THERE IS SO MUCH I WOULD LIKE TO SAY, BUT NOT ENOUGH TIME TO GET IT ALL ENTERED. HERE ARE SOME MORE PICTURES THOUGH. THERE ARE MANY PICTURES HERE. A FEW STILL FROM THE FORBIDDEN CITY, THEN A VISIT WITH LOUISA AT THE BIG BOWL TRADITIONAL CHINESE NOODLE RESTAURANT, OUR TRAIN RIDE, ARRIVAL IN XINYANG, CHURCH, AND MORE. I STILL NEED TO EDIT THIS AND REMOVE SOME PICTURES THAT ARE A REPEAT, BUT I AM OUT OF TIME FOR NOW. I WILL FINISH THIS LATER. WE ARE GOING TO DINNER TONIGHT WITH ONE OF OUR STUDENTS, HIS PARENTS, AND THE HEADMASTER [View Full Entry]

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Here are some pictures of my wonderful Chinese students! [View Full Entry]

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Pictures at our hotel and of our own private dining room! [View Full Entry]

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Sorry I know I spelled Tiemmenn Square wrong I will fix it later AND ADD MORE PICTURES. OFF TO LUNCH NOW! [View Full Entry]

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We rushed "home" today after a busy morning of studies and teaching other games. I purchased a marjonng (correct spelling provided by Vivian - thank you Vivacious Vivian) last night at Xia Market. So today Jack and others taught Megan how to play while I taught Leo, Larry (a nice young lady who just joined our class yesterday) and Gilliam to play scrabble. Another grouped played cards. In the afternoon they taught me to play a Chinese card game called Big Eyes. Anyway, I digress. We rushed home to eat so we could meet Victor, Jonny and Gilliam to get haircuts. [View Full Entry]

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MORE PICTURES FOR YOUR VIEWING PLEASURE! THIS SECTION INCLUDES STILL MORE EATING! SEEMS WE DO THAT A LOT. TONIGHT WE WERE HONORING CSV AND THE SPECIAL PEOPLE IN CHINA THAT HAVE HELPED! IT ALSO INCLUDES A MEAL FROM THE NEXT DAY, BUT I HAVE NO IDEA WHICH MEAL! [View Full Entry]

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As the world changes so changes XinYang - yet so much remains the same. "Urban renewal" is everywhere. So many buildings have been torn down, and rightly so, but so much remians the same; and are the new buildings really any better? Wednesday, Ms. Ruan, one of the teachers where we are teaching, took us the back way to our hotel. She took us past a large shopping center. The moment Megan and I saw it we both recognized it - Xia Market! We one rode in cabs from Xinyang Technical College to shop at Xia Market. Our students were so [View Full Entry]

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I have seen many more beggars on the streets than during past visits. I wonder if this is a bigger problem then it used to be or if it because I am traveling on a busier, more commercial street than I have in years past? Today I passed a woman twice sitting cross-legged on the ground holding her daughter who was maybe six. Both times I passed the young girl was asleep and looked flushed and ill. It broke my heart, and I so wanted to give them money. I have seen some Chinese give the beggars money, but most ignore [View Full Entry]

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July 17， 2008 We went shopping this evening. Again things change, so many upscale and rather upscale stores. We did a lot of looking - not much buying! Tomorrow evening Mr. Wan is going to try to make an appointment for us at the blind man massage hospital. He told us when we ask about massages in China we should be sure we ask for a blind man massage. He said massage has a bad name in China - that is massage are often not the type we think of, brings back memories of phone calls to our hotel in Beijing [View Full Entry]

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Photos from our travels - July 8th and 9th, 2008. I think that is right anyway. Somewhere along the line I lost a day, and I am still trying to find it! LOL [View Full Entry]

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