Holidays abroad are always tricky. The Gang decided to get together Tuesday night for Thanksgiving dinner as Thursday was going to be a busy day for all of us. Katie and Thomas were kind enough to host and we all were eager to pitch in for a real feast. Dantzelle and I headed over early to help with the food and the guys did a last min Wal*Mart run for essentials.  

The table, the most important part of Thanksgiving!

Katie had done a beautiful job preparing . My heart melted when I walked into the apartment. She had Nat King Cole playing in the background, one of my Mom’s favorites, the table had been set and she had splurged on a center piece. It felt like home.

We all ate with forks excepting the Chinese guest, June who got chopsticks.

I promise to add more pictures when I get them from Katie. The meal was delicious. We had Idaho mashed potatoes, canned creamed corn from the States, Stoffers Stuffing, street sweet potatoes, green beans, delicious rolls, spicy roasted chicken (turkey is EXPENSIVE here) and Ocean-Spray Cranberry Sauce.

June was running late which allowed us to have a prayer which we were all grateful for. As we sat around the table we shared what we were thankful for. Current situations always play a strong role in what one is thankful for and being in China only makes this so much more true.

What I’m thankful for:

• I am thankful for my family, both at home who support me and love me unconditionally and the one acquired here in China.
• I am thankful for the opportunity I have to travel and experience first hand the many wonderful cultures and peoples on the earth.
• I am thankful I’m an American and that I will always have a country to come home to when I am tired of being abroad.
• I am thankful for the many freedoms I enjoy and the knowledge that all men are created equal.
• I am thankful for education and the freedom of information we enjoy in America.
• I am thankful for the Church and the comfort and security it brings when I am thousands of miles away from home. I am thankful for the instant family and protection it gives.
• I am thankful for a job that has given me the opportunity to come to China and learn to appreciate America and it’s freedoms in a way that NO other country could.
• And last but not lest, I am thankful for the opportunity to learn Mandarin. (whether or not I will actually be able to speak Mandarin is still to be determined but I’m grateful for the opportunity none the less)

Left-overs! Katie and June

No complaints here.

 

We all stuffed ourselves in true Thanksgiving fashion. It was wonderful.  I got a lot of leftovers, which is not a complaint! Dinner covered for the next few nights, yippee!So the after dinner we road home and yes mother the following is true, Dantzelle and I listened to Christmas music. I even sang along. All in all Tuesday was a wonderful Thanksgiving!

 

To be honest I woke up this morning and forgot that it was Thanksgiving. In class this morning a student asked when Thanksgiving was as she thought it was coming up. It took me a second to realize today was Thanksgiving. She kindly replied with a Happy Thanksgiving and then inquired about my plans for the day. I had already arranged to meet Bonnie for lunch but I no plans for the evening.

I had an enjoyable day between Bonnie and about a half a dozen students who stopped by in the evening for a chat. I ended with a Thanksgiving dinner for one. I decided to go out in true Thanksgiving, make a pig of oneself style. I ate through the rest of my left-overs in one go. I have to admit chopsticks are starting to become second nature.

Solo Thanksgiving Dinner!

Just like any other night excepting the food was so much better.

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone.

 Will someone please enjoy a few Deviled Eggs for me, that was the only thing missing from our feast.

To all my family and friends, thank you for always being there for me. Your support and kindness is irreplaceable.

We made the train in plenty of time this week! Jane was kind enough to make a pack dinner for us to take with us to the train station. Tuna sandwiches and Egg Salad sandwiches. Delicious! Egg Salad is my favorite, unfortunately I’ve never been able to make it. Go ahead, laugh, how hard can egg salad be, obviously beyond Kayte’s abilities!

We all got comfy and slept!

After a late night Saturday and a long Sunday I finally conked out on the train.

I have decided to  reserve the train ride for my Children Class preparation. Coloring pictures takes so long but it seems to make my train trips productive as I usually just zone out to music.

Sunday was so much more relaxing when we spent the night Saturday. I just might start making it a habit sleep an extra three hours! Not to mention avoid the early train hassle and the COLD!

P.S. Nana if you could send a copy of your Egg Salad with detailed instructions I would love it! You always made the best Egg Salad sandwiches.

My purchases:

Hair Clip, I purchased hoping to use for a shrug I brought with me.

Versace perfume

Hermes-Paris Tote

JiMo is a small goods market on Steriods there are four levels two above ground and two basement levels. If Victoria was serious it was a bomb shelter but I think she was just using that as an expression.

In front of JiMo - Jade dealers

Entrance to shoppers Disneyland

Spectacular Jade Sculpture - Can someone please explain how you get this piece home once you buy it.

For Thomas’s  25 Birthday Katie planned a party at Pizza Hut. I met up with Katie at Zhong Bai and hour before to help her get a cake. I’m glad she ran into some students because if it had been left up to the two of us I don’t know if we would have been able to purchase it in time. But with their help we were able to order and get it made in 20min. I didn’t know they had to make it, I figured we could just buy a sheet cake.

We arrived at Pizza Hut before everyone else and Katie got everything arranged upstairs.

The candle Katie got was awesome.

The Chinese Birthday Candle! aka Flame thrower!

Anna is a new edition to the group she is a Brit studying at Weifang University until the English school she will teach at opens.

 

It was a great evening! The cake was absolutely delicious. I love the frosting here because it is heavily whipped and thick but it is not exceptionally sweet.

Left-over Birthday Cake

Even with six of us we couldn’t finish the massive cake. So rather than lug it all the way home Katie gave it to one of the many people in need near the Tai Hua, who has thrilled to accept it.

 

Birthday Boy with Hostess

 

They even had a photo op!

 

I got up at my usual time for Sunday morning, 5:45am I was out the door at 6:05 and ready to begin the trek. We caught a ___ trap cab to the station and had 10min to spare before the train. I think that just might be a record for us. Usually the last few mins is a sprint to catch the train on time. So all was well this morning getting to the train and Adam conveniently discovered it is possible to purchase return trip tickets here in Weifang. So upon arrival to Qingdao we had a 30 min head start as we didn’t have to stand in line for tickets.

Chinese ___ Trap or Cheap Taxi if you care to gamble with your life.

And another big bonus we found a bus stop closer to the train station. Before it was a brisk 1/2 a mile jaunt to the bus stop to catch the 304. Now it is but a mere block! So with all our good fortune this morning we caught the bus and gathered other members along the way. Turns out the 304 is the bus most members take to church we just have never gotten on the bus that early. So we were at church 15min early, it was splendid, no jogging through the complex and up the stairs arriving out of breath and trying to sneak in during the opening song.

After the block (3hours of church) there was a baptism for a Korean boy who had turned 8. When I was informed of the baptism on the bus I was curious where it would be preformed as we meet in a home rather than a chapel with a font. Turns out the branch owns a portable font that was set up and filled in the dinning room. It took the entire block to fill and I’m guessing by the time the baptism came around the water must have been chilly. It was a truly amazing baptism to witness as I contemplated the circumstances it was done in.

Of course in true Mormon fashion there were refreshments, I should really say for this case a dinner was provided for the entire branch. Delicious Peking Duck in a crepe wrap of sorts also sweet potatoes and steamed buns with fruit for dessert.

After all was said and done we headed to the bus stop for the return trip. The morning trip had gone so smoothly I guess I should have expected the return trip to set things right. As we were coming straight from Church rather than the University as normal we caught a different bus, the 301! That bus route is now on my never ever again if you paid me a 301 Yuan. We caught the bus at 2:45pm with our train leaving at 4:16 that was plenty of time, or so we thought. Construction, congestion and just plain CHINESE traffic were all conspiring against us. We pulled up to the bus stop across from the train station at 4:05. WE BOOKED IT! Adam was the first one off and the first one gone. By some miracle there was a break in traffic just as we darted across the street and into the station. The line into the station was thinner than normal and we rushed through security, skipped the escalators and took the stairs down two at a time. We cruised into the waiting room across the station at about 4:12 and luckily the guard hurried us through the gate. Then up the escalator one step at a time, they are most definitely not meant to be ran up! Completely out of breath we made it to the platform and could finally slow to a walk as the conductors on the platform where making final preparations to leave. As we found our car I tried to ignore all the stares as I continued to pant and cough heavily.

Once seated on the train my body just wanted to collapse. I am not in shape at all and yesterday’s little excursion did a number on my knee which did not make today’s sprint any easier. I had to ration my water to keep from vomiting. I finally settled into the seat and pulled out my Kindle.

I still can’t seem to shake the cough, oh how I hate physical exercise. Really, how anyone finds running pleasurable beats me.

Katie and Thomas’s University plans weekend trips for their Foreign teachers. Their Wai Ban was kind enough to invite us along with their teachers. Along with us Americans, came the Japanese teacher, the Korean teacher and his family and the French teacher Jimmy.

Today we went to a cultural park above Weifang. Originally the area was home to poor farmers who lived off the land and were barely making enough to survive. They banded together and decided to open a cultural park a monopolize on tourism. The project seems to be flourishing and has created quite a niche for itself. The various minority groups of China are represented throughout the park along with various amusements that seem rather disconnected at points. Some of these attractions include, a monkey exhibit, bear boxing (no joke, we didn’t make it in time for the show, can’t say I was too depressed about missing that one), as well as large swing rides.  

View from the entrance of the park. Its a sprawling wooded complex on a rise above Weifang.

One of the many attractions, a monkey exhibit. There were no signs reading "don't feed the monkeys" so anything and everything was being thrown in by the spectators.

A shrine to the ancestors. There was a well next to it that was suppose to detect coming earthquakes as it was connect to a water source that connected with the sea. (I have no idea how that is suppose to predict anything)

This sign attests to the great translation abilities of the modern era. Obviously someone forgot to hit spell check.

Dai dancers, the resemble Thai dancers in my opinion, which could have been an influence as this miniority group comes from the south of China.

More Dai dancers

A view across the large river running through the grounds.

Three large water wheels, although the water was too low for them to function I couldn't figure out what they were suppose to connect to anyway.

As we were wondering we stumbled into a private residence on the grounds. The greenhouse and gardens were beautiful.

Banzai Trees were being cultivated in the garden.

 

This picture is for Dad. The greenhouse was huge!

 

Us girls! The weather was perfect.

 

A pleasant garden.

 

Beijing Opera was another venue we were able to see. I would love to go to one next year. I will never understand a word but it would be an interesting expierence all the same.

 

After a morning of activities we ate lunch there. The entire meal was made from produce and meat grown and prepared on the grounds. 100% organic! It was delicious.

After lunch we leisurely strolled back to the entrance. I had a rather interesting conversation with Jimmy on our stroll back to the van about the perceived stereotypes of both our countries. I had to laugh when he asked why American’s always thought of France and French to be so romantic. I blamed it on the media hype of Paris as “the Honeymoon” spot. It was a pleasant day all around.

 

Sunday night we were invited to attend a Reception for Foreign Visitors in Weifang. It was quite an event to say the least. We each received a formal invitation and official name tag to wear to the event.

Name tag and Formal Invitation

Inside of the Invitation

The Banquet Hall

We found our table and were slightly surprised at the seating arrangements. I had been seated next to Adam with Dantzelle across the table, not really sure why but as seating is assigned and has traditional significance none of us were going to switch seats around.

My name translated into Chinese.

I would like to take a moment to brag about our Wai Ban*. James bends over backwards for us and I don’t thank him enough. He is especially kind when it comes to banquets and our drinks. China is the land of Tea and toasts I have come to discover, which can be slightly difficult as a Latter-Day Saint as I neither drink tea nor alcohol. James always kindly sorts out the necessary accommodations prior to the meal and substitutions are made. Sprite for the toasts and my new favorite, hot water instead of tea. I must admit I’ve never appreciated abstaining from alcohol more in my life then when attending banquets. The goal of a good host is to get the guests as drunk as possible. (please see the toast section on the Uniquely China page) 

Traditional Chinese music.

 

Now for my favorite part of all banquets the parade of food that is only consumed on special occasions. I wonder if they serve these things at banquets because no one really likes them but every one is to afraid to say something so they just put it on the banquet list so they only have to to eat them a few times a year.

 

Rather than bore with a long list of foods I just touched on the two highlights for the evening. . .

Fish, this dish signals the near ending of the dinner.

 By now whole fish no longer surprises. I’m still not great at getting any meat without the bones, it seems that if I go shallow and I get only skin and if I dig deep I can’t help but  get the bone. Chopsticks are NOT convenient for everything, I don’t care what the Chinese say on this subject.  

A Chinese Delicacy?

Will someone please tell me how slugs made the delicacy list! Wait Sea Cucumber that’s right if we give something thing a nice name with a vegetable word that makes it edible.

I can now officially say I’ve eaten a Sea Cucumber. Boy am I glad I started eating before I knew what it was. This is a rather expensive and highly prized delicacy ergo a real TREAT! Yeah let me please define treat for the Chinese, something delicious, mouth watering and something you might crave in a dream. The pictured food does not belong in any of the a fore mentioned categories. I did eat half to be polite. I’m sorry when I eat it is all about texture and slugs just don’t cut it!

The Head Table

Our table was right in front which is nice because we got a clear view of all the entertainment. At the head table were all the big leaders, Mayor, Communist Party Representative, Korean, Russian, British Big Businessmen and off course the big hitters from Weifang Business.

I don't want to know how many toasts they did.

Toasts to all. Toast after toast was made at each table. Each table joined in on the banquet toast then had their own table toasts.

During the meal the Mayor and a few other head table members circulated the room and had toasts with each table individually. I don’t even want to count the number of drinks they had that night. Thank goodness most of us take taxis home.

Our Table - James, ?,?, Adam, Dantzelle, Me, Russian - Soccer Coach here in Weifang, Soccer team manager, Foreign Affairs Officer

*Wai Ban – the person directly responsible for the foreign teachers, our go to man for EVERYTHING!

My first trip to Church. We picked up tickets for the first train to Qingdao Sunday morning the afternoon before. Sunday morning we got started a little late and had to book it to the front gate. A true blessing from the Lord was that a Taxi had just dropped off someone and we were able to take it to the train station, mind you this is six in the morning.

We met Katie and Thomas and had about 10min to spare before the train rolled into the station. When I first saw the train it looked like it had just rolled out of the 50’s and by the condition of it I don’t doubt it did. We had to take the slow train into Qingdao as the fast train does not run earlier enough. The 2½ hour ride was just another great experience for the journal. At times I really felt we were about to derail. Adam assured us that was a nothing to be afraid of, that was just the way the trains ran.

Weifang to Qingdao - Slow Train

Qingdao to Weifang - Fast Train

The Return trip was shorter! We were able to get tickets on the fast train home which only took 1hour and 15min.  Again all the pertinent is in Numbers or English!  

Fast Train to Weifang

Katie and Thomas Harper - Fast Train Home

Trash Bags...right