Happy Independence Day

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This was my first July 4th outside of the US. Ironically, I spent the day trapped on an 8 hour bus ride though remote China... and as I wrote this entry we were stuck and not moving in traffic. The driver actually turned off the bus. He and the bus assistant got out and walked around. Even the monks in the truck next to us became restless and started wandering. Women on bikes went vehicle to vehicle selling snacks and drinks from their bike baskets.

Also ironically, my email acct was disabled due to suspicious activity. I'm one of at least 3 people I know to have this happen to them. I'm just hoping I wasn't really hacked and am grateful that the problem was resolved within day or so.

Neither of these was the independence I quite craved yesterday.


This town is different than anything I've seen. It's nestled in between mountains with a river ROARING through it. Almost all the signs are in Chinese and Tibetan, very few have English. Every other city I've been to has either just Chinese or Chinese and English. I did see one for China Life Insurance that was in all 3 languages.


Today as I sat writing outside in my journal, enjoying the brief sunshine, 2 Tibetan women walked with witha child and a plant. I ahve no idea what they wanted. Then later a monk was venturing past our hostel gate (we're next to a monastery) and I looked up and smiled. Next I knew, he was next to me, startling me. "Tashi Delek," he said to me, the Tibet greeting of hello. Then he smiled. I smiled shyly and said, "Tashi Delek," back to him and then didn't know what to do. He turned and left, not talking to anyone else.

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Comments

[Dad]

There are some nice pictures on Google Earth of Kangding, showing the river running through the town. Elevation is nearly 9,000 feet. Must be much cooler there than back along the coast near Shenzhen and Hong Kong.

[sunketing]

Brrr
Yep, I was freezing. I keep following the river. I wish I knew which one it was!

[Sally Arner]

Independence Day
I am a friend of your mom's since we were roomates during our first teaching in Kenosha, Wisc. It has been so fun to read your travel blogs. I taught for DoDS in Germany the year after your mom and I taught in Germany. We have become acquainted as couples now that we all are in Az. We had lunch with Nancy and Bill at Applebees in Prescott yesterday. They are excited about your coming out...I just think you are a wonderful writer and have enjoyed your blogs so much. Glad you are going back to China to teach next year. Hope to meet you someday. Have fun traveling,Sally