Staci and Martin's Guestbook

Yay, social work!!
Hi, Stacey~ I'm so glad you'll be in social work, maybe clinical like me. It's a fairly well-paid profession, given the activists that keep watch and advocate for us all. When you get back, I want to give you a reprint from the New Yorker about an American couple returning from China who were culture-shocked. Theirs was very different from your experience, but interesting. ~Sandy

tacos
I want to know exactly where this taco place is! I've been to HK 2x this week and I'm still taco-less!

change change
Sometimes new adaptions to things are difficult and sometimes the changes are welcome transitions...to more adventures...hopefully your new changes will delight you both...enjoy your dad and sister and both of you savor the last months there:0 I lv you and send you many hugs :)

We know exactly how you feel!
The exact same thing happens to us in Vietnam. Kris once made a girl fall down the stairs in a shopping centre because she was walking down them and spied us in a coffee shop at the moment. Her shock caused her to loose control of her legs. We thought it was just a Haiphong thing, cos there are not many foreigners there, but no, it still happens in Ho Chi Minh City too. The echos of "Tay" (foreigner in Vietnamese) will haunt us to the end!

It would be most interesting to go back to China in 10 years to see if there have been changes in how they look at Americans and whether they are still pointing and exclaming Waiguoren or whether it's become so natural to them that they no longer take notice except for the fact that you are slightly taller than they are...ahhh, but the differences in mankind is what makes life interesting! Very cool that you started the day out speaking Spanish to you kiddos...am sure they will long remember and tell the story to their own kids someday...at least we hope, right. Thanks for the great conversation tonight...love you both so much! Glad that Dad and Debi will be there soon to share the time with you and already looking forward to having you home! What an awesome experience you have had and who knows what your next adventure brings for you both!

The anthem
They play the national anthem right before movies, too. Everyone in the theater stands respectfully. When I did it, only foreigners were in the theater, no nationals. And--it was nice to see--everyone stood quietly. :)

I ate there!
Is that Viva Mexican restaurant? I ate there, too, and it was awesome. BTW, love the HDR photography, Martin!

fingers and toes crossed ha ha
sounds like you both really have settled in and fallen in love with where you were placed---so happy about that altho we kind of knew you would :) Hopefully the cold will finally get knocked out now and I'm happy you have made good friends to enjoy and hang with---so Staci you DO play games haha!!! We played farkel tonight---each winning one. Plans sound good for now and I'm keeping all the torsels crossed haha:) love you both, mamaC

sneezies
Sounds like you are both finally on the mend again and had a fun filled weekend with your good buddies. Life long friends you've made over there!!! So happy that your dad and sis are coming over in April Stace:) Woowoo!!!

classic china
I love this blog...

welcome back...glad you have some time to recoup from your fantastic vacation before you start back to work! Love you both!

what an amazing day...all your food sounded just heavenly! Most importantly though, I LOVE your advice to people when the travel...definitely worth the time to try at least saying hi in their language...instead of always thinking that English and America is the best!

Sucky
Sorry for the icky trip but Martin your commentary/discription of the trip made my day!