Andi arrives!

Andi is here! And so far it's been a magical week. She's so far away in Peoria...but we are so proud of her hard work as she finishes her nursing degree. But this is a week for fun! Her friend Kelly came, too.

So what does a week in Beijing look like? We started with dinner at a local seafood place...with a show. Andi and I both got to be in it!

Then the girls went with me to Chinese language lessons -- by the end, they could say, "Ni Hau" like a native. Lily joined us for lunch an our first shopping foray into the Silk Market.

We learned to cook spicy Chinese food at a cooking class at the Hutong! And both girls...as well as Lily...loved getting food massages.

The week went too quickly... I returned to the US with Andi and met John here.

Miss Ning reads...

The children of China are lovely -- bright and fun. My friend Erin works as the English teacher in a Chinese/International pre-school. The children are pre-kindergarten ... 4 or 5 years old. The class has about 18 kids. Erin works with a team of 4 Chinese teachers.

She invited Miss Ning to read to the kids!

I spent an entire day in my Chinese language class getting ready. I learned to say, "Hello my little friends!" and as I read, I would point to something and say -- "what is this?" "Say it in Chinese -- say it in English".

The kids were wonderful -- and I was so proud of Erin. She's an inspiring and loving teacher. One of the hardest jobs in the world!

I'm going to help other educational groups by reading English materials and on a web site that translates traditional Chinese stories.

What a fun way to learn more about this country!

Meet Wei Bo and his wife Wei Mo Ning!

People have asked me about my name, Ning. Here in China folks love it -- it's already Chinese! My Malaysian friends tell me it's the name of a famous pop singer in their country. Yeah man yeah -- a future career perhaps?

It's got a little history -- when my brother was learning to talk, he couldn't pronounce Nancy...and instead it became "Ning-ie". My father has called me Ning ever since!

When our granddaughter Madeline was born, Ning seemed a natural name for her to call me -- I never forget Bonnie (the girls' mother who passed away three years ago -- ) she's still grandma.

Now that we live in China, both John and I have Chinese names -- He's Wei Bo. (Remember that in China your last name comes first...) Wei is a traditional surname that's close to Wiebmer. Bo means strong stone (a nod to his career in mining).

My name is Wei Mo Ning. Mo Ning means peaceful silence -- which probably seems like a stretch if you know me... But I'm working on developing a contemplative prayer life -- it has a spiritual aspect.

Chinese names! Every day the country becomes more like home...

Lily's first party -- lunch at Fast Monkey's home

What a difference Lily has made to our life here in China! Her sunny personality, her sense of humor...and willingness to help us at all hours of the day has created joy here in Beijing.

Lily is a special girl. Her parents went against the one child policy in China to have her -- her Chinese name is "welcome". When she was born, her father was fired from his job and had to pay a fine equivalent to two years salary. He also went to jail for three days and was interrogated.

Lily is getting married on the first day of the Olympics in August -- no big party...but a very lucky day to start a new life.

We were thrilled when she invited us (and Yan Shifu) to lunch at her fiance's apartment. He's basketball crazy...adores Michael Jordan -- so his English name is Michael. But we love his Chinese name -- translates as Fast Monkey!

The first thing I did was buy some flowers -- they're amazing here. I watched as the bouquet of lilies (of course...) got bigger and bigger! Soon it was bigger than Lily herself!

The apartment is in Beijing...but over an hour's drive from our house. It was small but modern -- Lily and her best friend cooked all day. Sadly, Fast Monkey was working and couldn't be with us. It's not unusual for Chinese people to work 6 even 7 days a week!

As Lily took our pictures at her table, she called it a "dear diary moment" -- sometimes I wonder where her quaint English phrases come from!

But what an honor to be invited into a Chinese home. She was so happy John could be there, too.

Lily's vocabulary this week: explain the difference between impede and inhibit. Could you do it?

Chinese people work hard...

Our apartment is connected to the front desk by an intercom. And when that baby springs to life, John and I feel a sense of dread. What now? What fresh language hell awaits us? Because the people at the front desk are charming...smile a lot...but speak very little English. Especially the night shift...

Sunday night at 10 p.m. we bolted from bed as our intercom burst forth -- a string of incomprehensible "xies" and "zhis" we've come to fondly associate with Mandarin. We ran down to the front desk (at least we can use body language...) and the little guy said in his halting English..."they're going to deliver your washer..." HUH?

We figured our laundry was going to be delivered. But NO! A washer did arrive...along with two hulking Chinese guys who thought we should understand what was wrong (they were looking for the receipt).

Many times people think simply repeating things will help us understand...

10 p.m. on Sunday night...hmmm. I told you Chinese folks work hard!

Today, when I got home from class, I saw two little people loading a washer and dryer on a bicycle -- you guessed it...ours!


I told you they work hard!

Standards of beauty

The first thing I noticed about China was the gorgeous women. Tall, slender, stylish and exotic. But it's amazing how beauty standards differ.














Pale skin is lovely...most skin products include bleaching agents and whiteners. Women carry parasols in summer to protect themselves from the sun. My friend Lily complimented Patrice and I on our "big noses"! Girls here get their noses enlarged!

They do know luxury! I went with a group of friends to a foot massage spa... It felt like a zen retreat. Suddenly, the door opened and 10 young Thai men marched in - precision step. Like a group of Asian Chippendales! I couldn't wait to see what happened next....

Even the massages were in unison -- almost choreographed. An hour long...the entire room was asleep in 20 minutes.

Last weekend, John and I had an adventure at the local hot springs spa. We can see it out our apartment window. It's very Chinese -- no one speaks a word of English.

John headed to the men's side -- I was shuffled to the women's. Unlike the delicate massages I've had in the US, this was a full frontal assault. It's a new definition of vulnerable when you have on no clothes and someone is jabbering at you. Not to mention being the only pasty weiguoren (foreigner) in a room of Asian beauties... On the men's side, they helped John back into his clothes...even his underwear! We quickly fled and laughed about it the rest of the day.

Bumbling through Beijing....

Those of you who have been reading our blog since the beginning may recall that we began by "Bursting into Beijing". We're now to stage two...bumbling through. My brain often feels like a bowl of yesterday's congee (rice porridge).

It ain't easy.

• Trying to order water and getting four bottles instead of one.
  
• Having the cash card in the US shut off because of a purchase in China...leaving us stranded.





• Tipping -- when it's not the custom -- and making people uncomfortable. Or even worse, fear for their job!
• Telling Yan Shifu to come at 10 a.m. and having him think you need him at 4 p.m.


• Finding a laundry that will pick up and deliver...only to discover that not only is it expensive (think hotel laundry prices...) but they staple a tag onto every item -- even underwear! Poor fatso!
  
• Gong to a restaurant -- only to have the one person who speaks English come over and tell you that you've ordered enough food to feed 15 people!

Sigh... it just ain't easy.

But here's the bright spot -- you feel tremendous accomplishment when you do get something right! When the water comes as ordered...someone actually understands your Mandarin. When a girl in the store brings your cart to you because she's concerned about your purse being stolen....

Because the brightest spot is the Chinese people -- smart, friendly, willing to help -- and so hard working.

I'm at stage two in my Mandarin lessons...my brain has absorbed about as much as it can. Every morning I get up -- I put on my work clothes and ride with John to work. But I don't get out of the car. Instead, Yan Shifu and I head to school.

The minute John is out of the car, Yan Shifu starts to drill me -- helping me with my tones!

My new system is flash cards for phrases and vocabulary...all in lovely Chinese books. But it's amazing how they've multiplied!

The adventure that is China!