it over from the States!  We flew back to Xiamen the next day and spent the day celebrating and making calls to our families.

Friends Visiting

Over the October 1st holiday (China's National Holiday - similar to America's July 4th) my friends Emma and Michael came to visit us for a few days!  It was a great time getting to catch up with them, show them around the city, and hang out!  

I had spent the last year in Xi'an with Emma and it had been five months since I had moved and last seen her.  I was so encouraged and thankful that her and Michael came to visit!

Eating at 外婆家 （Grandma's House)!  One of the best restaurants in Xiamen! 

 

The best part of the trip was getting to celebrate their engagement!  Michael had asked Emma to marry her the night before they arrived in Xiamen! 

We became their tour guide and photographer for a few days!  This was taken on Gu Lang Yu 鼓浪屿 a famous island, only a five minute ferry ride from Xiamen. 

Oct 1st is one of the biggest holidays in the country where people travel!  The newspapers were saying Xiamen had over 1 million tourists visit that weekend!

Practicing the Chinese squat!

We wanted to spoil them during their time here, so we made them a big pancake breakfast! 

Emma came from Xi'an where it had been rainy, polluted, and cold for the last two months (one of the things I don't miss about Xi'an).  She was pretty excited to be in Xiamen and enjoy some warm weather and clean air!

We surprised them and took them to a small Chinese theme park where we rode some rides!

We're really thankful they came to visit!  It was a really encouraging time for all of us to be together!

CBA Basketball Game!

In August David and I were talking and he mentioned again how he would love to coach if ever had the chance and if the right door opened.  I know its something he has always wanted to do.  A few days later eating lunch with friends we found out there is a basketball coaching position open at the international school in Xiamen.  Our friends suggested David interview for the job.  We just looked at eachother and started laughing, it was only a few days before that we were talking about him coaching one day. 

After being interviewed, he is now officially the head basketball coach at the high school!  I'm pretty excited for him.  We were invited to the last game in the tournment of the CBA (Chinese Basketball Association) by the atheletic director at the high school and we brought some friends along. 

CBA website: http://www.asia-basket.com/China/basketball.asp

 Xiamen (厦门）vs Shanxi (山西）

 

Chinese cheerleaders dancing to American music

The mascot kinda reminded me of Chick Fil A

Slam dunk competition!

Half time break

Score was 82-77 山西 but we were so confused when we saw the 厦门 team jumping up and down and excited.  It was wasn't making any sense.

After talking to some other people nearby we realized it depended on who had received the most points in the overall tournament, not who actually won the games.   At the end the girls came out to pass out the trophies and rewards.

Overall it was a really fun night cheering for Xiamen's basketball team and hanging out. 

Spending time with friends

Some of my coworkers and I got together on a Saturday to hang out.  We spent the whole morning making jiaozi 饺子 and had a great time eating them and having girl time together in the afternoon.

A duck in a bag!  This duck had traveled a long way!  It was brought from Nanjing on a train!

The 馅儿 (stuffing)

The art of 包'ing 饺子 （three years in China and I'm still working on my technique)

I love the people I get to work with!  Such great friends!

Eating 东北 (Northwest) style thanks to 王老师 （Mrs. Wang) for making sure we ate it with cucumbers 

Was walking to the BRT (the subway) to head home and was pretty excited to find this little restaurant!  Its a little Xi'an restaurant!  Apparently there are a few of them here, since I moved here I've been trying to hunt them down!  Made my day!