Thank you for the way you fascinated me, China. Here's just some of the ways you did:
You know how we always say everything is under construction in Michigan? Well in comparison we aren't.
The playgrounds are for senior citizens.
The malls. They keep going on and on.
Fried corn on the cob.
Everyone eating out of the same plate at the exact same time for every meal.
Squatty potty and the brooms in squattys. Ugh.
Toilet paper goes in the trash can. This is very unfortunate.
No sandals in Harbin in September, only the Americans.
Kids wear triple pants in the winter.
I can learn a phrase and in litterally one second repeat it to a stranger and they don't know what I'm saying. TONES!!!! They kill me.
I have the ability to speak zero Chinese and carry on a one hour conversation with three women who speak zero English.
Chinese train. I will say no more. It's too painful to relive.
Girl friends hold hands/link arms.
Face masks. They come in kiddie styles too.
No forks, ever.
Malaysian Coffee Buns. I have no words to tell you how wonderful they are.
Aloe flavored gum, drinks etc. Delish.
Rice at McDonalds and KFC.
Obsession with Paul Frank
So many people take our pictures, seriously though. They tell us how shy they are and how we are the first foreigners they've met. We make them nervous.
Babies don't wear diapers. They just have holes in their pants. Hold your babies over trash cans when they gotta go.
Chinese traffic and crossing the street like you are about to win a high score on Frogger.
Poorly translated English signs everywhere.
Night market. Each night is like an open carnival. If you are lucky you might find some grubs or scorpions for sale.
Avacados cost $5 a piece. 12 cherries cost about the same.
Grocery stores are like a field trip. Visit the meat and fish section.
If you just ask, you too might be welcome to play with and teach kids in a daycare.
KTV: Personal rooms for rent for a karaoke party. Rent a room out from 12am to 5am for about $1.50. This is not reccommended, but this did happen. I haven't told you yet about this one, mom. Yes, I was singing Stevie Wonder at 3am. I'm still trying to figure out how I got in that situation.
The overwhelming generosity of people in China. I was served authentic meals in homes, taken out for lunch, taught how to make dumplings, given lunch by ladies on the train, treated like a movie star at the English Club in front of over a 100 students, given homemade chocolates by my baristas that spent the whole morning preparing them, given a special made treat just for me at the Malaysian Coffee and Bun store, taken shopping, taken to KTV, twice. All of his I didn't deserve, but my friends from China are just that kind.
Experiencing for the first time how to teach a friend how to pray and that look in the eye, when the answer is yes, He does hear you when you do.
The fact that while yes there is an "underground" church, it's not quite how I pictured it.
That Christians in China struggle just like I do in the US with how to share their faith with their friends.
That I can feel and experience the presence of God in a very powerful way at a home church in Harbin even though I don't know one word that was spoken.
The fact that I got to name about 7 people English names. I'm a very proud momma to Christopher, Eli, Jude, Claire, Diane, Janet and Julie. My Chinese name happens to be Lin Lin.
That it's quite hard to face the tears I've experienced from saying goodbye to Claire, Kevin, Cindy, Kevin, Stephen, Momma Cindy, Victoria, Crystal, April, Dena, Andy, Polly, Billy, Jude, Chou, Michael James, Darren, Susan, Alice, Olive and Sundae.
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