Dinner

Our most common restaurant meals are served at round tables. The diner has a bowl of rice and is expected to take bites of food from the lazy susan as things come around. A very small plate is provided to leave small bones, etc. We ate out all the time with our fellow BYU teachers on our tour to the west.

Free Talk

In addition to teaching we conduct an hour a week per class of "free talk," informal speaking practice with a few students and the teacher. Sometimes we do that on campus, letting students show us around, or taking advantage of the weather.

For freshman free talk we've invited students to our apt. where they cook a little sample of breakfast, lunch and dinner, American style.

So far the menu has been french toast and bacon; PB&J sack lunches; fried chicken and mashed potatoes. Students like helping set the table, western style, they cook the food and they're are so sweet and appreciative.

Teaching

We take a university coach bus to teach our classes three days a week. We each teach several hours, usually having lunch on campus. The "new campus" of Northwestern Polytechnical University is new, sprawling, and well-equipped. Students are wonderful.

Muslim Market

Lots of fun and sometimes touristy choices on these crowded streets in the heart of Xi'an. In addition you can get meals, produce, and clothing.

Night Life in Fall

Wild Goose Pagoda

Attention!

It's not uncommon to see employees standing at attention--cooks in white uniforms on the sidewalk outside a restaurant before their shift begins, being instructed by their boss.

It's also the norm to see lovely hostesses or hosts welcoming diners to restaurants.

Early Medicine in China

Traditional China

It's not common to see these colorful costumes. The little girl in her ethnic outfit and the lovely young lady in her traditional Chinese dress were both posing for cameras.

Traffic

One of the first things we noticed was driving patterns. The general rule appears to be that whoever is ahead has the right of way. Pedestrians don't. You're expected to stay out of the way of anything mobile.

Old City Wall - Xi'an

This amazing 10 mile long wall enclosed the Old City of Xi'an. It was restored and repaired in 700AD, I think.

Tom and Paula Heath (SLC) teach here, too, so we hang out with them a lot.

The moat and a lovely park encircle the walled area. On the moat picture, you can see people fishing under the bridge.

The top of the wall is wide enough to drive on, but no cars allowed. Bikes only.

The interior is a bustling city, a mix of antique areas of the city, along with plenty of modern businesses, cars and traffic.

(Click on pictures to enlarge.)

Our Apartment

Our neighborhood, made up of apartments copied from the Soviets, is a pleasant collection of tree-lined streets. Older couples out walking, children's voices, firecrackers now and then.