Pickpocket

       So optimal conditions for picking pockets are not what you might think here.  Rather than the crowded street below, this corner was ideal.

      Last night we'd been browsing and stopping to shop, and just bought steamed buns from the place on the corner.  I walked up the street ahead of Rog a few paces and then turned to say something.

       What I said instead was, "Hey!! Hey, HEY!!! Behind you!!"  As Rog turned on him, the guy dropped all our yuan in the street and disappeared quickly behind a wall.  We were too busy gathering up the cash to follow.

       The thief wasn't a kid but a middle-aged, thin man in a casual suit, dark shirt, no tie.  Weird.

History

As a foreigner, I'm interested in history.  I like these reproductions we got from a market.  A lady's bound feet were called "lotus buds," and you can see why.  Also, after binding they could no longer walk easily, so they were sometimes carried.  The practice declined in the 1800's.

UPDATE:  In following up on Tom's comment, here's an excellent report I found on bound feet. Women share their experiences well into the 20th century.

"The only one bun"

When students wrote family stories in class, one girl's mother told this sweet story about life during "three year economic difficulties" when people were "poor and had not enough to eat."  This would have been the 1960's.

She goes on to write:

"My mother was happy in particular, enjoying the bun with her little brothers.

Later on, my mother realized that what a precious steamed bun it is.  My grandpa did not eat the only one bun and kept it for his children.  He never shows his concern for his children.  He just works hard but say nothing everyday. . . Today my mother always thinks of that precious bun that is full of love."

Table Tennis

Retired English Prof is our new friend.

How to hold the paddle.

The Professor teaches Chinese ping-pong secrets.  : )

Library

This handsome building stands near the Second Ring Rd. in Xi'an. It looks beautifully Asian.

Bell Tower

On days when we don't work, we're trying to be sure to see all of Xi'an's main attractions, so last Saturday we were with
Geri and Cole Potter (Seattle), new arrivals in our Branch. They're starting a three year stint here with Boeing.




We went to the famed Bell Tower where the Potters both tried out their impressive Chinese on local guides.

Spring

Our little snapshots don't do justice to the beautiful gardens, the spring flowers we've seen in recent weeks, everywhere.

Gardens and parks are manicured and cared for. Flowers blooming; peonies are especially popular here.

"They'll be Dancin' in the Street"

After a wonderful dinner of Indian food (who knew?) we wandered with friends around the landmark Big Wild Goose Pagoda.In the extensive square, people dance--tai chi, Chinese line dancing, aerobics, ballroom dancing, etc.

While we watched, a charming ballroom dancer politely invited me to join him and proceeded to spin me around the floor.

Roger was filming, waiting to catch my Dancing with the Stars moves.



Friends: Monsons and Thorpes, BYU teachers;Gillian; new medical advisor at Starfish, Patrick Belnap,interim director at Starfish. The girl in front just wanted her picture taken with foreigners.
pagoda: panoramia.com

Canteens

We like the food at the student canteens. An amazing array, food here is not the same as American Chinese. Sometimes we ask a student to translate the words so we know what we're eating.

Breads, noodles, and dumplings--all made from wheat flour--are popular in northern China; rice in the south.

We do eat plenty of rice, generally fried to order, or served with lots of vegetables. Veggies are not to be overcooked, so potatoes are served slightly crunchy and mixed in with your chow mein.

One of the many sweepers is a kindly man who sometimes looks out for us. Professor Mac is dipping his dumplings in vinegar-chili sauce.

Nanjing - the Mitchells

UPDATE:  Ken is famous!  On that link below, the student's post about Ken went viral on China's Facebook.   : )
__________________________

For the national "Tomb Sweeping Holiday" we flew to Nanjing to rendevouz with Ken and Becky Mitchell, Logan friends.

Becky has done great work there. She and her students have done service at a Chinese school for deaf children--brought it into prominence and gotten a lot of support.

Meanwhile, Ken has coached basketball year after year. The students love him and have even hung his picture in their gym.

Here's a great link. Nanjing University's campus website posted a picture of Ken hanging up basketball nets. The article praises him for "doing good works" with no thought of reward.

PS: Come to find out Ken went to Franklin High School in Los Angeles, alma mater of Lloyd and Lucille Pack, my parents. We had fun comparing notes.

Brocade

Nanjing, the center of brocade weaving in China, was once one of the capitals of China, so the Emperors wore gorgeous fabrics.

Nan=south
Bei=north

Nanjing was the south capitol at the same time, Beijing was the north capitol.