The Ferrells

Venice of China

2009-05-07T00:18:00.000-07:00

This week was Chinese labor day and we got another holiday. We went on tour and saw the Venice of the East. It was such fun, relaxing and great friends.

AnnaMarie, Tyler, & Katie visit

2009-05-07T00:07:00.000-07:00

We had a whirlwind week with AnnaMarie, Tyler & Katie. Without a doubt, Katie was the favorite fascination everywhere we went. People wanted their picture with her and they wanted their child's picture with her and some even wanted to pick her up. The first 2 options were fine, but this being picked up by strangers was a screaming no no. We all got quite the laugh out of it. It was such fun and here are a few pictures.

Spring Break

2009-04-09T06:05:00.000-07:00

For spring break we went on a river cruise down the Yangtze to the 3 gorges dam project. It was relaxing, fun, and very interesting. Here are a few of the pictures--

90th Anniversary Celebration!

2009-03-29T13:12:00.000-07:00

This week is the 90th anniversary of Nankai University and the English department, as well. There will be a week long celebration and it kicked off with an opening ceremony. Wynn & I were the MC's with 2 cute students. We did our part in English and they did their part in Chinese. It was an incredible talent show and we expressed our appreciation for the opportunity to teach at such a great university with such wonderful students. It was an evening to remember. China never ceases to amaze us!

Letter fro m Dad 3/21/09

2009-03-22T07:16:00.000-07:00

Dear family and others of concern:

Yesterday, mother and I were at the market picking up some vegetables for our dinner. On the way out, I met one of my former students, a very nice young girl. She said to me, "do you remember me? I said, "of course I do." She asked, "what is my name?" Well, I knew it was either Apple or Cherry. I couldn't remember which one, as I had both an Apple and a Cherry in the same class. So, I replied, "I know it is either Apple of Cherry". She said, "I am Cherry." I replied, "well, I knew you were a fruit, I just couldn't remember which one." Uh oh, that didn't sound right. I'm sure glad she didn't understand.

I also had to go to the super market to get some hamburger. When I got there, is all they had was some large chunks of beef just laying out in the open on a tray. I tried to talk to a lady, but she didn't seem to want to be of any assistance. I just needed them to chop me some beef, into hamburger. No one wanted to help me, so I just grabbed a chunk of beef and pulled it apart with my bare hands, I tore off the excess fat this I didn't want, and handed the beef to the butcher and motioned for him to chop it into hamburger. He said no, but he got some young boy and told him to chop it. The boy wasn't happy, but he did it because he had to. I then went into the back room to wash the meat off of my hands. The head butcher guy saw me in his back room and went into orbit.. Well, this is China, where else am I going to wash the meat off my hands? I finished washing my hands and told the head guy, "have a cow" and walked out. He glared at me the whole time the young man was chopping the beef, so, I just smiled at him.

In about ten days, mother and I are going to take a boat trip to the Three Gorges Dam. It is a three day trip. There is a National Holiday that lasts three days, so the trip was planned around thet time. We are looking forward to it. We will take a two or three hour plane ride to get to the place where we board the boat. It's not a very big boat, it only holds about 150 people. Well, the river isn't very wide probably only 300 feet or so. I don;t know how deep it is, but it couldn't be too deep. We are told that we will see a lot of different Chinese culture along the way.

Well, Tyler, Annamarie, Katie and Sportette will be arriving mid April. We are really anxious to see them. We're still planning our trip. I hear that Katie isn't all that fond of traveling. Well, we will do all we can to accomadate her. She waves to me and throws me kisses on Skype.

Mother and I went to Beijing last Friday. We had a great day. We shopped at the Pearl Market and ate dinner at Sizzler. Well, I know that Sizzler isn't exactly your favorite place to eat in America, but it is dang good here. It seems that is one of the only real American food places in China. Well, except for McDonalds and KFC, which is horrible here. We shall always be greatful for Sizzler here in China and I probably won't eat there again the rest of my life, unless I return to China in the future.

You must improvise here, you do what you have to do. We ride our three wheeler when we travel, we lay our laundry all over the apartment to dry, since there is not such thing as a clothes dryer in China, and we wash our dishes in the bathroom. Either in the wash basin or the tub, but never the toilet. Our kitchen consists of a small refrigerator, a hot plate and a microwave. We are darn happy to have each of them. Brigham Young had none of them. Poor guy. There is generally no such thing as heat in the college classes, and certainly no air conditioning. You just dress up, or dress down. But the buildings have a roof on them and if they leak, the custodian brings a bucket to catch the water coming through the ceiling. They give us the best they have. It's OK. I am going to ship a three wheeler home to America when we leave. Mother has already informed me that she is not going to ride in the back of the three wheeler when we get back to America. How soon she forgets. One day she is so thankful for the three wheeler, the next day, she says, "no way."

Mother and I both spoke in church today. Our talks went well. Our topic was faith. Mother always does better that I do. Tomorrow evening, I am going to hold my night class in our apartment. We are going to eat tacos and spaghetti. We will have our school lessons while we eat. The kids are really looking forward to it. I only have twelve students in this class, but some will bring their friends. We will probably end up with fifteen or sixteen in attendance. Mother will be with our family home evening group while I hold the class.

Well, I hope all is going well for each of you. Have a great day. I love you all,

Dad

Letter from Dad 3/08/09

2009-03-22T07:15:00.000-07:00

Dear Family and other's who are willing to read this letter:

This has been an interesting week. I finially have my schedule worked out. I think I told you, I now teach four classes on Monday, and one class on Wednesday morning. I like this schedule. Mother and I had lunch with the lady that I work closely with in the English Dept. She asked me to meet with the English teachers who teach in in the English Dept. I said OK. I went to the Department at 2:00 P. M. Only two teachers were there, one was my leader, the other was mothers leader. I had small talk for a few minutes, then the lady who mother reports to, asked me this question. "We want to know about religion) Well, you know we can't discuss religion and they know it. The lady said, "during the recent presidential elections, we were told that Mr. Huckabee was a Mormon. The only thing we know about Mormons is, they have several wives. I replied, "oh." I said, well, Mr. Huckabee is not a Mormon, but Mr. Romney is. I then said, let me tell you about my religion. We are taught to honor, obey and sustain the law. The law here in China is, we don't discuss religion. "Do you want me to live my religion?" She said, are Mormons Christians. I replied, "yes." What about all of the Christian religions, why are there so many? I replied, "they teach what they think is rigtht." I did not discuss religion with them, except as aforementioned. I then said. "You invited me here to discuss the English teaching methods I use. I am willing to do that still. However, you must understand, we will never discuss religion." They agreed. The next week, I was dis invited to meet with them. Was this a set up? Absolutely!

While I was there, my advisor told me that the department was not happy with me for changing my Thursday morning class to Monday evening. (my class loved the change) I replied, "whose not happy?" I want to meet with them. I said, "life is too short to be unhappy" Tell me who they are? Finially she said, "no body." Ok if someone ever again gets unhappy, tell them I want to meet with them. I will put a smile on their face. "OK" she said. Enough of that, I left

. On Thursday we went to Beijing. We had District Conference on Saturday and Sunday. When I got dressed for the Saturday afternoon session, I found that I didnot bring msuit pants, only my jacket. We;;, all I have to wear to conference are my levis. I've never work just levis to church before. I just laughed. Well, I put on a white shirt, a nice tie and my suti jacket. Oh, along with my levis. I met several others in the lobby. They looked strange at me, but no one said anything. I guess they thought this is the way I go to Conference. They were however, very nice levis. I had just gotten them from the dry cleaners and they were pressed very well. OK, I get in a cab and go to conference. There are three others in the cab with me. Well, I didn't have the courage to go to conference in my levis, so I found a mens clothing store and bought a pair of slacks that matched my suit coat. I paid dearly fort them. Cost me twenty eight bucks. I could have bought them for five if I had purchased them on the street. Well anyway, I head back to conference. I walk in. The same people who saw me in levis, now see me in nice church pants. Still no one says anything. Neither did I. Well, at the evening session, i see a lady (the branch presidents wife) I notice that the shoes she is wearing, don't match. One is black and one is blue. Well, I guess she had somewhat the same problem that I had.

It was a good conference. We had two General Authorities in attendance. The session was broadcast all over China by telephone transmission. Members all over China could dial in and listen to the conference. This was the first time they had broadcast the conference to other areas.

The chapel is on the 4th floor of a hotel. On the main floor is a Dairy Queen. About half way through the Saturday Evening session, I was falling asleep. I thought to myself how good a Blizzard form D. Q. would taste. I got up, and told mother that I was going to the bathroom. She said to me, "don't even think of going down to D. Q." Well it was a good idea, but the thought never lasted. I went to the restroom and came back and sat down.

Traffic in Beijing and Tianjin was pure gridlock. It took us over and hour in the cab to get from the train station, to our apartment. Glad to be home.

Happy birthday to Brit and Scott. Did you get my present yet? Well don't worry, it's not my birthday until October.

While in Beijing, We went to the pearl market. Got some pearl necklaces and some purses for some of Ashleys friends. I also got a pair of Oakley glasses. They were given to me by the lady at the pearl market. She sells them.

Well, time to go to bed, and I am very tired. Will write more later. I love you all.

Dad

Wynn & the girls--

2009-02-13T18:43:00.000-08:00

The week with our family was just such fun I can't let it go without putting up one reall good picture of each of them. By good, I mean typically "China tourist." Next week school begins, so I'll have to keep the memories and get on with real life again!!

Traveling with the girls

2009-02-12T04:26:00.000-08:00

We went to see the terra cotta warriors and had such a great time. We begin with a 3 hour flight and ended up on the hotel couch waiting for our guide--

Week with the girls!

2009-02-08T05:51:00.000-08:00

We just had the most wonderful week with Tricia, Emily, Ashley, and Amber. We spent two days in Tianjin showing them our daily routine and neighborhood and shopping. Then we spent two days in Xi'an seeing the city wall and Terra Cotta warriors, and then 3 days in Beijing at the wall, summer palace, Olympic venues, pearl mart, & silk mart. It was just such fun and they left happy and tired. Here are a couple of pictures of all of us and sometimes our guide is in the pictures.

KFC= Excellent Hospital Care!

2009-01-30T06:34:00.000-08:00

Dear Family and others of interest:

A lot has happened since I last sent a family letter out. A couple of weeks ago, We traveled to Hong Kong for teacher training. We were in Hong Kong for 4 days. Hong Kong is very beautiful, very expensive and a lot a very tall buildings. It is a very clean city. Most of the items sold in Hong Kong are imported from P R China. After leaving Hong Kong, we traveled to a town just across the border from Hong Kong. Mother got very sick from food poisioning. We were not able to travel with the rest of our group on that day. We stayed at the hotel. Mother didn't seem to be getting any better, so we took a taxi to the hospital. A fellow from the hotel went with us to speak Chinese for us. The Doctor checked mother out, and then said she would need some I. V.'s with medication in them. The doctor gave me a prescription. I went to an area in the hospital and got the prescription. I also had to pay to check mother in. It cost me 72 cents to check her in. Well, that was rather expensive in as much as there was no heat in any part of the hospital. I had to pay about $18.00 for the four prescriptions. They consisted of four I. V.'s and 4 bottles of something to put in the I.V.'s. Along with that, the pharmicist gave me some needles to put into mothers hand and some needles to go in the I. V. She told me to go start the I. V. I said O. K. I don't know how to start an I. V. though. I go into a room. there are about 18 or 20 people sitting on a chair, all with an I. V. stand in front of them, and all of them are receiving an I. V. This is what you call a shared room. Well. they take mother into another room across the hall. It is a room with a bed in it. No heat, and two doors wide open leading to the outside. The nurse tells mother to take off her shoes and hop into this icy cold bed. I tell the nurse the mother is cold. She brings in 4 bottles of hot water. Puts two near her feet, and one under each arm.. Well that keeps her somewhat warm. The doctor sees that I can't start the I. V. so someone else comes in and starts it. I go outside to get mother a glass of water. Outside of her room in the hall, is a dead lady laying on the bed in the hall. No one seems to be to concerned, and the dead lady didn't seem to mind. I bring mother in her glass of water. I then tell mother that I am going to go back to the hotel to get some warmer clothes for me and her. I walk outside the room and pass the dead lady. As I am passing her, she raises up and yells something to the nurse. Scares the be jeebies out of me. I realize she is not yet dead. But now I am almost. I go to the hotel and get some warmer clothes. I also go to the post office to mail the stuff that I have purchased so far on the trip. I mail it to the USA. I go back to the hospital. The almost dead lady is still in the hallway. This time I keep my distance. I go into mothers room. The first I. V. is about 1/4 gone. Going to slow. I go get the Doctor, and show her it is going slow. She speeds it up a little, and leaves the room. Mother says that if I go to KFC and buy the doctor and the nurse some chicken, they might pay more attention to us. I go to KFC. I take the chicken into the doctor and nurse and give it to them. The Doctor comes back into mothers room, and puts the I.V. into high gear. It worked. I go back to KFC and get the doctor and the nurse something to drink. I return and give it to them. Now mother has her own private nurse. Not a bad deal for 96 cents. Well, by now 4 hours has past and we are only down two I. V.'s We have two I. V.'s to go. We also need to catch a plane to meet up with our group. The plane leaves at 8:00 P. M. I tell the doctor. In my best Chinglish I know. She understands and says , "no problem." She speeds up the I. V. By now, mother starts to feel a whole lot better. Finially 6:15 comes and we need to go to the airport. The doctor says mother doesn't need all of the last I. V. I ask the doctor how much the bill is. She says that I paid the bill at the pharmacy with the prescriptions. Well, I figure the price was right. Total cost for an 8 hour stay with medication was $18.72. Well, I'm OK with their charges. Mother gets up to leave her hospital bed. The doctor takes out the needle out of the back of her hand. I tell the doctor that I am going to hail a cab. She says, "mayo, mayo, mayo. means no, no, no" She tells us that her husband is taking us to the airport. We get into her husbands car and away we go. We get to the airport on time and make our flight.

We sure can't complain. The hospital wasn't much, but what they had, they gave us their best. The doctors husband wouldn't take any payment for taking us to the aiarpot. Oh, by the way, the dead lady was gone when we left the hospital.

The rest of the trip was quite uneventful. It was a great trip and we saw a lot of China that we had not experienced before. I purchased a bunch of items that I had not seen here in Tianjin or Beijing.

Yesterday, I was riding my three wheeler. It quit. I knew the problem, the battery had become disconnected. I opened up the battery compartment, took the connection off and used my needle nosed pliers to pry the brackets apart a little so they would make a better connection. In the process of prying the positive and nevative wires apart, I touched the positive and negative connections together with the plyers. The battery really started sparking. I tried to pull my plyers off the battery, but to no avail. The plyers were welded to the top of the battery connection. Now my bike won't go at all. I proceed to take the battery out of my bike, (plyers and all) and hail a cab. I get to the bike shop. I show the owner my battery and the connected plyers. He laughs. He knows what has happened. All this time the taxi driver and the bike shop owner are deciding how is the best way to make the necessary repairs. It only takes a few minutes to repair the battery connection, but my 26 cent plyers still have a part of the old battery connection welded to it. The bike shop owner starts to qrind down my plyers. The taxi driver watches the bike shop owner grind down my plyers. The taxi driver doesn't like the way he is grinding down my 26 cent plyers, so the taxi driver takes the grinder from the bike shop owner and the taxi driver shows the bike shop owner how to properly grind the battery connection off of my plyers. They argue back and forth how the best way to proceed would be. Finally they finish and hand me my new Chinese plyers. They now look like they came from the 12th century, but they work. Ok well, this is china. I ask the bike shop owner how much I owe him, he motions nothing. I try to pay him ,but he won't take anything. We load my battery back into the taxi cab and away we go back to find my bike. It's still there, right where I left it. (only because there was no battery in it, and no one wanted to steal it when it wouldn't run.) I hop on the bike and away I head for home. Well, another day in China.

We are very excited that the four girls are coming out tomorrow. (Ashley, Amber, Emily and Trisha) We can hardly wait.

Well, that's all for now. I love you all. Dad

Pictures to go with blog below!!

2009-01-27T01:25:00.001-08:00

So scared and so sick!!

2009-01-26T20:44:00.000-08:00

On Tuesday afternoon of our trip, I started to feel sick and then I got so ill. I can't remember when I have felt so terrible. We decided to spend Wednesday at the hotel while the group went to see the pertrified forest by bus 4 hours away. The tour guide told the hotel manager to check on me and if I wasn't getting better to take me to the hospital. He came up about 9:30 and meet me flying to the bathroom to throw up nothing, but I couldn't seem to quit. He said he'd get a cab and to come down to the lobby immediately. I dressed and used a doggie bag to heave into. Well, the scariest experience turned out to be a highlight in my love for the Chinese people. He took me to the emergency room, we paid 75 cents to check in and the doctor examined and tested me for about 15 minutes and said I had food poisoning and needed an "infusion." I thought that meant a shot to stop the nausea and agreed. Next thing I know, I am in a "private"

room which was usually used for short term emergencies like stitching and etc. I saw they had hung 4 bottles of IV stuff to give me, so I laid back and spent the next 8 hours under their care. I greatly put them out and inconvienced them at every turn, but they were so wonderful all day, trying to meet the American's needs. We had to be at the airport at 6 to join our group and the dr. was worried about the bad traffic and so she had her husband (chemical engineer) come and drive us to the airport. The room next to mine was where I should have been--3 beds, the next room had 11 beds and one gal was in the hallway because they were out of room. It had no heat and was freezing so every 20 minutes or so they would bring hot bottles of water and put them on my feet and under each arm. I think you can tell what all of the pictures are except the "trough" which is the bathroom. Yes, you just squat and use it. I needed it 3 times and the nurse would walk me and the IV bottle down the hallway, which opened to the street. These 3 ladies were like angels and took such good care of me and I ended up feeling so much better!!

SW China!!

2009-01-26T19:03:00.000-08:00

We toured SW China for a week where the temps were in the 50's & 60's. This is marvelous, because it is the "big cold" in Tianjin where it is -13 and a Siberian breeze blowing on and off. We saw some unique and beautiful China and had a blast--

Hong Kong

2009-01-26T18:53:00.000-08:00

We spent a week in Hong Kong for training from the Kennedy Teacher's Program. It was so good to connect with old friends who have been having their own "China Experience." We learned so much and got to spend the morning in the temple. Here are some pictures of the time we spent in this amazing city.

Working hard for Fresh Basil- Wynn

2009-01-13T06:31:00.000-08:00

Well, we have enjoyed another week in China. Now I know what each of you kids meant, when you were younger and at home, when you would say "we are going to hang out." Well, mother and I just "hung out" this week.
This week, I decided to make some tomato basil soup. After reading the recipe, I had to purchase a blender. I go to Carrefour. I buy it. About $25.00. I look for basil. Well, I'm not exactly sure what fresh basil looks like. I ask someone. Well, they can't speak English. Finally I find someone who speaks a little English. I ask them, "where is the fresh basil?" Well, they have never heard of basil. I explain it to her. She says "oh yes, it's rigtht over here." Great! I follow her. She brings me some broccoli. I say "thank you" and when she leaves, I put the broccoli back. I ask another person, No luck. I go to the dried herb section. No dried basil. I go home with no basil. I get on the internet. I find a picture of fresh basil. I also find the spelling of fresh basil in Chinese. (well at least it says in English that it is in Chinese) Now, I know I can get some fresh basil. I go to an outdoor fruit and vegetable market. I show the lady the picture and the Chinese spelling of basil. She looks puzzled. I go to another stand. He looks, and shakes his head. Finially I find a guy who speaks a little English. He reads the Chinese spelling. He says, "this is a very old vegetable, but they quit growing it many years ago. I say, "where can I buy it?" He says, "no where, it is not available." Well, I look on the internet and it says that it is grown in China. I keep asking. No luck. In the evening, I go to an Italian restaurant for dinner. My pasta comes with some basil on it. I know they still grow basil, or they had an over supply left over from 100 + years ago. I ask the waiter about fresh basil. He has never heard ot it. Well, I know that somebody has, because it is on my pasta. A young man comes over to our table who speaks English. I show him the picture of basil that I took from the internet. I also show him the Chinese name for basil. He says that he has never heard of it. I give him a sample of the basil from my pasta, and say to him," please ask the chef where I can get some of this basil?" He takes the picture, the Chinese spelling and the basil from my plate and goes to the chef. He returns, "the chef says they import it from Korea." "Can I buy some" I ask. "I'll ask," he says. "The chef says he has none, but he can get some tomorrow when his shipment comes" I ask, "how much." "Ten yuan." A buck sixty. "OK, I'll take it." The next day I get my fresh basil. I sure do hope that my tomato basil soup was worth all of what I went through. I could have purchase an entire pan of tomato basil soup for three dollars. Well, we'll see. I hope that the basil stays frest in the refrigerator for about three weeks, until we get back
from Hong Kong.

We went to Beijing on Friday. Had a great day. I purchase more items to see what I can import when I return home. I buy a lot more stuff and sent it back to America. It will arrive in about two months. We leave for Hong Kong on Wednesday for BYU training. Then the girls come to China.

A few days ago mother and I had gone to TGIF for dinner. I had to park my vehicle a little bit away. Only cars were allowed in the TGIF parking lot. After dinner, I leave mother at TGIF and I go to get the three wheeler. I try to cut through the parking lot on the three wheeler, but some guy comes out of his stall and says, "no way." About that time, here comes some guy on his bicycle, cutting through parked cars. He doesn't see me but I see him. He turns one way, and I turn the other. Otherwise it would not have been a pretty site. Well, the poor guy that tells me no way is now distracted by a near disaster. He begins to cuss the guy on the bike. I make a run for it. He yells something, but I don't understand. I know I can out run him. I make it to where mother is. He catches us with me. He tells me something in Chinese, and points to the street. Mother gets in the bike and off we go to the street. I wave good bye to the ole boy that is cussing me and away we go.

On the way home, I step on my foot brake to stop. The brake doesn't work. Lucky I have two hand brakes. They are a little slow, but we get stopped. I drive home slowly. I call a guy that speaks English and tell him the foot brake problem. He calls the motorcycle shop and tells the guy the problem. He says he will come to our hotel this evening and fix it. I meet him at the hotel along with the guy who speaks English. Thay talk and smoke three or four cigarettes. Finially he says it too cold to work outside. I ask the hotel clerk if I can bring the three wheeler into the lobby where it is warm, so we can work on it. He laughs. I take it that means yes. I drive the three wheeler into the lobby. This guy comes unglued. However, lucky for me he can't speak English. The guy who speaks English gets himself lost, so there is no there to tell me that I can't come inside to work. We proceed to work. The desk clerk gets on the phone with someone. I motion for the motorcycle repairman to work fast, this warm spot may not last. He finishes in short order. He then brings his bike inside to do some work. Now the desk clerk goes nuts. Well, I figure he is already mad, what's a little bit madder? I again motion for him to hustle. He does. Well, when he leaves, he has to go down a sidewalk ramp to get onto the parking entrance. He sees some guy from the hotel coming who is not happy. He makes a run for it and goes down the cement stairs instead of the ramp. His bike falls over and ends up at the bottom. He gets up, picks up his bike and he makes a run for it. Meanwhile, I go down the ramp, park my bike,and go back into the hotel lobby. I tell the two mad guys to have a nice day and I head up to my room. Well, all is well. Both of our bikes work better and we were warm while they were being repaired. I think the two old geezers that were mad will get over it.

We went to a restaurant called Hanks. Sounded American enough. We go in . Some guy sitting at the counter says hi to us, in English. That is an encouraging sign. I walk up to the guy and ask him, "is the food any good here?. He says, "ya, it's great, I am Hank." I think as fast as I can to come up with a good come back. I say, "I heard the food here was wonderful, that's why we came here today." I ask, "what is your speciality?" He reviews the menu. Mother orders a bar b que sandwich, and I order salmon. I must say, Hank was right. It was pretty good. I give the place about a 5 if we were in America, mother gave it a four. However, for China I am not so picky. For China, I give it about a 7. On a cold hungry day, I would move Hank to an 8. When we ate at Sizzler in Beijing, and it was very good. (for China) In America, I wouldn't eat at Sizzler, but, I'm in China and I am not quite so hard to please. I give Sizzler here in China a good solid 8. Two weeks ago, I ate at Tylers Koran restaurant, and that place wouldn't make the top ten. Yikes, it was awful. As I was leaving the place, I wanted to tell all the Koreans there, to go to Sizzler next time. They could try real food. Mother insisted that I contain myself.

Today as we were leaving our Church Meetings, we could hear this dog barking. Well, that's nothing new for this area. Dogs always bark, but no one seems to mind. Well, this poor ole pooch must have been bothering some young boys who were outside playing. One of the boys yelled something at the dog in Chinese. The ole mutt barked even louder. As we turned the corner, we could see this pooch inside of a fensed yard. He looked like a bear. Even I didn't want to confront him/her. Well, about that time one of these young boys, picked up a large piece of broken concrete that was laying on the side of the road, and clocked that dog as hard as he could with the concrete. This dog absolutely went into orbit. The old boy/girl tried to jump the fense several times. Greatfully, he/she failed. I hope the ole pooch doesn't think it was me who threw the concrete, or even more, I hope the rock ruined his short term memory.

Mother and I each had to prepare a presentation to give to the 80 or so BYU China Teachers, while we are in Hong Kong. We completed our presentations, so now we can relax until we present them.

This past week we went to dinner twice with a few of our Oral English students. We had a good time with them. They are very smart kids. The first group of three girls, we took to Papa Johns Pizza. The three girls, Seattle, Fione and Helen X (English names)
are three of the top Junior Students here at Nankai. They were a lot of fun.

The next evening we took Saloon and Crystal to an Italian restaurant. I think that Saloon is the Junior Class President. It was good food and a very enjoyable evening also. They are two top students also. We really enjoy taking our students out. We have taken several of our students out over the months. We love and enjoy them all.

I have sent several large boxes of items home, via China Postal Service. They tell me it takes about two months to arrive in America. I hope they all arrive. I've got another couple of boxes of items to send home this week. I'm sure when we return from Hong Kong and SouthWest China in two weeks, we have have a few more boxes of stuff to send home. Well, we will have fun going through the stuff when we return, and we will home some really spoiled grand children. Well, not spoiled, just overly missed and loved.

Since the first of the year, a couple of new families have moved into our little branch. It is great to have new friends move in. The fellow in the branch that played the piano, moved back to America. This lady that moved in, plays beautifully. It seems that we are always cared for.

Well, while in Beijing this week i was walking down the street, and some guy stopped me and wanted to sell me some more genjine Rolex Watches. He asks me, how many I want. I say none. He keeps hounding me. The last time I purchased genuine Rolex watches, I bought them for 5 for about $12.00. I knew that I didn't need any more genuine Rolex watches. He keeps walking along side of me. I walk across the street to hail a cab. He follows me. He asks how many I want. I say none. He says, make me an offer. I say, OK. ten for 100 yuan for ten. (about twelve dollars and fifty cents). He says, OK. I couldn't believe it. About a buck twenty each. I check to see if all of these genuine Roles watch are working. They are. I buy them and he leaves. What he didn't know, was that I would have paid him 100 yuan just to leave me alone. Well, I hail a cab, and go home with ten more watches. Mother asks me what I am going to do with all these watches. I tell her that when I get home and I am teaching the High Priests group, I will give everyone a genuine Rolex watch who answers a question for me. I think all of the High Priests would like to wear a genuine Rolex watch.

Well, I am heading for the pearl factory to see what I can't live without. I see several street people heading for me. They all remember me from last time, when I gave them each ten yuan. I tell you, they should sign up to run a marathon. They dropped their canes, and walkers and headed right for me. Well, this time I am not so generous. This could become very expensive and they all have a good memory with a lot of friends and relatives. I meat mother back at the pearl factory where she is guarding all of my newly purchased precious cargo. I pack it up and I head off for the toy store to see what the grand kids can't live with out. I am really loaded down. My cargo is so heavy, I am walking with a limp. The street people see me again. they know I can't go fast and they swarm me. They are all saying the same thing in Chinese. i can't go through them and I can't go around them. Where's mother when I need her. I hold me own, I finially make it through the croud and to the toy store. What a relief. However, I know that when I leave the toy store, they will all be waiting for me again. I leave the toy store. Some guy asks me if I want to buy some watches. I tell him I already have some. He says, "best deal just for you." I figure what is good for him is good for me. I ask him how much. He says 180 yuan each. About $22.00 (I just bought some for $1.20 each.) I tell him, I will make him a great deal. I pull out my watches. I say, I will sell you these for 100 yuan each/ ($12.00) He laughs. I laugh. That's the last I see of him.

Yesterday, I received a phone call from our Branch President. He said a new family was moving into the branch and needed help cleaning their newly rented apratment. I went with him. We spent 5 hours cleaning. Real nice people. He had a stroke about 5 months ago and is here from America for treatment. I am happy to help.

Well, that's about it. Nothing to exciting this week. I hope you all have a great day today. It is your Sabbeth. I love you all.

Dad

Siberian tigers--awsome!!

2009-01-03T02:08:00.000-08:00

We went to the world's largest tiger preserve and got up close to these beautiful animals--Wynn even got to feed a live chicken to a group of males. We drove in a barred and reinforced bus around the preserve and then walked on a wired cat walk above the caged (most aggresive) tigers. It was one of my all time favorite experiences--

New Year's at Harbin snow & ice show

2009-01-03T01:58:00.000-08:00

We spent the first 3 days of the new year in the northern most province in China. It is next to Siberia, Russia and it was so cold. Almost unbelievable!! We saw some wonderful things and are glad to be back "home" in Tianjin where it is cold, but nothing compared to Harbin. Here are some of our pictures--we could only take a limited number because the cold disables the battery of the camera!

Christmas in Tianjin- From Dad

2008-12-28T10:10:00.001-08:00

Dear Family:

We have enjoyed Christmas in China. It was different without any of the family being with us. None the less, we enjoyed ourselves. We opened presents, went to the market and picked up my new suit I had made. It fits and looks great. My $50.00 was well spent, and I also received two pair of pants with it.

Today, we took a Korean family to dinner. They are a family that we home teach. Tyler knows the lady. She taught him Korean at the MTC. She said that Tyler was always the life of the class. She remembered him and his humor. Well, we took them to a Korean restaurant here in Tianjin. (first mistake) They are Bing and Uno Kim. Uno ordered our food. (2nd mistake) Here comes the food. (third mistake) Kim Chee,al a mode. Doesn't look all that appetizing. I taste it. (4th mistake) I was right. Here come some more stuff. (5th mistake) More of the same. Oh, by the way, we are sitting on the floor. Some one says that it is sea weed. I try it. It is sea weed al a squid. Complete with the squid. Yuck! Next comes 5 little plates of more Kim Chee al a mode and sea weed. I get the idea now. If you don't eat the stuff, they won't bring you anymore. I was right. Well, pretty soon they bring some raw meat and fry it at your table. That part was OK. I give it a two or a three. Nothing to have sweet dreams about, It was the kind of stuff that if you were starving on the Gobee Desert, you might eat it after the third day. Well, all in all, I give the meal about a two. I can honestly say that I am so proud of Tyler for sticking it out in Korea, and eating that stuff. Or, maybe he didn't eat the stuff. Perhaps he went to McDonalds. That must have been why I sent him a little extra money from time to time. I don't blame you Tyler, I would have gone to McDonalds also. If I had known how nasty it was, I would have sent you more extra money to go to Mc Donalds, or even somewhere else Western.

Well, I can count my home teaching complete. (complete with kim chee) The Kims left happy, and I left sick. Well, next time we are taking them to TGIF. They already know it, and have agreed to it. They will find out what some good food tastes like. They may never go back to kim chee again. And by the way, TGIF is not a great restaurant here in China. Well, perhaps it's great here in China, because that may be the closest you get to good American food. Even the McDonalds hamburger tastes yucky here. I give McDonalds about a three.

Our first semister is over. It has been a good experience. I love my kids. They are just "good kids." They have a real desire to learn. Since I teach Oral English, all of my finals consisted of a five minute conversation with each student individually. We talked about what we did in class. My freshman had to write a dialogue. Then they read it to me. They were graded on the content, (did it make sense?) their pronunciation, and how well their dialogue flowed. All in all they did quite well.

Next week, mother and I are traveling to Harbin. It is very cold. the daytime high is about 14 degrees. It is where all of the ice sculpturing takes place here in China. It is north of us, up by Mongolia somewhere, but still in China. It is about a two or three hour plane ride. We stay there two days, then back to Tianjin to un thaw.

It snowed last Sunday. I think I told you, we had eleven of us to church. It has been cold all week. Mother and I still get on the three wheeler and away we go. Mother actually likes this thing. I would never have believed it. I am going to sell the Lexus before we get home and bring the three wheeler back with me. I think that mother will be happy with the three wheeler when we get back to Arizona. She will so happy not to have to walk, that the three wheeler will be a real treat. If she comes home to the Lexus, our time here in China will have been a complete waste. This is just like being back on the ranch in Burlington, complete with the three seat out house. (with no curtains between the seats.) I wonder if they ever had three sitting there at the same time?

We went to Beijing yesterday. Left about 9 and returned at about 7. All in all, a great day. More shopping, more stuff. Went to the pearl market and to the silk market. More peals and more ties and magic tricks. I bought a few more magic tricks. While there, the guy gave me a rubber mask of Barrack Obama. What am I going to do with that? He and I have gotten to be good buddies. I think that I now own his store. I have every magic trick known to man. Well, now I have to figure out how to work them, so they will really be magic.

The toy store is something to behold, as is the Silk and Pearl markets. You can't imagine it without seeing it. The Silk market has hundreds of little shops, aisle after aisle and row after row. Each booth has a person trying to get you to stop and buy something. If you don't stop, they often times grab your arm and pull you inside. Yesterday, I was looking at booth after booth of watches. I begin to negotiate with them. She said, "just for you, I give you a special deal." I say, "I want your cheapest special deal." She says, "OK 600 Yuan." About $40.00. I say, "What." She says, "OK, last special deal, just for you because you are so handsome. 5oo Yuan." I say, "no way" and start to walk off. She says, "OK special deal, just for you, 300 yuan." About $20.00. There are Rolex watches. I ask her if these watches are genuine. She assures me they are. Not a bad deal. A real Rolex for $20.00. A Rolex in the States sells for several hundred, or even several thousand dollars. Well, I tell her she is still charging me to much for this genune Rolex. "OK" she says. last beto deal, just for you, 250 Yuan." I say, "well, it sounds like a pretty good deal, but I want to look at the other booths to see what kind of deal they will make me." She assures me that no one can even come close to her deal. I leave anyway. At each booth we go through the same adventure. I am assured that the Rolex watches are all genuine, and their price is the very best. Well, it is time to go meet up with mother. I have to walk over to the pearl market. About a half block away. On the way over, a street vendor (lady) asks if I want to buy a genuine Rolex. She shows them to me. She has a whole case of genuine Rolex watches. She pulls the case out. She asks which one I want to buy. I say "none." She says, "Make me an offer." I say, "OK." I offer her 100 yuan for 5 watches. ($2.50 per watch) She says "OK." Well, I buy 5 genuine Rolex watches for $12.00. The lady assures me they are genuine. Well, I looked at them again this morning and they are still running.

Mother buys some more pearls, I buy some more ties and magic tricks, On the way to hail a cab, a poor lady (she looks poor) approaches me and pleads for some money . I give her 10 Yuan. A buck sixty. She thanks me and another street person approaches me. I give him ten yuan. About that time another lady approaches me, now I see a line up, all waiting in line wanting money. I could go broke being a Good Samaratan. They got a good thing going. One person gets a hand out, and the whole tribe joins in. I have no idea where they came from, but they all came out of the work from somewhere.

Well, anyway we hail a cab and off we go to the train station. The train is wonderful. We ride first class for 69 Yuan about ten bucks. It is the bullet train, takes exactly 30 minutes to get to Tianjin. 80 miles. We arrivee home about 7:00 P. M. Exhausted, but a great day.

This past week, mother and I were riding the three wheeler going to a small market. Going the opposite direction, I see a car come by and hits a pedestrian with her passenger side mirror. The pedestrian (an older man) yells at the driver, she honks her horn and both keep going. I guess no harm, no foul. Well, I'n not so sure about the no harm part. I suspect the old boy has a sore arm.

On Christmas afternoon, we went to an Italian restaurant. It was very good. That was our Christmas dinner. We went home and considered that we had had a great Christmas. When we come home, we will look back on this experience with fondness.

Well, each of you are still sleeping. It will be your sabbeth when you wake up. We have had ours. While you are in church. I will be sleeping. Well, I suspect there will be a few in your church doing what I am doing. I, however will rest better. Like my dad used to say, "If everyone who slept in church was lined up end to end, they would all sleep better." Have a great day.

I love you all.

Dad

Better late than never!

2008-12-19T06:07:00.000-08:00

This is Wynn and I helping with a REAL thanksgiving dinner in a REAL kitchen! It was fantastic and fun, and the company was great!

Santa came to town--

2008-12-18T20:30:00.000-08:00

Our students at Nankai University met Santa last week. It was the first sighting for most of them. They were delighted and made the week full of happiness and joy!

Almost the season--pictures!!

2008-12-09T01:15:00.000-08:00

I didn't get it quite right last time, but these pictures go with the post below!!

Almost the season--

2008-12-09T00:58:00.000-08:00

China seems to celebrate on Christmas eve, but does little for Christmas day. On the 25th, they work and go to class and everything is "normal." There are decorations everywhere, but not one of my students had ever seen a candy cane or knew what gingerbread was--we did a word game and other words they didn't recognize were Rudoph & mittens. They call everything for hands--gloves. They don't know it, but Terol sent me candy canes and I will give them all one next week. The next week is finals. That will end our first semester in China and we will train and travel with the China teachers until next semester.

cold, cold, cold!!!

2008-12-07T00:29:00.000-08:00

It has suddenly turned cold here and the temp fell 20 degrees (C) and we are now enjoying our winter clothes and staying out of the wind. Here are a few more pictures from our adventures around this amazing country.

The great wall and great students!

2008-12-03T20:53:00.000-08:00

We invited 10 students over for thanksgiving evening, but a few brought friends (very common in China) and so we had a houseful. Then we went to Beijing and had Peking duck for thanksgiving. It was such fun to go to the water cube, bird's nest, tianneman square, forbidden city, summer palace and great wall. It was a great holiday--

New Market--

2008-11-23T03:06:00.000-08:00

New Market!

2008-11-23T02:56:00.000-08:00

Here are some pictures from the market we found on Friday, quite by accident, looking for a sweater warehouse. We forgot to take pictures of our students this week. We had quite a houseful again and it was fun as ever.

Fish flopping at my feet- Wynn

2008-11-15T10:39:00.000-08:00

Today I went to the market to purchase a few items for our meals next week. I was walking through the meat, and fish department. They have live fish, frogs, shrimp, crab etc in tanks of water. The tanks are about six (6) feet long, about two (2) feet wide and about three (3) feet deep. They are full of fish. Each tank holds it's separate types of live fish. The tanks are set up so that there is a large tank which stands about 4 feet high, then in front of the large tank, there is another large tank that stands about two feet high. As I was walking past the tanks of fish, I got splashed by a large amount of water. I heard a noise, but didn't see what had happened. I stopped to watch. Pretty soon, I see a fish jump up and out of his tank of water, and land in the tank of water below him, in the tank of frogs. The frogs scramble. I finish my shopping, and pass by the fish tanks again. I stop and watch for a minute. This time I see a larger fish, about 16 inches long, jump out of his tank, miss the frog tank, and land on my foot. He flops around on the floor for a minute, an employee picks him up and tosses him back in his own fish tank. It was really surprising to me to see it. No body else in the area seemed to concerned. They just walked around the flopping fish. I wish my grand children could have seen it. They could have petted the fish legally/ I wouldn't even have had to take it out of the tank at Red Lobster. Well, T I C This is China. Just thought I would share it with you. Have a wonderful day. I love you all. Dad

Dad's tender heart

2008-11-15T10:37:00.000-08:00

Dear Family:
Tonight mother and I attended an on campus movie for those learning English. Robinhood. It was a fun movie and the kids loved it. I drove mother to the movie. When the movie was over, we went out to get on our bike and go home. All the kids were walking out of the movie. They watched with amazement. Mother was in the back seat, (behind me) and I was driving. (or steering) They loved seeing me care for her, helping her into the cart, etc. We drove off. Some of the young men were riding their bicycles. They rode along side of us and wanted to be part of the fun. A song came to my mind as I was driving mother home. It was called, "we will have these moments to remember." I think the song came from an old movie. I sang it to mother on the way home. I thought to myself, China is really getting into my blood. The memories that we are creating here will last a life time. We've only been here for 2 1/2 months and I know I am going to have great sadness when we leave this university and our beautiful China. So many kids wanted to visit with us tonight. Some were our students and some were not. We are starting to realize, they are all our kids. This is their first time to be away from their homes. Most have never traveled any other places, even in China. A whole new experience for them also.
They have so little, yet they have so much. They are so happy to be able to get an education. they had to earn their place here at Nankai University. It wasn't easy for them to get it and they value their very existence here. In America, we take so much for granted. When I ask these kids if they plan to ever come to America, they all give the same answer, "that is my dream". Well, I just wanted to share that with you. The whole experience really got to me.

You should all be about ready to get up for the day. Mother and I are getting ready to go to bed. Good night, and good morning. Take special care of my grand children. I love you all. Dad

Darn that Mosquito! -Wynn

2008-11-15T10:33:00.000-08:00

Dear Family and Friends:
It is Thursday evening here. Thursday is my favorite day of the week. We finish school for the week on Wednesday at 6:00 P. M. and we have the rest of the week off to prepare for next week, shop, tour, or do what ever we desire. Last evening after class we had twelve of my juniors over to our apartment to teach them how to cook some American food. Again, we made hamburger vegetable soup and mashed potatoes and gravy. The kids loved the food and were very delightful.

last evening, we left the outside door open for a short time to get our apartment to cool down. Little did we realize that so many cold mosquitos would want to join us. When I realized they were coming in, I shut the door, but not before the damage was done. I started killing mosquitos. There were a bunch of them. Finally at about midnight I went to bed. Those pesky little critters were dive bombing me all night. By morning, I was on the war path. I got up early and found a few to kill. They are faster than an Etheopian (spelling) jack rabbit. I, however have a secret weapon I use against them. It is a very large pillow. I pull the pillow behind my head, and then with all my might swing the pillow at the mosquito. Darn few get away. The ones that get away are scared to death. Because my pillow is so large, I really don't have to aim much because the pillow covers a lot of territory. Well, this morning I was laying in the bath tub and I saw one of those pesky critters on the wall. I knew he was just waiting to get me. I jumped out of the tub, grabbed my pillow and went after him. He landed near some of mothers clothes that she had washed last evening and were hanging on the shower curtain rod to dry. I sized up the situation, deciding whether to chance missing the mosquito and hitting moms clothes, thus they would fall into the bath tub. It didn't take long for me to make my decision. I swung my pillow back behind my head and with all my might I let the mosquito have it. Well, the mosquito saw the pillow coming so he (or she) took off for safer territory. It landed on mothers clothes that were hanging on the curtain rod. My pillow changed directions a little and I let the mosquito have it. Well, the clothes all fell into the bath tub and I missed the pesky little feller. I retrieved mother's wet clothes, rung them out and re hung them up, hoping mother would not notice. Well, when mother gets into the bath tub, she notices her clothes were dripping water. She tells me that her clothes that she hung up last night are still wet. I say, "well it was pretty damp last night, so I guess they are still drying." She feels my clothes that are hanging up and she says, "how come your clothes are dry and mine are still wet?" "I say, your clothes must be made of different material and doesn't dry as fast as mine." Well, mother doesn't but that story. So I tell her that I am on the war path and I am going to kill every last mosquito in the apartment, I keep after them. I think that I am now down to one known live mosquito. I will terminate his life prior to going bed this evening. Mom has had to wash my pillow case several times to get rid of the mosquito evidence. I don't think that our maid would appreciate mosquito juice on her pillow case. Ahh, good news, I just got the last one. At least that is the last one that I know about. They don't sell fly swatters here, so you just have to make do. The pillow is the best defense I have. The pillow works especially well when you are terminating one which has landed on the ceiling. Our ceilings are about 10 feet high, so I usually have to stand on a chair or the bed to kill them. I don't give up, but neither do they.

Yesterday during my Adult Education class, an older lady walked into my class. She walked back to one of my students. grabbed him by the ear and proceeded to come to the front of the class and was going to take him outside of the class room. When she got to the front of the class, she yelled something, and three other students came to the front of the class room on the run. They had fear in their eyes. I still don't know what is going on. I don't know who this lady is, but she sure has their attention. The four students that she has in the front of my class have just transferred into my class. It seems as though these students have recently changed their major to English and they are the ones that I allowed to come into my Adult Education class, instead of the Freshman Oral English class. Well, since they had changed their major, they were required to take Freshman Oral English, even though they were now sophomores. They were in my Sophomore Adult Education Oral English class, which I had allowed them to do because the department scheduled them to be in two classes at the same time. I just said, "well come to my Sophomore Oral English class, and I will give you credit for Freshman Oral English. Well, somehow the English Department gets word of this and they won't allow it. Well, back to the story. She is standing in front of my class, yelling at these four students and they are trying to explain to me what is going on. Meanwhile this lady is trying to pull the four students out the door. I still don't know what is going on. At first, I thought that it was the boys mother coming to get him, but when she yelled at the other three to come with her I figured it must be someone else. Well, she tries to pull these four kids out of the class room. I'm now not sure but what she is kidnapping four of my students. I stand in front of the door and won't let her out. Now, she is yelling at me and the kids. From the sound of her voice, I don't think that she was telling me what a fine addition that I was making to the English department Now, she is really mad, and I still don't know what is going on, so I won't let anyone out of the classroom. I look at the rest of the students in my class room and I can tell that they have the fear of God in their eyes. Well, she is yelling, the four kids are trying to tell me what is going on, and I can't understand any of them. Finally, I look at the lady and say shhh. Now, she is really angry. She tells me to shhh. Now I am angry, and tell her back to keep quite. She doesn't understand. (thank goodness) I tell her again to shhh. Now she just yells at the top of her lungs at me. She reaches out to me to tell me something in Chinese. I think that she is now going for my ear. I duck so she can't get a hold of me. I look at the four students, I see the fear of God in their eyes. I still don't know what is going on. Finally I say shhh to everyone. It takes about 5 shhh's to get their attention. They are now quiet. I ask one of the students what is going on. He tells me in the best English he can muster up that this lady is head of the English Department and she says the four of them can't take my Sophomore Adult Education Oral English Class. He says they must take a Freshman Oral English Class. They tell the lady (in Chinese) that the English department has them enrolled in two classes at the same time and that is why they are taking the Sophomore Oral English Class with me at this time. (I agreed with these students two weeks ago that they could take this class, and I would give them credit for the Freshman Oral English class) They tell the lady that I had agreed with them coming to this class. Now she lets go of his ear and begins to give me what for in Chinese. Well, I figure what is good for the goose is good for the gander, so I give her my thoughts in English. Well, that goes back and forth for a while and I can see that isn't going any where. I give her the shhh sigh again and I say to the students, "ask her if we can make a deal?" They ask her, she says to them "what's the deal?" Well, at this point I'm not sure what deal to present to her, I was just trying to buy some time so I could think of a deal. I say to the students, "ask her if it would be OK if I teach the four of you at 12:00 P. M. on Wednesday. (I know there are no classes scheduled from noon to 2:00 P.M. every day of the week. The kids have that time off for lunch. They tell her the deal, she thinks for a minute and says, "OK." She leaves, the four students thank me from the bottom of their hearts and they leave. When the door closes, all of my students begin to clap and cheer. Now, I'm not in much of a mood to teach these kids anymore, and I still have two and one half hours to teach them. I ask them what they want to do. One student suggests that I teach them some American Christmas Music. I think, what the heck, the ole gal is already mad. I teach them "we wish you a merry Christmas" After I think they have it down pretty well, I suggest that we all go down to the ole gals office and sing it to her. None of them agree, "Cowards" Towards the end of the class, I hear a knock on my door. I answer the door. There is a lady standing there. She only speaks Chinese. I have one of my students interpreter for me. The lady says that after class I am supposed to come to one of the college offices, room 102. I say OK. I know now that I am getting fired, and I will be heading off to America Tomorrow. After class I head down to get my punishment. I knock on the door of room 102. A different lady answers the door. She invites me in. She hands me a form to sign. I can't read Chinese. I ask her what I am signing. She says, "you are signing that I am giving you your salary for the past month. I sign it, she hands me 1900 yuen in cash. (they always pay me in cash for teaching the Sophomore Oral English Class) I feel relieved. I didn't get fired. Well, it is one full day later and I still have a job. (I think) Well, the irony of it all, is that at 12 noon on Wednesday, is my teachers office hours. What the ole gal doesn't know, is that these kids are going to come to my office hours and visit with me while I eat my lunch. I will tell them what I taught in class, but these kids are so far advanced, that it wouldn't matter anyway. Well, such is life in China.

Mother is enjoying our new mode of transportation. If any of you would like one of these contraptions, let me know and I will ship one to you. I think the grand children would enjoy riding, or driving one. When I bring them to America, I will need to wire an outlet in the garage for a 220 outlet. Not a big deal. Also, we have to purchase a battery in America. They won't ship batteries out of the country. they say if they got damaged along the way, the acid could harm the environment.

A couple of days ago, mother and I had gone down to the market on our vehicle to purchase some vegetables. About a block before we arrived home, our vehicle quit running. I knew I the batteries were low, but I thought I had enough power to get back home where I would recharge the battery. Well, I pedaled mother home. I won't let my battery get so low again. For some reason, my time here in China seems to have a little more action that mother has. I can't figure that out.

We love seeing you and speaking with you. You are the best. I love you all. Dad

Love those students!!

2008-11-13T02:24:00.000-08:00

We had another wonderful week and several of our junior students came to learn how to make soup and mashed potatoes and gravy. They are such great kids. We are really enjoying our time with them--

New Vehicle--

2008-11-09T04:23:00.000-08:00

This has been another adventurous week for us in China. We took the train to a new market, Tongu and Wynn purchased an electric "cycle." He says he did it to save his life from riding with others who are not as cautious as him, but I think he envisions taking the grandkids to Fry's for donuts when he gets it to America. Yes, he does plan to ship it home in July. I love it. Our Monday classes are over a mile away and it is getting cold. It will beat walking and be much faster!! Here are some pictures of the cycle and the market.

Say goodbye to your briefcase! WYNN

2008-10-30T14:50:00.000-07:00

Dear Family:
It is Wednesday evening here and school is over for the week. What a busy week. Mother and I gave all of our classes a Halloween party. Well, mother gave them some apple juice and a donut, and my classes had an all out party. My classes had hot chocolate, apple juice and donuts. My party lasted much of the allotted time. Mothers lasted during the break. My classes much preferred the all out party, and so did I, because that saved me preparing so much more teaching stuff. They deserve a break. I dressed up like a witch. I had a witches hat, a cape and a mask. I left the class room, went to the restroom, put my costume on, went back to the class and knocked on the door. When a person came to the door, I yelled, "trick or treat." They all screamed and laughed. I gave each of them a mask. They had a great time. They used their cell phones to take photos all during the class periods. I am tired and I am glad it is over, but was much fun. they had never had a Halloween anything before, they loved it.

Tonight I went to the market to get a few supplies. What a zoo. There is nothing at the market in English. I was looking for some salt and pepper. None in sight. I looked everywhere. I asked several people if they spoke English. No one did. I walked up and down the aisles saying, "Anyone speak English?" No replies. I know they must have salt and pepper. Finally I see a man and a lady dressed very well. They are a cut above the rest of the shoppers. Surely they speak English. I asked them. She said "a little." I asked her where the salt and pepper was. She took me to it. It really was salt and pepper. Boy what an ordeal. I was looking for salt and pepper for over an hour. I bought a few other things to make some hamburger vegetable soup also. Tomorrow evening my smallest class is coming over to our apartment to learn how to make hamburger vegetable soup. Also mashed potatoes and gravy. Should be fun. They are great kids.

Last Tuesday I worked on the branch tithing report. One person made a donation, so we had to do a report. The way the reports are here in China, you must made a lot of entrys. It took two of us over two hours to finish the report. Then we had to go to the bank. I rode on the back of Brother Powells motor cycle. Another mistake. I know angels have to ride with us or we would have crashed several times. Quite frankly, I don't even understand why angels would ride with us. We go down the one way street twice going the wrong direction. There are four lanes of traffice coming at us. We are driving in the second and third lanes, dodging traffic. They are all coming right at us. On the way to the bank, we are driving near a very narrow sidewalk. Lots of students are walking along side of us. As we are riding along side of the walking traffic, the rear view mirror on his motor cycle catches some guys brief case, and we start taking off with his briefcase. He has no choice but to run because his brief case has a shoulder strap which is across his shoulders. Bro. Powell keeps on going and they guy is running along side of the bike. Finally the brief case comes loose from the rear view mirror and the guy comes to a quick halt. We keep on going. I didn't turn around to see what happened to the guy. When we came back he was gone though, so I guess he either walked off, or was taken by ambulance to the hospital. By now, I'm thinking this isn't all that safe, and I never agreed to this motor cycle stuff when I was called to be the ward clerks. This could get dangerous! Around here, nobody gets shot, they just get run over or knocked down.

Last Saturday, our B P called me and asked me if I wanted to go to the Muslum market. I said sure. (another mistake) He said meet me in the lobbby at 10:00 A. M. OK. I meet him. He says we are going to ride bikes. I think, this isn't good. I think that I will have to ride behind him on his bicycle. He says, you can ride Brother Powells bicycle. I say OK. We're off. I can't believe it. We start going down the one way street again, the wrong way. This time I am on a bicycle, and I am out numbered and out weighed. He waves in and out of traffic, the wrong way. So do I. Everyone is honking at me and I am waving at them. I try to stop and find the bike has little or no brakes. I have to come to a screeching hault by dragging me shoes on the pavement. I don't hit the guy, but dang close. I tell the B P that I have no brakes. He say's, "no problem" No I am worried. Now I go much slower and he is going faster. Finally I lose him. I keep going and think maybe I will see him some where. A few blocks down the road he is stopped waiting for me. We go to the Muslum market. (such as it is) It is a back yard of some guys house that sells beef out of his back window. There are several people lined up to buy his beef. You can get what you want. He has a picture of a cow on the outside wall, and you point to the part of the cow you want to buy. I say, "I want 6 pounds of hamburger" He speaks a little English. He asks me if I want any fat in the hamburger.. This guy is serious. I watch him cut every sliver of fat off of the beef for the last guy. I tell him I want just a little fat. He gives me just a little fat. Maybe one or two percent. He wraps it into one pound packages and hands it to me. There is still a little blood dripping from the bag. I put the bag in my basket on the bike, and the blood from the hamburger dripps on the street all the way home. On the way home, the B P wants to take me sight seeing to places I have never been. We go for about an hour. The meat still dripping blood. Finially I say, "well I best be gettin home, Paula will be wonderin where I am. He says OK, just one more stop. After one more stop, we head home. The hamburger still seems to be OK. I put it in the freezer and hope it is OK.

We do not have a kitchen in our apartment. We do have a small refrigerator and a microwave and a hot plate. No sink to wash the dishes. We do the dishes in the bathroom sink. Not grear, but not bad. You get use to it. Most of the teachers have it much worse than we do. I'm not complaining. We have in door plumbing, hot water most of the time. (you can't drink it though)

When Mom and I go to school in the morning, it is much faster to go the back way. The problem is, the back way is behing the faculity housing restaurant and they wash their table clothes behind the building where we walk, and hang them up on wire clothes lines that we have to walk through. We manouver our way through the wet table clothes, but I have yet to knock one off onto the groung. One big problem is that these Chinese people are short and their clothes line wires are only about 5 feet or so off the groung. I can tell you, a guy could kill himself walking through there at night if you are not oh-so-careful. Decapitation would not be unheard of here for a tall guy. The back way looks like a poor neighborhood in Mexico. It is otherwise safe though. (I think)

We finally get an English television station. It is called National Geographic. We are getting very smart about animals and how they live and we are darn grateful to have that channel. At least we have a channel.

Students help cook supper

2008-10-30T06:04:00.000-07:00

Wynn buying ingredients

Students over for soup

Wynn with the skinny chicken- for the soup

Students over for mashed potatoes

Wynn checking the pantry

Riding a motorbike -- Dad

2008-10-25T12:57:00.000-07:00

Dear Family & Friends:
Well, another day in China. Starting to cool off. Yesterday A. M. I headed off for the gym. Boy was it cold outside. I went back home and got a coat on. My unclothed legs still froze. I found out the gym was closed for some reason. It was too cold to run the stairs, so I came home and layed in the bath tub and warmed up. Later I receive a call from the counselor in the BP. He tells me we have to go to the bank to make a deposit.
"Meet me at 9:30."
I'm in the lobby at 9:30 waiting for him. We take off-- Literally on his battery powered motor cycle. I say, "is this safe?"
"No problem."
Off we go. Getting through the university was NO PROBLEM. Now we go onto the street. We go between cars and bikes. We aren't going too fast, only about 30 MPH. However, if we crash, I'm locked in. The bike will fall on me. We dodge in an out of traffic.
Finally I ask him, "did you pray before we left?"
He says, "no problem."
I've heard that line before. We turn down a street. Unfortunatley it is a one way street. We are going the wrong way.
I ask him, "is this legal?"
He says, "everything is legal."
I meant to say, "is this safe?"
We dodge traffic, 4 lanes all coming towards us. I don't understand this. I find we have lots of friends, because everyone is honking at us. I wave at them as we go by. Finally we arrive at the bank. Thank goodness. I think I would be safer walking home. We finish at the bank and he talks me into riding home with him. Another mistake. The same thing going home. I don't understand how he can find a one way street going each way. Going one way should be going the right direction back, but it's not. Well, we make it home without a crash. One guy in front of us had a close call though. Just ahead of us, some guy was pulling a cart full of card board. He decides to change lanes in front of another bicyclist. About that time, a taxi pulls up on the other side of the bicyclist. The bicyclist is boxed in. He has two choices, hit the taxi, or wipe out the old guy pulling the cart. Somehow he brings his bike to a stop, but not before he fell down. He just got up and kept going, as did the taxi and the old guy pulling the cart. He never even shook his fist at the old guy. Well anyway, the old guy couldn't have seen him anyway, he didn't have rear view mirrors on his cart.
I am finding it is getting easier to get around and find what I want. Today I went to the market. (Carefoore) It is a large market. Among other things I am looking for ingredients to make some chicken soup. I first look at the chickens. There are literally hundreds of chickens in a pile at the market. Next to the pile of whole chickens, I see some larger chickens that are cut in half. They look like they are pretty good sized chickens, but I figure they let chickens grow to full maturity here. I look at the butcher and point to the larger chicken and try to ask if the larger one is a chicken, or something else. I point to the chicken that I am buying and try to sign language that I want a bigger chicken and point to the big 1/2 thing that is next to the whole chickens. Finally, I think he is trying to tell me it is not a chicken. I think it must be a duck or something else. Anyway, I take the chicken. Now I am looking for some chicken base. I am told they have it at Carefoor. I carefully walk down each aisle. I see a round cardboard continer about the size of a Campbells soup can that has a picture of a chicken on it. I shake the can and it sounds like it is full of granuals. I figure that it must be something to do with a chicken. I buy it. Not sure yet what it is, but I am going to use it in my chicken soup. Maybe I will have chicken duck soup, I don't know. I sure wish they would open and In & Out Burger here. Life would be much easier.
Last week in my adult ed class, I noticed that most of them had blank stares, looking at me. That means I am not getting through to them. So, I ask this question. If you understand me, please raise your hand. Two hands go up. Finally a third hand goes up. I guess the third hand is not sure, but see's the other two hands go up and so she joins in. Wow! Three out of 28. Not very good odds. Well, I figure I had better change my style of teaching. I decide to write a script and teach it to them. It goes like this.
B comes to A looking for a job.
A, May I help you?
B. Yes, I am looking for a job.
A. What do you want to do here?
B. I want to cook hamburgers.
A. Have you ever cooked hamburgers before?
B. No, but I am willing to learn. Will you give me a chance?
A. Yes, but you must work very hard.
--------Well, I say it, then they say it. I say it and they say it. (about 30 times) I get two students up front and have them say it to each other. A speaks with B. Finally I think the entire class has it memorized. And they do. Every student can say it.
So, now I ask the class, "Why did B come to A?"
No one knows. They memorized it really well, but had no idea what they were saying. I might just a well have had the boys ask the girls to marry them. They wouldn't have known the difference. Boy, is this going to be a long semester. Now I know why they gave me a raise for teaching this class. I know they understand one thing--- When the bell rings, they leave, no matter what I am saying.
Well, mother and I are now going to the Friday night movie. I hope all of you have a wonderful night's sleep. It is now about 3:00 A. M. in Arizona and California. 4:00 A. M. in Utah. I love you all. Dad

Wynn's birthday in China

2008-10-22T18:07:00.000-07:00

Here are some pictures--Wynn with his chocolate, whipped cream birthday cake and our apartment. The department Wynn teaches for sent the cake and it was superb!! All in all, we both had a wonderful day. He got to talk to all of the kids--what could be better than that? Life is good--

New Posts (from Amber)

2008-10-22T13:22:00.001-07:00

Sorry I got a little behind, but new emails from Dad have been posted on Oct. 7, 8, 11, 16, and 20. Check 'um out!

Made in China- Dad

2008-10-20T13:16:00.000-07:00

Dear family, friends, and others of interest:
It is Tuesday evening here in China. Tomorrow is my big day (birthday). I begin at 8:00 A. M. and finish at 5:00 P. M.. The good news is that we are off Thursday thur Sunday. This Saturday we are going to another market. This place is full of markets. Now I know why everything you buy in America says 'made in China' Last Saturday we took the bullet train to Beijing. It took exactly 30 minutes. (eighty miles) That thing was flat moving. Very smoothe. At Beijing we first went to the silk market. The largest market in China. Litterly hundreds of shops, selling everything. Anything you buy has a name brand label. I purchased two sets of Ping golf clubs. Everyone of them looked like pings, including the bag. The only thing different was the price. The price is about ten percent of the price in America. You do have to pay shipping however. I think these pings are for the golfer wannabe. You just show off your clubs, but never use them. Well, they did look great. Brit will try out a set and see how they are. If they are great, I will go into business in America boot legging Ping golf clubs. Actually I could boot leg almost anything, I purchased a very nice watch. I don't know what kind it is, but the guy with me told me in America it would sell for several thousand dollars. Boy, the guy that sold me the watch must have really been hungry, because I paid fifteen dollars for the several thousand dollar watch. The list goes on and on. Mother went nuts in the pearl factory. They really were real pearls. This is the pearl capital of the world. I was negotiating the price for mother. Pretty soon mother says, 'no that's to cheap. The lady accepts my bid, and mother ups my bid after it has been accepted. She says the lady must make a profit. I say, 'look, the lady wouldn't sell the stuff if she didn't make a profi.' Mother says, 'it's ok, she needs to make a bigger profit/' I say, 'what do you need me for, if you are always going to up my offer' Mother says, 'don;t get them down so low.' Boy am I confused. I thought the whole idea was to get the best deal you can. I know that their atttitude is to get as much money as possible out of me. I tell mother, 'I have never seen them lower their offer after I have accepted their price.' She says, 'that's different, they need more money. They need more customers like mother! Well, at the Golf shop the price has already been negotiated, because our branch president has purchased several sets of Pings and Caloways prior and had them shipped home. Lucky for me, Mother was not with me when I purchased the Pings. After buying the Pings, we go to Subway for lunch. Really, one subway in Beijing. None in our town. I order my lunch, as does mother. they lady says to me '35 yuan.' About four bucks. I offer her ten Yuan. She looks at me like I am nuts. She again says, '35 Yuan' I offer 12 yuan. She laughs at me. Finially I find out, you can't negotiate meals at fast food restaurants. Well, at least I tried. Good thing mother wasn't with me, she would have offered them more that she asked for. In the afternoon, I go to the toy market. This is where all of the toys in the world are test marketed. Well, at least that's what they told me. That place had some great stuff. Only problem, how do I get the stuff to America? I bought a few things. I did purchase a Halloween costume for me to wear in my class on Halloween day. When we originally arrived in Beijing, we had to go from the Train Station to take a bus to the subway. The bus was crouded, but ok. When we got to the subway, I couldn't believe my eyes. When the train stopped to pick us up, I say a new meaning of 'packed like sardines.' There were probably fifty or sixty of us trying to get on. I think, NO WAY! I'll just wait for the next train. Everyone starts to get on. I can't wait to see what happens. The people just start pushing and they get on. I think, well, I'll try it also. I start pushing, but no one moves. I push harder and finially get on as does mother. As soon as I get on, the door closes. The rest of our group is not on the train. Now I'm worried. I may never see them again. I immediately put my arm between the doors so they can't close. I nearly lose my arm. The train starts going. Without my arm. I jerk it out fast. Lucky for me I still have an arm. (I think) Now I'm not so worried about the people we left, I just worried that I may have to have my arm amputated. The subway train is so crouded, I can't check to see if I have an arm or not, I get out at the next stop. I check my arm. thankfully it is still attached. It sure doesn't feel like it. Well we wait at that stop, hoping that the rest of our group will shop up some time. Pretty soon they show up and we once again get on the next train This time, it's every man for himself. I am not going to try to keep any door open for those who aren't smart enough to push their way on quick. Returning from the Silk Market was the same way. The subway, to the bus, to the train, to the taxi back home. Thank goodness for transportation. Sunday we had meetings as usual. Well, not quite as usual. The speakers never showed up, so the Branch President started calling on individuals to speak. Well, there were 23 in attendance. Men, women and children. Actually I wasn't aware that it was an option not to show up to Sacrament meeting when you are the speakers. Well with ten minutes left, one of the speakers show up. Gives a great talk. After the meeting, I am called to be the Ward Clerk. Well actually, I am the Ward Clerks. All three of them. When I get home from church today, I get a phone call from the District Clerk. He informs me that no reports have been turned in since June. He wants me to get them caught up on Sunday. I inform him that I know nothing that a clerk does, and I don't even know what reports he wants. He says to look the reports up on the computer and there are instructions. I ask, 'what computer' The one you have. I don't have a computer. I call the BP. He says, 'no problem, I'll bring you one right away.'
Well, China is great. This week end (if I get my reports in) we are going to a market about an hour or so from Tianjin. We take a train I am told. It's susposed to be a pretty good market. I am scouting out all the good markets so when the 5 daughters/daughters in law come to China in the spring, I will know where to take them, and who I am allowed to bargain with. (according to mother) I think they are giving mother a piece of the action just to get me to pay more. Next week, all of my classes are going to have a Halloween party. I will give them each a sack of candy, and we will have donuts, apple cider, and hot chocolate in class. I think we will all have a good time. I hope that the university approves. Well, I've written enough for tonight. It is sure fun speaking with all of you from time to time. Thanks for your phone calls. Remember anyone can call me toll free at 1-602-903-5369. Simple as that. Just like calling across the street. Rings right to our apartment. No solicitors please! If you are a solicitor, you will have better luck with mother. Well, I love you all. You are the best. Take great care of my grand children. Watch over them carefully. When I return, I will take over on them, at least for a while. I love you all. Good night. Dad

A fun day in China--

2008-10-16T19:55:00.000-07:00

Monday morning at 8 am I am about ready to start my soph oral class--they are wonderful! These are 4 special students that helped Wynn make (and burn) hamburger soup. They are darling.

A lovely day in China

2008-10-16T19:50:00.001-07:00

Today we went to the market and forgot our camera--darn. We got the indredients for beef soup and invited 2 young teachers and 4 students over. Surprise!! The beef was really ground lamb--wasn't bad, though.

Burning the Soup- Dad

2008-10-16T13:15:00.000-07:00

Dear Family, and others of interest. Yesterday was my lucky day. I received a note during my afternoon adult ed class asking me to come to the payroll department and pick up in cash my pay for teaching the adult ed class. As you know, I was offered $5.33 per hour. Well, after class I went to pick up my money. When I arrived there, they gave me 2000 Yuan. ($330.00) I knew that I was being over paid from what I had agreed on, but certainly less than what I was worth. Well, I tell them of the overpayment. They tell me that I had agreed to teach the class for 100 yuan per hour. (I thought I was getting 100 yuan for three hours) (100 yuan is $16.00) Now, my income has trippled. They paid me for teaching 6 classes times three hours. I don't know why they paid me 2000 yuan instead of 1800, but I couldn't speak much Chinese and they didn't seem to know much English so I settled on the 2000 yuan. Well, actually it was only 1900 Yuan because they held out 100 yuan (5%) for taxes. That is better than the 60% that I was told they would be taking out for taxes. Not only that, but I find out that it is not taxable income in the U S, so now I am really happy. I am so happy that I agree to take mother out for a $2.00 pizza at Pizza Hut, (well, I actually had to pay a buck sixty for the cab fare also) Mother told me that because of generosity, that my heart was going to swell up to the size of a pea and explode. Today, we invited 4 of our students to our home to teach them how to make hamburger vegetable soup. So I go to the market and buy all of the ingredients. The kids, and two other teachers show up at 5:00 P.M. I give them a good pep talk about how to make great delicious soup. I show them the fresh hamburger and tell them that the hamburger gives flavor to the soup. One of my students looks at the hamburger and tells me it is not hamburger, but it is lamb buirger. Well, so much for the good flavor of hamburger. Well, we start to make to soup. I let them do all the work, They love it. They have never seen a can opener before. (we had to use a can opener to open the canned corn and tomatoes that I bought at the American market.) They thought the can opener was cool, but said they couldn't use one in China because they don't have any cans to open. Well,. good point. Well, anyway we proceed to make the soup. We get all of the ingredients in the soup and it begins to cook. Pretty soon I smell this funny smell. The soup is burning on the bottom of the pan. I try to rescue the soup by pouring it into another pot. No luck. the damage is done. I apologize for the burned soup and tell them it is not fit to eat. They want to try it anyway. They said, it was only a little bit burned and they liked it a lot. Well, they must have ,because they finished it off. Actually I think they were so nice to eat the burned soup. It was awful. I told them I would have them back again and I would try to do it right. They told me that there is a food fair in April and everyong brings ingredients to cook. You must cook it at the actual location of the fair. They want to cook the hamburgetr soup at the food fair. Now I know they are nuts. They must really be hungry to like that burned soup. I agreed to help them cook the soup at the fair. I told them if it gets burned at the fair, they get the credit, if not, I get the credit. Well, we'll see. It is starting to cool down here a little and is now very pleasant. We are going to Beijing on Saturday to shop. We are going to the Silk Market. That is the market that Amber spoke to me about, and wants to go shop there when the 5 ladies come out. I am going to buy a couple of sets of Ping Golf Clubs while I am there and send them home. I don't know if they are knock offs or not, but for the price, I guess I can afford it, and with my new raise for teaching the adult ed class, I can afford them. $125.00 per set, includes the bag, plus I must pay shipping to the U. S. There are many things to do in Beijing. It really takes many days to see it all. We will take the 5 gals there for two or three days of their trip. We will also go to Xi'an where the Terricota warriors were found. We will go to other places also. Some of my students are having fun teaching me Chinese. I have learned a few words, (darn few) The guard still salutes me each time I go by, so he still thinks that I am the Base General. He always stops traffic and lets me cross the street and salutes me as I go by. I like that kind of a person. No one ever salutes me in America, not even mother or any of you kids. Boy life is good here. I am finially getting the respect that I have long deserved. Well, enjoy what is left of your good night's rest. It is 9:40 P.M. and time to go to bed. Have a great day. I love you all. Dad

Life in China is never dull

2008-10-12T01:16:00.000-07:00

We needed hamburger for the soup--were we surprised. We are going to a village accessable only by donkey cart. The grapes were glorious.
This is the worst bathroom yet. We always pray for a western bathroom, but can use these.
This is the first beggar we have seen. She allowed her picture after we gave her a yuan and hid her face. She is only about 40.
This is the market from the beginning. It is on the edge of our campus and has most everything. It is just always so crowded.

I look like George Bush- Dad

2008-10-11T13:13:00.000-07:00

Dear Family: Today, (Saturday) we worked on our lesson plans for next week, and this afternoon we went to a members home for a bar b que and then we watched the Priesthood and Relief Society sessions of General Conference. The 7 ladies watched theirs on the main floor, The Korean ladies on the second floor, the Chinese family on the patio and the English men watched the Priesthood session on the 3rd floor of the home. It worked out well. The bar b que was great. Good old USA food. It wasn't In N Out, but it wasn't bad. Yesterday I went to the qym. I went to run on the tread mill, but it wasn't turned on. I could see it was plugged in, but no light was on. This time I remembered not to un plug the unit or push the reset button. I finally found a button underneath the unit and it went on. No great tragedy and no one mad at me. This morning I went to the market to get a few supplies. On the way there, the taxi was stopped in traffic because of an accident ahead. I didn't know if the car hit anothert car, a bike, or a person. I could only see one car though. After about 10 minuted stopped in the taxi, I gave the taxi driver his 10 yuen and got out. We were in the inside lane. I had to jump over the barrier and cut across 6 more lanes of traffic. that side of traffic was moving right a long. Lucky for me, the accident was up ahead a little, because the accident closed two of the lanes of traffic. I was able to manuver my way through the other 4 lanes of traffic missing the cars. The last two lanes were bicycles and electric motor bikes. Two bikes came a nats hair from running me down. I figured I was safe since the policeman was trying to direct traffic up ahead because of the accident. The policeman was causing more damage than good. Finially along comes a guy riding an electric bike not watching where he is going. He nearly runs over the policeman and smacks into the side of the car that was already there from the accident. Now traffic really does stop and I am able to safely cross the road and go into the market. On the way home the cab is stopped in the line of traffic. A Chinese fellow pulls up along side the cab and starts talking to me. In his broken English, he says something to me about George Bush. I think that he asks if I like him. I say, so so. He smiles and says something else that I can't understand. Now I think he is asking me about Obama. I smile and say yes. He looks at me like I'm Crazy. This time I understand what he says. He says, "you don't look like Obama, he's black. You look like George Bush, he's white. Well, if the Chinese people think that I look like George Bush, then I now know why the guard always salutes me and waves me through the gate, and treats me like I am the base General. I think that mother told you that while on our trip to Western China, I got into an argument with a street vendor. We negotiated for a cup of popagranite juice for 1 yuan. I said OK and drank the juice. When I tried to pay him, he said, "no 10 yuan" I told him to take a hike and walked off. The policeman came over to see what was going on. The ding bat that sold me the juice told his side of the story first. I then told my side of the story. We are 9 yuan apart. ($1.44" I negotiated for sixteen cents, now he wants a buck sixty. The police man said the going rate was 5 yuan. I think the policeman was on the side on the Chinese guy. I pay the 5 yuan, and chalk it up to experience, knowing that I just got beat out of sixty four cents. However, Tyler gave me some really good advice. He sent us an email. it said, "Confucius say, pay 1 yuan first, drink pomegranite juice last" Good advise. I will remember that in the future. I am now working on having a Halloween party for my students. Not sure what to do, any suggestions. I would like to invite them to our guest housing to trick or treat, but there are 32 foreign teachers and they would want to invite all of their students also. We would have a potential of 3500 trick or treaters. That could be costly and I'n not sure the university would approve. I think that we will carve a pumpkin in each class, and I will give them each a bag of candy. They may have to take turns trick or treating at my class room door. That could be adisater also, because when the other students from other classes see what is going on, they may join in on the trick or treating also. Well, I hope all is well with each of you. Enjoy your Saturday. Mother and I will be home from Church before you go to bed tomorrow evening. I love you all. Dad.

More pictures from mom!

2008-10-10T02:11:00.000-07:00

The melons here are superb..but overly handled!

We couldn't get a good picture of the live frogs, but notice the snails in the left lower pan (alive)

These fish are ready to fry!

Sun dried tomatoes will never taste the same

It is SO crowded everywhere in China!

The Silk Road Trip- More pictures!

2008-10-09T19:59:00.000-07:00

This baby was eating spaghetti for breakfast!

The signs here (and their English translations) are quite humorous! Can you figure out what it is supposed to say?

This is one of the markets where we shopped. Wynn got in an argument with a vendor about the price of pomegranate juice he had already consumed--I got the police (all over) and he settled it.

At the Buddha caves Wynn sat by this man and got the whole group to take their picture with him for 5 yuan each and he made a months earnings in just a half hour!!

Yes, Wynn rode in the caravan, too. He was the last camel and took the pictures!

2008-10-08T23:05:00.000-07:00

I am still perfecting my blog skills, so here goes. I just got a hair cut for $4.50 and I believe it is the best most precise haircut I have ever gotten. He measured and trimmed every hair on my head. After a marvelous shampoo, it took 50 minutes. I gave him a 5 yuan tip because in China you are not supposed to tip, but hey, 80 cents for 50 minutes!! I plan to post a few interesting pictures every day that I can, now that Tyler has walked me through how to do it--we'll see!

Haircut and more photos.

2008-10-08T23:04:00.001-07:00

Silk Road Trip

2008-10-08T19:07:00.000-07:00

Is it any wonder I got an upset stomach? The food tasted good, but my system didn't seem to like it and I had a great trip but ate very little of the food. I was even afraid to eat the raisins at the grape factory for fear they would make me sick--they looked sooooo good!
The camel caravan took us to the top of the Gobi desert sand dunes where we got off and could see for thousands of miles. We then road back down--only 4 from our group went and it was my favorite thing by far.
Here we are passing the one oasis on the way to the top. The blond is from our group. I am in front in the white shirt.
We are at a grape farm with literally 100's of varieties being grown and dried into raisins. I did drink a glass of grape juice they were squeezing in front of us from green grapes. It was delicious and didn't hurt my tummy!

Here we are buying our Terra Cotta warrior.

Bargaining for Warriors- Dad

2008-10-08T13:12:00.000-07:00

Dear Family: I hope you are all doing well. I am told that everything is all right. Everyone in Arizona has said how fun it has been to have Emily and children there. I am so happy that you are having a good time. Last week while on our trip we went to several markets. One of the most exciting places we visited was the Terracota Warriiors. The soldiers had been unearthed and left in the original spot they were found. While there, many street vendors wanted to sell us there goods. One young fellow came up to me and wanted to sell me some miniture Terricota Warriors. They were about three inches tall and there were five warriors to a set. The guy said he would make me a good deal. He said 200 Yuan. ($33.00) I said no, and offered him ten. ($1.60) He reduced his price to 150 yuan. I offered 12. I didn't really want the thing, but I thought 'oh well, it would be nice to give them to the grand children for a gift.' He followed me for another block or so. Finially we agreed on 25 yuan. ($4.00) Here comes another guy selling the same thing. This time I know I can get it for 25 yuan. He says 200. Now I say to my self, I will have a little fun. I offer 5. He comes down a little and follows me for a block. Finially, just to get rid of him, I say I will give you 50 yuan for 4. I know he won't take it. He say's OK. Crud, now I have 5 to cart around. Well I know they can't make them that cheap, so I figure they must be stolen. Here comes another guy with a whole bag full of them. He says 200 yuan. I don't want any more, but now it is a game. I now know that I paid double to much for the first one, and I don't know how much over I paid for the next four. I know that I can get them for 12 1/2 yuan. I tell the guy 5 yuan. He looks at me like I'm nuts. I say, 'look, the last guy gave them to me for 12 yuan.' He says, ok ten. Now, I know the last two guys got me for to much. Now I own 6. So, I think I have got a pretty good deal at ten. I start talking to a man in our group and was bragging about only paying ten yuan for my warriors. I asked him how much he paid. He said, 'you can buy them for 5 all over.' Boy did I get took. I paid $4.00 for a tie, I found out later I could have bought is for one dollar. But, I finially did get a good deal. I bought my McGreggor coat for thirty bucks. I know that was a good deal, because I watched several people argue with him. I saw him turn down 31.00 several times, and he wouldn't take it. The coat in the states sells for about $250.00. Our branch president buys calloway and ping golf clubs for $125.00 per set, including the bag. He has purchased about 8 or ten sets so for and sent them to the states. It costs about one hundred dollars for shipping. Anyone wants a set of clubs sent home to hem, let me know. They are well over $1000.00 dollars in the states. Yesterday as I was getting out of the cab (again) I neary wiped out another bike rider. Just as I opened the door a little, the thought came to me,'you better look, somebody might come thru the cab door. I looked, and here somes some guy flat getting with it. Had I opened my door, the cab driver would have had another passenger, and his bike. I've said before, I can manuver through the speeding cars, but the bicycles have a way of sneeking up on you. A few days ago, I was coming home in a cab,and we got to the guard gate. I pulled out my card and showed him. I don't think he could read, he told the cab driver to turn around and get out of there. I saluted him, he saluted me and I showed him the card again. Again he told me take a hike. Now I know that he doesn't know who I am, but he doesn't think that I am the base General. I shove the card in has face again. He could care less. Well, if I get out of the cab, I have to walk about a mile. I pull out my wallet and offer him 1 1/2 yuan. (24 cents) He insinuates he wants more. At least now I know that he can be bought. I notice a guy behind me in his car waiting to come through the gate. I see him get out of his car and walk up to mine. The way the guard looks at him and gets nervous, I know that he must be someone important. He looks at me and my card, and just yells at the guard, grabs my 1 1/2 yuan from his hand, and pushes the guard backwards. He walks over to me and smiles, hands me my 1 1/2 yuan, opens the gate and I go through. I look at the guard, smile and salute him. He doesn;'t salute me. He turns aroung and walks off. I sure hope that he is not on duty the next time I try to come through the gate. I don't know who the guy was that rescued me, but I think he must have been someone important. (or he thought that I was the base commander) Maybe it was my guardian angel, I don't know. But here in China you sure do need guys like that around.. This afternoon, I taught my adult ed class. The one where I receive $5.33 an hour. During the class period, some lady comes in and says the government needs a copy of my passport. I say,'what for?' She says, 'we need to have a copy of your passport so we can pay you for teaching this class. I say, 'why do you need my passport?' She says, 'we have to have it so we can take the taxes out before we pay you. I ask her how much the taxes are, she says 60 percent. Wow! what a deal. My $5.33 an hour just got reduced to $2.13 an hour. Further I am advised that the Chinese government will notify the United States Governemnt of my earnings, and now I know that they are going to ge me for another 40%. What a deal, my $2.13 per hour, just got further reduced to zero. Subtract my tithing form that (10% of $5.33 =fifthy three cents) so now I am in the hole fifth three cents per hour. Boy, life is good here in China! When I get home, mother wants to go out to dinner. I know the dinner will cost about $4.00. I say, 'not a chance, the more I work, the deeper in the hole I get. . Well, like I said, life is good here in China. I love you all. Have a wonderful day. Dad

Back from our Trip- Dad

2008-10-08T12:05:00.000-07:00

Dear Family: As you know we arrived back to Tianjin safely. We had an interesting trip. We have now seen much of China. We flew four and 1/2 hours to Urumce. Pronounced yer-room-chee. Stayed there for a couple of days, Saw poverty, pyramids, mountain lakes, Buddist Temples, etc. We ate native Chinese food. It's no wonder the Chinese people are so thin. After the first day, I decided that I would rather not eat, than eat their prepared food. We could usually buy water mellon or nuts or something to tie us over. The water mellon was great. Really sweet. We went to the Gobee desert to ride a camel. I don't know how to sell Gobee, so that's the best you're going to get. We each rode our own camel. Up and over the sand dunes. There were literally hundreds of camesl there. We took a train to Xi'an. There we say Terricata Warriors and where they were excavated. We went to several markets, I rode a bicycle on top of the wall on the city of Xi'an. It was very bumpy and was about ten miles around. Went to a beautiful production and then home. Along the way, I went to an evening market. There were hundreds of vendors, many of them preparing hot foods on their small carts. The food looked awful. There were lots of fish and lamb. I think. Anyway, there was this one guy who was preparing his fish. he told me that when he put his spices on it, it was the most delicious fish that I would ever taste. He took the fish, (whole, head and all) and nailed it to a thin piece of wood. He sliced some cuts across the fish to open the meat section up. I put lots of spices and sauce on it. He than layed the board and fish above a fire pit of charcoal. The fish was layed so that the oils and herbs would run down the fish, onto the board and eventually back into the fire. It smelled great. After he was finished, it looked good enough to eat. I bought the fish, board and all. I sat down to eat the fish. It was hard and tasted awful. However, the spices that he prepared it with was really good. The problem was, that the spices all ran into the board, and not the fish. So, not to be wasteful, I threw the fish in the garbage, and ate the board. One night, I was out walking, looking for something good to eat. I could find nothing. Finially I looked inside of a little hole in the wall restaurant. I saw someone eating some french fries. My mouth started watering, so I went inside and told the guy that I wanted some french fries. He couldn't understand, so I took him to the table where the lady was eating the french fries. i pointed to the french fries. When I pointed to the french fries, the waitrer picked up the ladies french fries and handed tham to me. I said no, I want my own. he said, no, pushed me down into the chair, put her french fries in front of me. I put the french fries back in front of her. She put them back in front of me. I put them back in front of her. All this time, the waiter was holding me down in my chair. I finially handed the french fries back to the waiter. He then had to take his hands off of my shoulder. As soon as his hands were gone, I was out of there. (without any french fries) I purchased a nice Mcgregor winter coat at one of the markets. We negotiated on the price for a few minutes, but finially got it for about $28.00 A friend of mine said they are about $250.00 in the states. Last evening, we held family home evening at our friends home. He is the first counselor in the Area Presidency. They are the Tams. They are both Chinese. She invited us for dinner and FHE. We have a great American dinner. For FHE, he told us some funny stories about the church in China. He said that he attended a Sacrament meeting several months ago, in a branch with only a few members. It was in Central China. The branch president had been a member about one year. Elder Tam noticed that the branch president did everything. He conducted the meetings, he prepared, blessed and passed the sacrament, etc. After Sacrament meeting, Elder Tam asked the branch president if there were any other priesthood holders who could help him. The branch president said there was one, but he had only been a member for about 10 months. Elder Tam said, 'why don't you use him and give his some experience?' The branch president said that he was working with him a lot and trying to prepare him to do those things, but he said that the man was not quite yet perfect. Another time, Elder Tam was in a Sacrament Meeting and a lady blessed the sacrament. After the meeting, Elder Tam spoke with the branch president and told him that a Priesthood holder should bless the sacrament. The branch president said that he would take care of it. A few weeks later, Elder Tam attends the same Sacrament meeting, and the same sister blesses the sacrament. After the meeting, Elder Tam reminded the branch president that the person who blesses the sacrament shoule be a priesthood holder. The branch president said he took care of it after the last time they spoke. The branch president said that after they spoke the last time, that he ordained the sister a priest. Elder Tam said another time, he was at a branch, and after the three hour block was over, he noticed that several primary children were all lined up outside of the kitchen. He said they were all very neat and orderly. Elder Tam asked the branch president what the primary children were doing. He said they were taking turns eating the left over bread from the sacrament. Elder Tam asked why they were lined up eating the left over sacrament bread. The branch president said,'well before this, that after the meeting, they all ran in a disorderly fashion to eat the left over sacrament bread. The branch president said, 'now I have taught them to stand in an order line and take one piece of the left over sacrametn bread at a time. That way everyone received an equal amount. Elder Tam said, 'why are they eating the left over sacrament bread in the first place?' The branch president said, 'it had been blessed and therefor it was very good for them to eat.' In the church, China is a very developing country, and American leadership turns over so fast, that many times the right hand doesn't know what the left hand is doing. Elder Whitney Clayton is in charge of China. he will be here in a couple of weeks for training. We will meet with him then. We are very much looking forward to the daughter's/daughters's in laws coming to China in the spring. We will spend a couple of days in Tianjin, probable two days in Xi'an and probable three days in Beijing. There is so much to see and do. Please work on your passports now. If you already have one, please check the expiration date of the passport. I am told that you can't apply for a visa prior to about a couple of months before traveling. I think that we are looking at April. The weather should be pretty nice by then. W will work on a date in the next week or so. Please give us your input about the best times for each of you. I will do my best to accomodate everyone. I will need to purchase the airline tickets within a month or so, in order to get the best deals and the flights we want. You will fly out of either Los Angeles, or San Francisco. So, I suppose that each of you will meet at one of those airports and fly to China together. it is about a twelve hour flight. You will either fly to Korea and then to Tianjin, or fly directly to Beijing and then take the bullet train to Tianjin. If you fly to Beijing, I will meet you there and help you get to the train station to go to Tianjin. When Brit and family come out, it will be the same itenery. When everyone comes out, I am going through a travel agency and hireing a van to take us around, so we can all be together and not have to travel in seperate cabs. When each of you come to China, we will do our best to eat American food, so you won't get sick on the trip. Most places will serve some Chinese food, some is ok and some we just leave on our plates. I went to a restaurant one day and I found a BLT burger on the menu. I ordered it. When it arrived, it was a large piece of meatloaf, (such as it was) with a slice of ham on it, with a tomato and some lettuce. Well, they were right. It was a BLT meatloaf sandwich. It wasn't a hamburger, but it wasn't bad, Well, I've got to run to class. I teach juniors in about an hour. We will send some photos as soon as we can. I love you all. Dad

Big Time TV Star- Dad

2008-09-27T19:52:00.000-07:00

A few days ago, I received a telephone call from a fellow professor here at Nankai. He told me that I was needed to take part in a television interview.. He said the television station needed an American professor to take part in the interview. I am told that Americans here are contacted regularly to take part in interviews, so it's no big deal. I was told that I would shortly receive a telephone call from the television station to set up the arrangements. When I received that first call, it was 2:30 P. M. on Thursday. I shortly received a call from the Television Station. They said they would like to conduct the interview at 3:00 P. M. (that gives me 1/2 hour to get ready. I ask him why I am to be involved in the interview.) He says they want to discuss "Nurses in Canada."
I say, "What?"
He repeats himself.
I say, "You got this wrong, I am not a nurse, and I've only been to Canada once."
He says, "not problem.
I say, "what do you mean, "no problem?"
He says, "you'll do fine."
Now I'm a little worried. I think that maybe this is a front for the military to come and get me, and do away with me because of my last weeks problems of being so late to class. He tells me that he will meet me in the lobby of our apartment in 30 minutes. I agree, but I'm concerned. I dress in my suit and tie and go down to the lobby. When I arrive, I meet the man from the station, and two camera men, along with about 25 young people, either college age, or a couple of years older.
He says "this should only take a few minutes."
I think to myself, "Yeah right, if I'm going to executed."
We go out to his car. I get into the car along with the two camera men, and the man from the station. The college kids get into a bus and follow behind us. I check to make sure that the back door is not locked. I want to make sure that I can unlock the door and make a run for it, if necessary. Well, we're off.
I say, "Where are we going?"
He said, " To a university classroom. We want this interview to take place on campus."
That makes me feel a little better. We drive for a few minutes, then stop and get out. We walk up two fights of stairs, and go into a class room. Now, I figure it out. They are going to throw me out the window and make it look like an accident. When everyone arrives, the man from the station sits down with me, and basically says to me,
"here's the deal. The camera man will be in the class room. he will video you walking into the class room. All of the students will be seated in their desk, and you will be teaching them, as though they were your full time students.
I say, "OK, but what do I teach them."
He says, "You are going to teach them about nurses in Canada."
Now, I tell this guy, "Hey, I don't know anything about nurses in Canada."
He says, "No problem."
I start to get worried again.
He says, "When the camera starts rolling, walk into the class room, and say, 'good afternoon everyone, welcome to our class, to learn English as a second language.' "
I say, "Wait a minute, you said I was goiong teach them about nurses in Canada, which by the way I still know nothing about."
He again says, "No problem."
I say, "And now you want me to teach them ESL which I know nothing about also."
He says "No problem!"
I think to myself, "Yeah, no problem for you."
I say, "You know what? You've got the wrong guy here. While my wife doesn't know anything about nurses in Canada, she really does know something about ESL."
He says, "No problem, you'll do fine"
Now I question his judgement.
He says, "walk into the classroom. Say, 'good afternoon eveyone, and welcome to our class where you will learn English as a second language.' "
He says, "Say-'after you complete your one year course at the uniuversity in ESL, you will be qualified to go to Canada and attend Cambio College. There you will be admittted into their nursing program. After two more years, you will obtain your nursing degree."
He says, "Tell them that in Canada there is a big shortage of nurses and after they graduate they can find a good job and earn a lot of money."
I say, "How do I know there is a shortage of nurses in Canada, and also, how do I know if they go to Cambio College for two years that they will graduate and get a good job?"
He says, "No problem."
He says, "After that, the students will ask you some questions."
I say, "about what?"
He says, "Nurses in Canada."
I say, "I don't know anything about nurses in Canada."
Well, you know what he says. So, here we go. The camera starts filming. I walk into the class.
I say, "good afternoon." They all repeat back, "good afternoon."
I say, "I am Professor Ferrell, and I welcome you to the class in which you will be learning English as your second language." They all clap and shout. I say how important this class is because when they graduate, they will be able to speak English. I tell them that they will then be qualified to go to Canada to attend Cambio College near Toronto and enroll in the nursing program. I tell them what a great opportunity it is for them to have this program available,, and they should feel very honored to have been selected to take part in this program. I figure he wants me to really make it sound good, so I do.
He then stops camera man. He says, "good job" He says, "Now, we will start the camera again and the students will ask you some questions."
One boy raises his hand and asks, "How much money can I earn when I graduate from Cambio College."
I think to myself, "How do I know." I know that is not the answer he is looking for. I figure, well, nurses in Canada must earn about the same as the USA. However, I have no idea how much nurses earn in the USA. However, I figure they must earn at least $50,000.00 per year. I say, "If your good at what you do, you could probably start at about $50,000.00 per year." Well, I know that that sounds like a lot of money to a student here in China, because a college grad here starts out at about $5000.00 per year. (American dollars) The students all shout and clap.
Another student asks, "Is it safe to live in Canada?
I think, "how do I know if its safe to live in Canada? I figure it's probably about as safe to live in Canada as it is in the USA. I say, "Well, it's really pretty safe, as long as you stay in the safe areas."
The students clap and cheer. Now, I wonder, why are they clapping and cheering. Well, anyway the production and the interview is over. He says to me, "I will send you a video clip, before it goes on television. I say great. I say "good bye" to the students, and the camera crew. The television director takes me back to our apartment.
He says "Thanks."
I say, "no problem." I open the door to get out, and he says. "Oh, wait a minute." He hands me some money.
I say, "No, no, I am happy to help you,"
He says, "You must take it."
I say, "Why?" The company wants to make sure you are paid. Then, the lights come on. This is not an interview, I just did an advertisement for them, and I got paid for doing it. I say "OK " and take the money. When he leaves, I count the money. He paid me $400.00 American dollars. Not a bad deal. I go in and tell mother what happened. I tell her that I am going to quit the university and go to work full time in television advertising. At $400.00 dollars per half hour, and working ten hours a day, I would earn $8000.00 per day. Even at the $400.00 I earned in 1/2 hour, that's as much as I earn in a month at the university. I don't know who negotiated my contract at the university, but I am not getting what I am worth, according to the television man. Well, anyway, a lot more happened, but that was the most intertesting. If I get to a computer along the way, I will write more. I love you all. Good night, Or good morning. Dad.

Treadmill incedent- Dad

2008-09-24T13:54:00.000-07:00

Hello to everyone: There is still more stuff going on here. Today was my busy day. I started at 8:00 A. M. and finished at 6:00 P. M. when I finailly walked home with mother.
Yesterday, I went to the gym. I was trying to find a treadmill that was working. Some of them didn't have the light on to indicate that they were working. I found one, but no light. I checked to make sure it was plugged in. It was. I checked to make sure the reset light was on. It was. I thought, well, I will reset it again and it might start. When I pushed the reset button, the lady on the treadmill next to mine, came to a screeching hault. I realized I had pushed the wrong button, so I pushed it again, and hers started going again as fast as it was before it stopped. That poor lady went flying to the front of the tread mill, then went flying to the back of the tread mill , and now is running on the ground. When she hit the ground, she immediately started running forward towards the treadmill again while it is going full speed. Then, she hit the front of the treadmill.. Not a pretty site. I think to myself, things may not go well here for me if I stay and get back onto the treadmill next to her, so I walk out of the gym for a few minutes and then casually walk back in and hope she doesn't recognize me. I put my towel on my head and walk past her, looking in the opposite direction. She doesn't see me, but I think that she is still in a daze....
Today , my last class begin at 2:00 P. M.. I couldn't remember which building it was in, nor what floor it was on. I looked in my papers and it wasn't written down. I have only taught it one time prior, and that was a week ago... I think it is in building seven, but not sure. I start on the third floor of building 7, because floor one and two are not there. It is a big tall ceiling, I begin on floor # 3. I go down the hall and open each door and look in, and when I see a teacher teaching a class, I say sorry and leave. No one understands anyway and they all laugh. I go to the next class and do the same. There are about ten class rooms on each floor. I realize my class isn't on floor three, or I have been fired, because there is a teacher in every room. I go to floor four and do the same. No luck. By now I am late for class. This is my class that is adult education. I am beginning to believe that I should be a student in the class, and not be teaching the class.. I go to floor five and check all of the class rooms.. No luck. Now I am really late and if it is not on floor six, then it would be in another building that is about a ten minute walk from where I am. Now I am beginning to worrry, because If I am to late, my monitor (the person from the party who watches you in the classroom to make sure you teach properly) may not approve. I don't know if the monitor is a student or his full time job is to keep track of me. But, anyway he is the monitor and I am just the teacher. I am getting worried. Becides that, I am on the clock, and my salary of $5.33 per hour, could be docked. I am now running up the stairs to floor 6. I start at the beginning and begin to open the doors. I open the first door, and no one is there. Now I am really scared because I figure my students all go tired of waiting, and left. Now I will lose my entire $16.00, plus get turned in. The guy at the guard gate will probably be sent down to pick me up and take me to the police station. (just for being late to class) Now, I'm thinking, America really looks good. I just know that the branch president is going to have to home teach me in jail. I keep opening doors, just in case that last room was not being used this hour. It is now 2:15 P. M. I am down to the last door. I open it, no teacher, but a lot of students. But, I don't recognize any of the students. I go in anyway. I begin to take roll. The first three names I call, no one responds to. I think well, this is the wrong class, and either these students are here studying, or there teacher is late also. I continue to take roll, because even if I am in the wrong class, I can tell the police that I took roll, and no one was present, so I went home. I continue to take roll. I am only calling their first English name, because that is all I know. Person number four responds that she is here. That's good news, however, I'm still not convinced that I am in the right class I am only calling their first English names and everyone here has been given an English name and there probably 500 kids with the same English name. I look at the next English name. I think to myself, if this person answers he is here, then I am in the right class. There couldn"t be more than one person with this name. I say "Saloon", he answers that he is here. Ah, I think I am in the right place. I call the next students name, just in case. I read his name, Now I know that if he answers that he is here, than I will know I am in the right place. I call his name, "Horse". He answers that he is here. My prayers are answered and I know that I am in the right class. I continue to take roll. I call Apple,, here, Peach, here, Apocolips,here, Flower, Here, Tune, here. And so forth. Well, the class went quite well, and so far I havn't been turned in, or at least no one has come to pick me up. I did however go the ATM machine and withdrew 2000 Yuen, (about $320.00) just in case someone comes after me. I will give him everything I have, and I'm sure he will be happy.
Today after my 8:00 A. M. class, I had somewhat the same experience, but a little different. I begin in building # 7. I teach my class, then I have to walk about ten minutes to Main 2. It is raining like crazy. I get to main two, but I am still about 200 yards from the entrance. I see a different entrance but I would have to climb a bunch of stairs. Actually three stories of stairs. I think, what is closer, climb the stairs, or walk the 200 yards? I only have about 5 minutes prior to class starting. I decide to climb the stars. Exactly 95. I am exausted when I reach the top. Well, at least I can get out of the rain. I go to open the door, It is locked, and no one to open it. It is now 10:00 A.M., and class is starting. I realize that I have to go down 95 stairs and then walk back around the building and then walk the 200 yards to the entrance. I walk down the stairs, and walk towards the entrance. As I approach the entrance, I see the guard. Now, I know for sure I have been caught. I go to walk past him, like I own the place, and hope he doesn't recognize me. He looks at me, and salutes. My lucky day. I bow and keep going. I run to the elevator. I have to go to floor 6. The elevator door opens. I can see that the dingbat before me had punched every button, so now the elevator is going to stop on every floor. Now is 10:10 and it will be 10:15 before I get there. I stop at every floor. Finally I get there. My class is still waiting for me, and I don't see the monitor present. Again my lucky day.
It has been raining all day. After class mother and I walk home, it is still raining like crazy. Mother has an umbrella. I tell her that I have found a short cut to get home faster. She says, "great." We take the short cut. Well, like I say, it has been raining all day. When we get almost home, I see that the short cut is flooded with about 6 inches of water. We have a choice, go through the water, or go back around the regular way and take an additional 15 minutes home. We continue walking towards the flooded area. It is kind of a back alley, where businesses have their back door. All of the back doors are open, and some of the employees of the businesses are watching us to see what we are going to do. They start talking a lot. I know that are taking bets as to whether these dumb Americans will go through the flooded area, or turn around. I look at the flooded area. It is only flooded for about 15 feet, but none the less it is flooded. I ask mother, "what do you want to do? Well, you know mother, she doesn't want to walk clear back, but neither does she want to get here shoes flooded. Now, I know what's coming next. All of the guys are watching us out the back door. Well, I boost mother up on my back, and I sink into the flooded water. The guys watching all begin to clap!! I carry mother through the flood. We made it home safe. Well, that is all for now. On my next e-mail I will tell you about the guy that came to help us fix our cell phones to make them work. We have been here for almost a month now and I have yet to make, or receive a call on my phone. Mother has used hers a litte, but the phone company shut them both off. Well, anyway, that is quite another story. I will fill you in on the next email. It is Wednesday evening and we are home safe. We appreciate hearing from each of you. I love you, Dad .

Giving out names- Dad

2008-09-22T13:43:00.000-07:00

It was a fun day today. It was my first day with two freshman classes. They are really cute, good kids. About 1/3 of them didn't have an english name. Now they all have a Ferrell name. Ryan and Scott both sit in the back of the class. Amber and Ashley sit in the front of the class. Taylor and Jaxon also sit towards the front. Kalle and Oakley are boy friend/girlfriend and they both love their new English name. I've got Peyton and Hailey, Aurora and Brennen, Makenna and Jonathan. I got them all. Well, anyway I've got to get ready for my class tomorrow. Thanks for all you do. I love you all. Dad

Do you have any Parsley?- Dad

2008-09-21T17:38:00.000-07:00

Dear Everyone: We have had a couple of fun days in China: Yesterday, I went to the copy place. The owner was there with his family. I told them my name, then I had them repeat it to me. They repeated it. I asked them their name. They told me. I couldn't repeat it. I gave each of them English names. I gave the father, the name of "David." As in David Rogers. (you know, Ashley's David) I gave the younger daughter the name of "Amber", as in my Amber. I gave the older daughter the name of "Emily" as in Ryan's Emily--Cardon Ferrell. I gave the mother the name of "Annamarie", as in Katie's mother. I wrote their names of a small piece of card stock, and they pinned their names on their shirt. About that time, here comes the grandma. She saw what was going on, and she yelled something and took off. I guess she liked her chinese name. I was going to name her Matilda. As in, "we'll all sing Matilda." I'll give grandma her English name the next time I see her.
Yesterday I also went to the market. It is called Carefour. It is three stories and each floor is about the size of Sams Club. I want to buy some items so I can cook some hamburger soup. I actually find an american food section. It is about 8 feet long. We'll at least it is an American section. I actually see some things I recognize. I find three cans of Progresso soup. Some canned corn, beets, beans, and some tomato paste. No parsley or soup base. I have been told of a real American market that may have it, I will go their tomorro hopefully. Anyway, I look everywhere in the store for parsley. None to be found. There are Chinese workers yelling all the time to get people to come to their department to buy something. I see that yelling works for them, so I think, Well, maybe it will work for me. When one of them stops yelling, I yell, "Does anyone here speak English?" Total silence. Everyone looks at me with disbelief. I think to myself, what's the big deal, everyone else is yelling. Well anyway, a lady comes up to me and smiles. I say to her, "Do you speak English? She says, "a little." That's good enough for me. I say, "I'm looking to buy some parsley. She says, "parsley?" I say, "yes Parsley." It's obvious that she doesn't know what parsley is. But she is smart. She pulls out her cell phone, and says to me, "spell it." I spell it. She puts the letters into her cell phone, or whatever it is that she is using. The cell phone then gives her the Chinese spelling. She looks at me and says,"oh parsley." I say, "yea parsey!" She goes over to one of the workers and says something to her. The worker shakes her head. I figure she doesn't have any. The lady says to me, "is is a tea?" I say, "close. but not cigar." She says "what?" I say, "no it's not a tea." Well, anyway she says the store doesn't have it. So, I go to look for some hamburger. On the way to the beef section, I pass some water tanks with fish and other smimming things in them. I see one tank that has frogs. They are about 8 inches long. One of them had no legs. I guess the last guy ordered frog legs.
Anyway, I go to the beef section. It really smells gross. I see something that looks like hamburger, but it is not in a cooler. It smells like it has been out on the display shelf for days. I decide not to buy any. I am only a few items short for my hamburger soup. I decide that I will make hamburger soup without any hamburger. Or, I might go to McDonalds and buy a couple of quarter pounders, without cheese and cut up the hamburger to go into my hamburger soup,: (minus the parsley and the soup base) Hey, this is China.
In our apartment we do not have an oven, or a cook top, to cook on. Is all we have is a hot plate. there is no place to light a fire, so I figure the hot plate will do. I plug it in and turn it on. When I turn it on, I can't get it to heat up.. I work on it for a while. Finally I call the maid in and show her it doesn't work. She pulls out a pot, puts some water in it, puts it on top of the hot plate, and all of the sudden it works. I say, "How did you do that?" She doesn't know what I say, but I thank her. Finally I realize that it will not work unless there is something sitting on the hot plate. Now it works fine.
This morning we went to church. It was 5:00 P. M. Saturday evening your time. There were 29 of us there. It was a great meeting. Our friends the Jones' spoke. I said the opening prayer, mom said the closing prayer. I blessed the Sacrament and the Deacon (actually the teacher) passed the Sacrament. We came home and now mother is napping.
A couple of days ago, I told our Branch President that some times the guard wouldn't let our taxi past the guard gate and into the Campus. When that happens we have to walk about 2 or 3 blocks to our apartment. Our Branch President said, "you need one of these cards. He pulls a card out of his wallet which has some Chinese symbols on it with an official government stamp of it. He says, just show the guard the card, and he will wave you through. I say to him, "how do you get one of those cards?" I offer him $100.00 for his. He tells me to go the foreign affairs office and they can arrange with the Government to get us one. I go to the Foreign Affairs office. When I get there, there are all of these red lights that go on. There must be 50 of them. I think to myself, this must be the place that foreigners go to have an affair. Well, I go in. I'm not sure what I will find. I tell the lady that I am a teacher at Nankai University, and I would like to get one of those official looking cards that allows the guard to salute you and welcome you through his gate. She says huh? I tell her again. She says she will talk to some body and see what she can do. A couple of hours later, I get a phone call from the Foreign Affairs office. they say, I am in luck. they have one card left, and if I come over, they will issue it to me. I go get my card. It works great. The taxi driver pulls up to the gate,, the guard tells the taxi driver to turn around, and that he cannot drive through his gate. I say to the taxi driver, "hold on" I show the guard my card, he salutes me like I own the place and waves us through. This is slick. Mother's prayers are answered. Everyone else coming by car to the university, has to stop outside the gate, and walk to where they are going. They now look at us like I am the University President. Life is good here in Tianjin. Well anyway I hope you all have a good night's rest. It is 1:15 A. M. your time, Sunday morning. You will soon be getting up and going to church. Have a great day, and don't forget to call or skype us. I love you all. Dad

2008-09-20T04:40:00.000-07:00

Here are the photos at last!!

McDonalds Angel

2008-09-19T07:34:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone: Another great couple of days, especially since we have great phone service now. If you haven't heard yet, you call call me toll free by calling 602-903-5369.
Today I went to a large shopping area. It was really fun. Many hundred little shops selling anything you want. I went with our Branch President. He has been here for 4 years, so pretty well knows his way around. He takes me to a place where I can purchase a pair of levis. I find a pair I like. I ask to try them on. She holds up a sheet and I proceed to change clothes and try them on. They fit perfect. No tailoring needed. Mother decides she wants a pair. Same thing. This time, I hold up the sheet, two feet from the aisle way. Mothers needs tailoring. We negotiate a price of $10.00 each. We walk down the aisle three of four stores to the tailor. She measures moms legs. Cuts off a couple of inches, re hems the bottom and gives them back. Cuts, sews and irons them, all is less than two minutes. Boy could the tailors in the U S take a lesson from these folks here.
Then we went to McDonalds for lunch. When I order, I say I'd like a diet coke with no ice. She nods. I'd like a quarter pounder with no cheese, she smiles and nods OK. I think, this is way too easy. I show her a picture of fried chicken. She nods and says OK. I pay. Pretty soon she brings my order. Diet coke, with no ice. A quarter pounder without cheese, Fried chicken with a wing and a breast. This can't be right, she got it perfect, the first time. I take my order to the table where mom is sitting. I go back to get some napkins. The lady is gone. I ask where is the other lady that was here. Nobody speaks english. I look behind the counter, no lady. I look in the kitchen, no lady. I see the manager by looking at her name tag. I describe the lady to her. I tell her (like she speaks English.) like she understands. She shakes her head. I go back and we eat our lunch. I keep watching for my English speaking waitress. Never to be seen. I know that she was an angel sent from heaven.. My prayers have been answered. Maybe it was my dad just made to look like a girl so I couldn't recognize him, (or her) and he was sent to help me. Who ever it was, I am very greatful, and I am going to pray that I am continually blesses the same way the next time I go to McDonalds.
I take a cab home. He stops in front of the guard gate, because the guard now knows that I am not the base General. The guard makes us get out and walk the rest of the way home. I am sitting in the front seat of the taxi. I open my door. In the side of my eye, I see a man on a bicycle coming. He is flat out moving. My door is open. He sees the door. His face is in horror. (mine too!!!) I know I'm going to go to jail for this. He does a right turn down some alley at full speed ahead. As he goes by he gives me "the look" I mean, this guy was going at least 25 miles an hour. The taxi driver almost got a new fare, bike and all- On my lap. If he would have hit us, the taxi door would have been history. Luckily the door window was down, because his bike would have stopped, but he would have been sailing through the open window. I quickly pay the taxi driver, and hot footed it out of there so the guy on the bike can't find me. I got lost in the croud. This guy was no spring chicken. He was at least my age.
Well, we go to dinner tonight with three other couples from the branch. We have a good dinner. One of the couples are the branch president and his wife. I tell the branch president that Art Jones, (one of the other fellows with us, and his wife) Has been preparing for his PSS. And he is very excited. Art Jones gives me a blank stare. The branch president asks Art what he is preparing. Art doesn't know. The branch president asks me what is his PSS. I say, you know, "permanent Sacrament meeting speaker" Art is not thrilled.
I taught my first sophmore class today. At least I was told they were sophomores. Anyway, I told you a little about the class a letter or two ago. I meet the kids. I speak to them, all I get are blank stares. I ask a question, and no answers. Finally I get two or three of them to speak to me. They really aren't to bad with their English. I ask each student to introduce themselves to me, and why they are taking this class. One student says, I want PHD. I think, does he know what he is talking about? I think, well maybe he does. He wants to be a PHD-- Post Hole Digger. That class needs some help. Come to find out, they are sophomores all right. They are high school kids that could not pass the entrance exam and they are in their second year of preparing to be accepted into their first year of college. Well, like I said, they are nice kids, but will just need a little more help and attention.
Well, it is 6:15 Arizona and California time, 7:15 Utah time. You should be about ready to arise and enjoy Friday. Remember, the next time you ride in a taxi, look before you open the door. I was informed that if the old boy had hit the door, it would have been my fault. I would not only probably have gone to jail, but at $5.33 and hour, it would have been 2050 before I could return home. I think that I am going to try to get me some hazard protection insurance. Well, we enjoy talking to you. I encorage each of you to download Skype. That way we can see each of you and the grand kids. This morning, I go to my lap top and start to do some school preparation. I look at my lap top screen. To my surprise, I see Tyler, Annamarie and Katie. I say "Tyler is that you" He says, "who do you think it is." I'm sitting there in my undies. I look to see if my camera is on. Thank goodness it's not. Anyway, we have a good chat and I get to talk to Katie and she finally smiles and laughs when she see's me. Ahh, life is great. Please, each one set up skype, with a video camera, if you don't already have it. You can see us with out a camera, but the idea is for us to see the grand kids. If you need help, Dave can set it up for you. In Scott's case, Denise can set it up. Well, all of you have a great day. I love you all. Dad

Not so bright class- Dad

2008-09-17T12:37:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone: I received four emails today. Thanks. Today, we had DSL hooked up to our computer. We are one day closer to getting some kind of a direct line to the United States. Thank goodness. Today was a very busy day for me. I started at 10:00 A. M., and went straight through to 5:00 P.M. Well, at $5.33 an hour I did pretty well. I earned almost $38.00.
I had my sophomore class for the first time. Boy, was that a zoo. There is such a difference between my sophomores and my juniors. I had a lot of blank stares from my sophomores. I asked a question, but no one answered. I asked them, do you understand. Still more stares. I think to myself, this is going to be a long three hour class. I finally say to myself, "I am going to ask each one to come to the front of the class and introduce themself to me and point to the China map and tell me where they are from. I have 28 students. I call the first one up. I say, "hello, my name is Professor Ferrell, What is your name?" She giggles and looks back at one of her class mates. The class mate says something to her and she says, "my name is Pamela," (or something) I say, "how are you" She giggles and looks back at her class mates. They say something, and she says, "fine." I say, "where are you from in China?" She looks back at her class mate and the classmate says something. She goes up to the chalf board and puts an X on the map where she is from. I excuse her and start again. This process is repeated 27 more times. When I took this class, the professor that I spoke with said, "they are a little slow." I assure you she wasn't lying to me. I'm sure that no one else wanted this hand picked class and they said, "good old Wynn, the American, won't mind, he doesn't even know anything about this class." So anyway I have it. I asked the professor that gave me the class a little about the class. I said, "how many students?"
He said, "I don't know. "
I said, "what year are they?"
He said, "I don't know."
I said, "When will I get a roll?"
he said, "maybe never."
I said, "How do I grade them?"
he said, "don"t worry about it. Just come to class and everything will be ok."
I have no roll, no count, no book to teach from, don't know what I am susposed to teach, no grades. Boy, this is going to be an interesting semister. However, I must not forget, I'm being paid $5.33 per hour. Really, I am not exagerating about my class.
Well the cell phone I purchased has never worked, nor has the telephone cards. After class, I tell mother, "lets go to the restaurant with the cat for dinner." I really like their food. It is the best American food that I have tasted since being here. We walk to the gate to fetch a taxi. There are two taxi's waiting at the gate. I walk up to the first and show him the card of the restaurant. he laughs, shakes his head, and takes another person in his cab. I walk up to the next taxi driver, show him the same card, he laughs and walks away. I look at the card, it is all in Chinese. I still think that it is a restaurant here in Tianjin. I see a young couple walking toward us. I stop them and say, "do you speak English? They say, a little. I show him the card. He says, "what is this?" I say, "it is a restaurant with very good food." He gets out his cell phone and calls the number on the card. What ever he says, I don't know. Finially he finds a cab, and talks to the driver. The driver shakes his head and takes off. The person says to me, "I will walk you there, it is only one killometer." (What ever that is.) Mom says, "no way, I'm not walking." The man says, "I will find a taxi and take you there." I say, "thanks, please join us for dinner" He says something that I don't understand. We finally get a taxi. The four of us jump in and away we go. He tells the driver where to go. In a few minutes we arrive. I'm amazed. I hand the driver and 100 yuen bill. (about $16.00) He says no, he wants something smaller. I have nothing smaller, He finally takes my money, but doesn't have the correct change. He takes 10 yuen, (a buck sixty) and hands me back 90 yuen. I'm still short 4 yuen. My friend with me supliments my shortage. We get out of the cab to go to dinner. The couple with us says no, they are going somewhere else. They get into the same taxi and away they go. We go into the restaurant, have a little wait. I pet the ungrateful cat, he is still as ungrateful as before. Pretty soon we are invited to go up some stairs to find a table. We order, and the food is as good as before. If you ever want a good meal, come to China and you can have a good cheap meal. My two bowls of soup cost me 90 cents. My spaghetti cost me a dollar eighty, and my french fries cost me 27 cents. Mother tells me that I have stayed within my budget. I bring my own diet coke, because I don't want to go through the same experience that I had at McDonalds last week.
We met our branch President last night. What a nice fellow. he said that we would be receiving a church calling soon. In two weeks, we have a week off. We are taking the Silk Road trip. We are looking forward to it. However, I am going to greatly miss teaching my sophomore students that week. We love China and the people. They are so kind to us. We love hearing about what you are doing and how the children are doing. I just wish you could fax them to us for a while. I am going to speak with the professor over the English department and see if he can assign my sophomore class to another English speaking teacher. I am going to suggest
Dr. Ferrell! (Don't tell!!) Well, we sure do enjoy hearing from each of you. I love you all. Dad

Boiling PVC- Dad

2008-09-16T13:45:00.000-07:00

As I told you, last Saturday I went to Home depot to buy some pvc pipe to make a telephone receiver. I also needed two elbows of pvc to put on each end of the pvc so you can hear and speak., I was looking for pipe and fittings that would fit. There was nothing there. The 1/2 inch pipe didn't fit the 1/2 inch elbows. I asked the worker for help. The best he could, he told me that in China they don't use any glue to put the parts together with. He said to bring a pan full of water to a boil, then drop the pvc pipe into the boiling water. He said to cook it for a while, then the pipe would become soft and you can slide the parts together. There was quite a difference in size, well I figured he knows what he is talking about. I buy the pipe and the fittings. My friend with me needed some sheetrock spackle. (Joint compound) We looked for it there, but can't find it. Finally, one worker took us to another area in the store. He said we could buy a 100 pound bag of cement and fix the hole. I told him, no, just a small container. He said no. I said We don't want to build the entire house, just want to patch a hole. He couldn't understand, and we continued to look. Finially, I went to check out. (without the spackle) I say is a loud voice, "does anyone here speak english." A pretty young Chinese girl came and up and said, "I speak English, can I help you?" I say yes, thank you. I tell her that I want to buy some joint compound to patch a hole in the sheet rockl. She tells the worker what I want. He talks to her. She says, "follow me." I follow her and her mother to the back of the store. She picks up a small container of joint compound and says, "is this what you would like?" I say, "yes thank you for your help." I ask her, "do you work here, you seem to be the only one that knows what is going on here!" She giggled and walked off with her mother. In her mind, she is saying, "I just help dumb Americans." Well, I went home to put my pvc telephone together. I boiled up the water. I put the pvc in. I boil it up for a few minutes. I get it out. It is hotter than the place of eternal punishment. I follow the instructions from the guy at Home Depot. I figure he knows what he is talking about. I push with all my might to put the pvc pipe and the elbow together. To no avail, it's not going together. I heat it up again, this time for 15 minutes. I try again. No luck. I sure don't know how they connect pvc, but it sure isn't by boiling it!
In the evening, we went to a place for dinner that we have been before. The food is great. Their portions are small. Last time we ordered three items, but it didn't quite fill us up. The cost last time was $3.00. Mom and I consider our financial portfolio and agree that we can spend 30 yuen, which is four dollars and eighty cents. For that amount we can order 6 items. We order french fries, vegetable soup, some crab stuff, fried rice and fried chicken. We also order a large coke. Our friends who are with us consider their financial condition and agree they can spend $4.00. Poor guys! Any way, we both order. Pretty soon the food starts coming. This time the orders are huge. There is not enough room on the table for our food. We have to stack up the servings. We eat some of the food, but can't eat near all of it. We take several containers of food home with us. I wish they would make up their mind about their serving sizes. Oh, about our large coke. They brought us each a 2 liter bottle of diet coke. Well, that is certainly a large coke. When I go to walk out of the restaurant, I see a cat sitting on the check out counter. I scratch the cats back. That's the most ungrateful cat I ever scratched. When I scratched him (or her) is all he did was lick he paw. He didn't meow how good it was. Stupid cat just layed there like a bump on a log. It will be a cold day before he gets scratched by me again.
I went to class today. My students all have an English name. If they don't have one, we suggest names for them. Several of my students have chosed family names. Two of my students have chosen very unusual American names. I have never heard them before, and certainly hope none of you use them for my grand children. One is named HORSE and the other is named SALOON. These boys are great kids also. We get along great. They love their American names. Our branch president just arrived from the states today. He came to visit us tonight. What a great guy. He was Academic Vice President at BYU Idaho under Elder Bednar. He told us some great experiences he had with Elder Bednar. We are really going to enjoy him. Tomorrow is my busy day. I start at 8:00 A.M. and go through until 5:00 P. M. I don't think that I will go to the gym tomorrow. I think that we will go back to the cat place for dinner. It is great food. I hope all of you are doing well. Mother and I are not spending much of your inheritance here. We couldn't if we tried. On Monday, we also went to a famous Chinese Market. It was a lot of fun. This place was not the typical market. These were nice stores with lots of fun Chinese things. Many jade items and wooden carvings, like that big Chinese guy with the fat stomach that you see in American Chinese restaurants. Well it is getting time for each of you to arise for the morning. I hope each of you have a safe great day. Please fax the grand kids over for a few days.

Dumb Dog- Dad

2008-09-13T13:40:00.000-07:00

We just arrived home from Sacrament meeting. It begins at 6:00 Saturday evening, your time. This morning we left the apartment at about 8:10. That gives us 15 minutes to walk to the place where the taxi is, and a 20 minute ride by taxi, then we get there ten minutes early. When we walked out of our apartment there was a taxi just waiting there. He is not actually allowed to come to this area. Anyway, we jumped in and took off. He had to go out the back way (which was actually a short cut to go to church) so the campus police would not catch him where he shouldn't be. He drove like a wild man. Even the Chinese pedestrians jumped out of his way. He got us to church in about 9 minutes. He is so happy he got us there fast. Maybe he wanted a tip, I don't know. When he stopped, he gave me a high five and laughed. I paid him his buck sixty and he was off. Well, we get to church 35 minutes early. The church is locked. ( actually it is a very large house in a nice neighborhood) We sit on the steps of the church (house) waiting for someone to show up and unlock the doors. While we are sitting there, here comes a pooch. Kind of a small back thing. He looks at me and growls. I look at him an growl back. Now we have a contest going of looking and growling. Pretty soon I hear a person yealing.., I think she is calling for the dog. I keep quiet, but the pooch hasn't got enough sense to keep quiet. The owner comes and smacks the pooch for growling at me. I just keep quiet. The pooch gets put inside of a fensed yard. When the pooch is getting put in he gives me a dirty look. I say to mom, if the big dummy had had enough sense to keep his mouth shut he wouldn't have gotten into trouble. We went to the 2nd counselor in the branch presidency's house for lunch. The whole branch was invited. About 20 people. She served a delicious green salad, with cut up chicken, rolls and some fruit. It was really good. .We caught a cab home and now I am catching up on my emails and getting some school stuff ready. Tomorrow is a holiday and then back to school of Tuesday. Well, I wish I could have the children for a while. Love Dad P. S. We BYU so good, or was UCLA so bad? Or a little of both? Good night.

Wonderful Sunday- Mom

2008-09-13T13:39:00.000-07:00

Church was wonderful and we went to the 2nd counselor's house for lunch and had salads with homemade salad dressings. They were so tasty!! We have a holiday tomorrow and plan to go to ancient street. It should be fun and we hope to get some pictures. I'm going to take a Sunday afternoon nap--
Love, Mother

Ordering a diet coke-Dad

2008-09-13T10:48:00.000-07:00

BYU game begins in a little over 10 hours. Who are you rooting for? (I guess that question is only for Brit) or maybe Scott. I think the best team will win, and unless there is an upset, then the worst team might win. In any case, one of the teams usually win. I haven't seen any odds on the game here in China. It doesn't seem to be such a hot topic here. I don't think the game will be on local television here, however I could get up at 3:00 A. M. to see if it is available. Today is a holiday, as is Sunday and Monday. It is the Mid Fall Festival. They all eat "moon cakes" Some are great, some not so great. We were given three boxes of them by the school officials. Today, I walked to Home Depot. About a mile walk each way. I needed some PVC pipe and some fittings to make a make shift telephone receifver. (things are a little different here in China) As I was trying to negotiate my way across the street, (5 lanes each direction, without a cross walk)" I was meandering through traffic. Here comes some guy on his bike flat out moving. Well, that's nothing new, everyone on bikes flat out move. But this guy had a white cane he was waving as he zig-zagged through traffic. I got out of his way quick. I wasn't taking any chances. Pretty soon, I hear an ambulance coming, blarring his horn. As bicyclists and cars hear him, they all try to out run him. The ambulance is the last guy in line.
I went into McDonald's to get a diet coke. I try to order. The waiter has no idea. I point to the coke dispenser. She thinks that I want to come behind the counter and pour my own coke. She indicates, no way. I say diet coke, no ice. She looks puzzled. She brings out a bag of uncooked french fries. I say, well, that is probably diet fries, but I want a diet coke. She tells me something in Chinese, I answer in English. She still doesn't understand. I say in English, "whose the ding bat in charge here? Pretty soon she returns with another employee. She points to him and says /Ding. Well I now have Mr. Ding to help me.I say I would like a diet coke, no ice. He motions for me to come behind the counter. The waiter says something to Mr. Ding in Chinese. I think she says "no he can't come behind the counter." They yell at each other back and forth for a couple of minutes. Finially Ding goes into the back. He brings out a picture of everything they sell. He has coke. At least it has a Coke logo. I point to Coke, and I say diet. I point to my stomach, and bulge it out as far as it will go. He looks at me and shakes his head, like he is sorry. He thinks I am really hungry. He points to french fries, a hamburger, a chicken burger and an apple pie. I say no, diet coke with no ice. Everyone in the store is looking at me and my bulged stomach. They look in disbelief. A little boy walked up and patted my stomach. I ask him if he speaks English. He laughs and pulls up his shirt, and trys to bulge his stomach. His mother sees him do it. She is embarrased, and scolds him. I gave him a high five and he left. Well, meanwhile back to Mr. Ding. I say to Ding, I'll take a coke anyway you would like to present it to me. I point to the coke, and hold up one finger to indicate I would like one coke. That Mr. Ding understands, he tells the waiter I would like a coke and she brings it to me.The people behind me are not happy. with me as I walk away, because I have taken so much time with one coke. I walk out in the middle of the street. This time I know how to hail a cab. The only problem is, mother is not with me. I see a cab that is empty. I walk in front of the cab. he trys to swerve, but I swerve also. He has to stop. When he comes to a complete stop. I smile at him. Then I run as fast as I can and get in his cab, before he has a chance to leave me. I say, "Nankai /dah /shur" He shrugs his head and away we go. He aimes his cab, steps on the gas, and the bicyclists scatter. All of this time he is honking his horn. He takes me back to my apartment. Just another day in China. I do believe however, that the horns on the cars are the first things to go when things wear out. I don't believe that the horns are under warranty.. Well, anyway have a good nights rest. And may the best team win. I wonder if God cheers for BYU, or if he performs some great miracles to give those who pay their tithing a little added advantage. If he doesn't, he should. Love, Dad

How to catch a cab- Dad

2008-09-12T07:37:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone: This has been a busy day. It is now about 9:00 P.M. Just arrivede back home. I went to the Gym this morning, then went to the market. I met a Chinese lady who helped me accomplish some things. She spoke good English. I got a hair cut while I was there. I got my monies worth. I showed the barber that I wanted her to take off about 1/2 inch. On the top, she did what I asked. On the side burns, there are no side burns left. I don't know what she thought, but I won't need another hair cut until I get home next June or July. Like I said, I got my monies worth. It cost me $1.60. She washed my head, gave me a scalp massage, and a hair cut. Then back to the washing part again. Ive got the cleanest head ever. I thought it would cost about $25.00, but no, just a buck sixty. I have been given a raise. I now make just $16.00 a month less than mother. I have received a $64.00 per month raise. For the raise, I am going to teach another class. This is an adult education class. They hardly know English. Well. since I hardly know Chinese, we are on equal ground. I teach the class on Wednesday afternoon from 2 until 5. I eacn $16.00. $5.33 per hour. Not bad! Tonight we went to dinner with 4 of our friends from the U. S. Most all of the restaurants are a hole in the wall, but the restaurants are clean and the food is DELICIOUS. Tonights meal was no exception. Mom had baked crab, and fries and orange juice. I had some great tomato soup, Chinese beef and vegetables and soda. The portions wern't too big but OK. Our meal cost about $4.00 total. The cab fare was a buck sixty, so the evening wasn't all that expensive. Hailing a cab is very interesting. I walk out in the middle of the street between the cars, buses, and bikes, going 30 to 50 mph. I see a cab, I hold my hand up. He waves to me and drives by. I do that four or five times, I get the same response from all of the cabs. Finially I see an empty cab coming. I step in front of him. He has to stop. I stay in front of him until mother gets in, then I run to get in before he leaves me. He says,something to me in Chinese. I motion for him to just go down the road. We see a place we want to stop. I hold up my two hands in a :T: (like time out) he stops, we get out, and I give him a buck twenty and he is off. The taxi drivers all work for the government, so they don't care if they get a fare or not. They would just as soon not. I've got it down though, if I don';t get killed first. I am getting good enough to just do as the Chinese do. None of them seem to have been hit, so I should be OK. Tonight, I told the cab driver that I wanted to go to Nankai University. I said Nankai Dah Shuh. He said Ok. He took us somewhere I had never seen before. We passed through the guard gate. he said something to the guard, the guard looked at me, I said Professor, the guard saluted me and motioned us through the gate. I thought I must be on some milatary base and the guard must have thought I was the General. Anyway, the taxi driver goes for a while, I have no idea where I am, but I know I'm somewhere. He drives a while longer, and pretty soon I recognize an area. I am then able to direct him to our housing. I bow and thank him, he bows and thanks me. I bow again and thank him again. He bows a couple of more times to me.. After a few more bown, I realize he wants some money. After I pay him, the bowing stops and he leaves. It is very safe here, no matter where you are. (I think) Our maid comes everyday. She is good and very nice. She speaks to me in Chinese, I speak to her in English, and we have a very nice conversation. We have a lot of pictures of the family, and all of our grand children, on our walls. Some times I walk into the liveing room, and I will say, "Good Morning" to each of you. No one ever talks back, so we get along just fine. In the evening, sometimes I hear someone whistle. I thought someone must be whistleing to tell his girl friend to come down. I look out the window, and I see no one. He whistles again, but still no one. After the 5th or 6th whistle, I go down and outside myself to see If I can help him get who ever he wants. I get there, but no one is there. I go back into our apartment, and the whistleing starts again. This time I hide myself out side on the balcony, with the lights out. Now I know I will catch him. He whistles again, this time I see him. (or her) It is a very large bird in the tree. I tell the old boy (or girl) "good night" and the whistleing starts again. This time I take my harmonica out on the balcany, when he whistles, I play the harmonica. When I play the harmonica, the old boy (or girl) starts whisteling to my tune. When I stop, he stops. I again wish him good night. and we both go to bed. Well, I'm not actually sure about him. (or her) Well, that's about it. China is a great experience. I am very relaxed, and life is simple here. well, OK, "good night to all of you" or maby I should say good morning, as it is about 7:00 A. M. your time. Enjoy your day, I will enjoy my night. I think I will bow to mother and go to bed. I love you all. Dad

2008-09-10T20:21:00.000-07:00

Monday is one of the large holidays in China. It is mid-autumn festival. The university has asked us to be on a TV show and we agreed. It keeps getting more involved as the time draws near. First, they were going to interview us live from our apartment. Then, they wanted to add a Chinese faculty member to the mix. This morning we were told that we will go to a Chinese home and talk about the festival and then make dumplings together and then be filmed eating and sharing the meal and moon cakes, which is the traditional food eaten for luck on this holiday. They are little pasteries with filling (very solid filling) and are quite good. There is nothing I can compare them to because we don't ever eat anything with that sort of filling--the fillings vary from nuts, figs, and bean curd, but is very dense!! We will take our own camera and try to get pictures to send next week. We film tonight or Friday night--it is very relaxed and not precise here in China. Our classes are wonderful and we are having a great experience.

Outside our apartment

2008-09-10T19:31:00.000-07:00

Foliage

2008-09-10T19:26:00.000-07:00

2008-09-10T19:12:00.001-07:00

here are the photos we promised:

Pizza Hut Salad Bar- Dad

2008-09-10T13:42:00.000-07:00

Dear everyone. I don't know how to send this email to everyone at the same
time, so I am sending this to Brit and ask that he forwards it to all the
children. Thanks Brit. We have just finished teaching this week. We teach
only on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Next Monday is a holiday. We will
celebrate the Mid Autumn Festival. It is similar to Thanksgiving. A
television station contacted the university today and asked to interview a
foreigner. The school contacted us to see if they could interview us and
show the interview on television. We said sure. So tomorrow they are
going to interview us in our apartment. We are reading up on the computer
the origin of the holdiay and how they celebrate it. Today, after class, I
was on my way to the gym. While waliking, a student stopped me and asked if
they could interview me. The student had a microphone and there was a
person video taping our conversation. They asked me what I was going to do
to celberate the holiday this weekend. I said that some of our friends and
us was going to have a celebration tegether, and eat moon cakes. Moon cakes
are the traditional thing you eat, on this holiday, just like on
Thanksgiving the traditional thing to eat is Turkey and pumpkin pie. There
is a ledgend about the moon cakes, we are studying up on it. The university
gave us three beautiful packages of moon cakes. The moon cakes are about
the size of a cup cake. the outside is similar to a cookie and the inside is
filled with different types of fillings. We ate some and they were really
quite good. The university sent two beautiful wrapped tin boxes with the
moon cakes in it. They are each individually wraped. Today we received one
more package of them from the Foreigh Teachers Department. They are so nice
to us. So, tomorrow we will be interviewed and be on television sometime.
I don't think that you will get it on your local station. Today was
teachers day. After my classes, I went to the teachers lounge to have
office hours with my students. When I arrived. several of my students were
there and gave me a large bouquet of flowers. They took photos of giving
them to me and then I went to lunch with my students. They all wished me
happy teachers day. Mother didn/t get any flowers, so I donated mine to
her. Mothers favorite dinner here, is a dish like Mimi's five star chicken.
It is served in a large bowl with a few vegetables in the bottom and a lot
of a sweet broth in the bowl. It is served with an entire chicken in it.
The chicken is cut up in one inch strips, by about 6 inches. (the entire
size of the chicken) complete with the head on it. It is very good. It is
similar to Mimi's five star chicken. Our cell phones real aare horrible.
We were notified today that the plan we signed up for is out of minutes. I
signed up for 300 minutes a month. We couldn't have used more than about
100 minutes so far. We are going to change our plan. It is all a matter of
becoming acquainted with how things work here in China. We could never have
this kind of experience by just visiting the country. By being here and
being a part of the Chinese culture, we are really having a true Chinese
experience. We went to a pizza hut a few days ago. We tried to order two
salad bar salads. They refused. She said you can only order one salad from
the salad bar. They gave me a small bowl and I went to the salad bar. When
I arrived at the salad bar, the Chinese had it down. They lined the outside
of the bowl with slices of fruit. It was like laying bricks in a circle.
They stacked the fruit about 10 to 12 inches high. They filled the middle
with different types of salad. Lettuce, celery, croutons, cucumber,
tomataos, onions, beets, and a lot of other things, along with the salad
dressing. I guarantee the chinese get their moneys worth, and they only
need one bowl. One bowl feeds a dozen or more people. The bowl contains a
little of everything so everyones palite it taken care of. The cost is
about $4.00. I didn't fill mine like the chinese did. It was really
comical. I called mother over to the salad bar to see for herself. If I
had told her about it without her seeing it, I think she would have thought
I was exagerating. Towards the end of the month, the Chinese celebrate a
week long holiday.. We are taking a trip with several other couples. It is
escourted by a Chinese tour guide. The church has used this gentlemen a
lot. We go by air to a certain part of China, then by train to an area,
Then a one day ride on a camel to another area in the desert, and a day back
by camel, then on to the area where we can see the Teracota Warriors. They
were unearthed several years ago. We plan on buying one of the replicas and
having it shipped home. They weight severl hundred pounds. After that, we
go to the Great Wall for a day. We can walk the wall, take a bike, or rent
an electric scooter. I'm sure that mother will wimp out and not climb the
wall. I plan on walking it up to the top of the mountains and take a lot of
photos. After that, we fly back to our home city. The tour starts on a
Saturday, and endes eight days later on Sunday. The people here are so
kind. Everyday, some one stops us and wants to pratice their English on us.
Many are very good. Others you must really pay attention, but generally you
get the message. The elevators are very quiet, so I always break the ice
and start speaking. The students act so surprised, but then open up and
start speaking with me. Those who don't know any English just laugh and
don't know what to do. I smile at them and say neehow. That means hello.
A couple of days ago, I called the lady who takes care of our apartment and
motioned for her to come in. I was trying to show her that our hot plate
didn't work. Know matter what I did,, how I acted, how I tried to show her
that it wouldn't heat up, she couldn't understand. She called three other
ladies in to see if they could understand. It was the funniest thing I have
ever seen. These four ladies were talking Chinese, all at the same time,
going a hundred miles an hour. It was a hoot. They finially left, and
still not knowing the hot plate wasn't working. I think they thought that I
wanted to cook dinner for them, and they could't figure out how I was going
to cook dinner for them on that hot plate. They all thanked me in Chinese,
shook their head, shook my hand and left. Well, such is life in China. I
haven't gone back to correct my mistakes, so just understand that I am
typing fast and will make some mistakes. Please do not correct it and sent
it back corrected. Again, Brit and Tricia, please foward this e-mail to all
the children. I love you all, have a great day.Your time is either 5:30, or
6:30 A.M. depending where you are. It is 8:30 P. M. here. Time for bed in
a couple of hours. I will keep you all informed as time goes on. Hopefully
I will get our phone systems corrrected before long. I love you all. Dad

Holiday Moon Cakes- Mom

2008-09-09T13:36:00.000-07:00

My friend from MCC has sent me two boxes of teaching materials because I was so caught off guard at how very advanced my Juniors are. This week I am writing formal business letters with them, at their request and got my lesson of the internet. (reliable, huh?) The first class liked it and I have 2 more this afternoon. Hopefully, the materials will arrive quickly. Next Monday is their fall holiday and so there are no classes--our department sent over 2 darling sacks (one each) with lovely tins in them and each has 6 moon cakes in it. They are really cute and very good--you eat them for luck. I like holidays like that--most of my students will try to go home for the long weekend, but not for the 4 weeks between semesters, odd? Well, give your little darlings a love from grandma. We hope to get Skype hooked up next Monday on the holiday. Talk to you sometime soon, I hope--
Love, Mother

Finding a place to eat- Dad

2008-09-08T13:30:00.000-07:00

I am working on my lesson plans, and I think they are working out fine. I sat in on the last few minutes of mothers class this morning. I didn't have any classes today, because my freshman are on military training. Our second counselor in our branch presidency was telling me about a phone system that he has. He pays $300.00 per year and has a direct line to the united States. He can call out as much as he wants, and anyone from the states can call them as much as they want. He had someone else install it for him last year. He is looking into helping me get it installed in our apartment. We'll see what happens. Yesterday at church, a young couple told us about this restaurant in China that served the best pulled pork they had ever tasted. They also said that they had great brocolli cooked in garlic. The lady gave us a card from the restaurant with the address on it. After church we dicided to go there for lunch. (us and the Jones, from Logan) I show the taxi driver the card. He says a whole bunch of stuff to me in Chinese. I say a whole bunch of stuff to him in English. That goes back and forth for about two minutes. He finially figures out that he is not going to learn English, and I am not going to learn Chinese. He looks at the card and starts on his way. We drive for about 20 minutes. He takes us down a back alley type area, even though it did have a paved street. Oh, along the way, he stops a couple of times and asks other cab drivers questions. I assume he is asking them where to find this restaurant. He might be telling them what a bunch of dummies he is driving aroung. Anyway, we go down this side steet. He looks like a buch of small houses or apartments on one side of the street, and some large apartments on the other side of the street. In front of the small apartments on the one side, it looks like some families are cooking on the sidewalk to sell to who ever happens by. The taxi driver indicates were here, and wants his money. I pay him about $4.00 and he is a happy camper and leaves. Meanwhile, we are standing on the sidewalk, not knowing where we are. There is a lady standing near us. I show her the card. She smiles and indicates for us to follow her. We walk down past a couple of businesses and we come in front of a small building. She points for us to go in. We do. It really is a restaurant. It is kind of a cut up house, and it is very crouded. We have to put our name in to wait for a table. In a minute or so, some Chinese guy comes out and speaks a little English. He motions for us to come in, (ahead of all the others who are waiting, and I did not bribe him) He takes into a back room and sets us down. Kind of an old room, I give it about a three. It is clean however. The four of us sit down. A waitress comes to take our order. She brings us a menu in English. We are greatful. Before we get a chance to read the menu, she points to the pulled pork and to the garlic brocolli. Says it is very good. We say, OK. We also order some cashew crusted chicken. I order a large diet coke. Immediately she brings the large diet coke. It is a two liter bottle of diet coke. In a few minutes she brings the rest of the meal. I have never tasted pulled sweet pork as good as this was. The brocolli and the cashew crusted chicken were equally as good. The order was quite large. It easily fed the four of us. I've never tasted better in my life. At least as far back as I can remember. We all shared the diet coke. We were plenty happy and the lady who referred us was right. It was sooooooo goooooood. The bill for the four of us was about 20.00 +or -. We found another cab and went home. We will definetely go back there again every few weeks. Shopping is interesting here. It's fun to go to the super market and look at the fish section. Ambers children and Jaxon would love watching them. It's like going to Red Lobster and getting the Lobster out and playing with them. Except here, they don't care if you touch them and play with them. Everything has it's head still on and lots of fish are alive, swimming in the tank.It's fun to watch the squid and octupus. (swimming) They have most everything we have, but you have to look and ask. No one speaks English, so you use your hands to make motions, and they get the picture and walk us over to the department where we can find the item. We are generally on schedule here. We go to bed aroung 10:00 P.M. and get up about 7:00 A. M. on the days we have class. On Thursday, Friday and Saturday, we sleep a little longer. On Sunday we went to church. It was a very nice home that the church rents. There were 25 there on Sunday. Which included 5 small children. It was fast sunday. People spoke Chinese, Korean and English, all with someone to interperate. (spelling) It was a great meeting with a great spirit present., I blessed the sacrament. The branch president and his first counselor were still in the U.S. They will arrive in two weeks. The second counselor presided and conducted. He was a very common man and did a great job. Very down to earth. After our last meeting, (which was a combines priesthood and relief society class) the counselor called a young couple by name and said. "Would you speak in church next Sunday?" They said sure. Sure a easier way to ask someone to speak than we do in America. All in all, we are having a great time here in China. Of course, we miss each of you children and our grand children. But this time will go quite quickly and we will return home to continue on with our life there. Well, most emails won't be this lengthly, but I had a few extra minutes.

People stop us on the street- Dad

2008-09-07T13:38:00.000-07:00

We just arrived home from church and having lunch. The phone card you got for me quit working. Could you check on it and see why. I still had about 10 or 12 hours on it. That is why I haven't called you lately. Don't worry if you can't get it working, I will buy one here. Maby the Chinese expect me to buy it here, if I am going to use it here. I don't start teaching full time for another week or two. Right now, I am just teaching 3 classes a week. The kids are smart and fun. I am spending a lot of time preparing for my classes. Mother helps me also. We are teaching some of the same classes, but hers is written English and mine is oral English. The class rooms are nice and clean. I think they are set up about the same as any high school or college class is in the U. S.. The people here couldn't be nicer. People stop us on the street, and want to pratice their English. When I am on campus, people, especially girls stop me and ask if they can take my class. Just to learn english, not for credit. I say sure, come on it. They are so greatful. They are so happy to speak with some one who speaks correct English. I have one class that only has 5 students registered. Only three showed up, and one was just to audit the class. I had a lot of one on one time and the three loved it. I am sending a check for almost $2500.00 to a man in Beijing, to pay for our one week trip, for the China Silk Road. trip. There are probably 40 or 50 couples taking the trip. I am anxious to go to, and walk part of the great wall. I love you and the family. Love Dad

(A POST FROM ASHLEY)

2008-09-06T13:42:00.000-07:00

There has been some concern that the address just posted (by me) is exactly the same as the address in the earlier post. I changed both of them so that there would be no mistakes...Like, in case someone was SO excited to send Mom and Dad a letter that they had already copied down the incorrect address! With all this hullabaloo, I hope Wynn and Paula get some snail mail SOON!!

Just in case...

2008-09-04T16:38:00.000-07:00

Just in case you had already copied down our address that was posted, we just wanted to let everyone know that it has been updated a little bit, and the correct address is:

Wynn & Paula Ferrell

Foreign Guesthouse # 206

Nankai University att; Juo Jing

94 Weijin Road

Tianjin 300071

PR China

First day of class- Mom

2008-09-02T13:29:00.001-07:00

1st day--our students are really advanced. Much more than my MCC students. Imagine my surprise and lack of appropriate materials. I will have to keep the internet busy and put some real effort into this without any textbook.

First day of class- Dad

2008-09-02T13:29:00.000-07:00

Class went very well today. I just taught for one hour, because we had to go to the Police Station to get our residency permit. Everyone here is very nice. So far, my students all (3) speak very good english. That's right, I only had three students today. Not to worry, though there are 5 enrolled in this class. My other classes have 15 or 20 enrolled. We have been shopping quite a bit to get our apartment in order. We usually eat breakfast in our apartment, (oatmeal) eat lunch out and no dinner or just a snack.

First week in China

2008-08-31T07:16:00.000-07:00

We had a lovely flight to China--long, but really okay. We were meet by 2 darling girls who brought us and our 8 pieces of luggage to the Foriegn Visitors apartments and helped us into a 5 room apartment. We have been given one of the 3 large apartments and the other 2 also have China teachers from our program in them, but they do not arrive until the 15th. We start teaching tomorrrow!! We have met daily with our friends from Logan, UT and had a great time exploring the surrounding area and finding places to eat. The food here is like PF Changs, but better and 4 times the portion sizes. Needless to say, we are loving it. We have some pictures to share, but I cannot figure out how to add them, so when one of my daughters calls and walks me through it, I will add them. For now, know we are well and very happy!!

Breakfast- Dad

2008-08-30T13:28:00.000-07:00

Morning (Sunday)-- I ate oatmeal for breakfast. It was very good. It's not like to could eat a usual Arizona breakfast because there isn't such a thing. We are going to meet with another couple today and hold our own service. Mostly discuss a gospel subject. Most said that I spilled the milk this morning when I ate my oatmeal. I told her not to cry over spilt milk. (joke) Enjoy your evening and have a good night's sleep. Love Dad

Email from Dad

2008-08-30T13:27:00.000-07:00

We are basically settled in. Our apartment is like a hotel. It has a beautiful lobby, and a guard at the lobby floor. We are on the second floor. There is no elevator. Mom and I walk about twenty minutes each way to our teaching areas. It is a very beautiful campus. Life here is less complicated. Most ride bicycles or small scooters. Heck with the cars, it's the bikes that you look out for. So far we have enjoyed the food. It is quite inexpensive. We have been shopping a couple of times and now feel like we are pretty well set up. Mom and I feel very safe. We walk a lot and if it is a long distance, we take a taxi. Most taki rides are about fifty cents. Today I went to a farmers market to buy some porduce. I came home with two large bags. The total bill was less than two dollars. We are told that we should bargain with the venders, but I don't have the heart to for that small amount. They deserve to make a profit. One of our students has been showing us around and speaking Chinese for us. She speaks very good English. She is a junior this year.. Mother and I teach very close to each other, so we can mostly walk to class together. We will not have church tomorrow, because the branch is closed down until mid September, when the Branch President arrives from the states. He is a teacher here also. I teach three freshman classes, but they won't start until about the 21st of September because they are on military training for three weeks, I am told. My three junior classes begin on Monday, as does mother's. It rained a little today which cooled things off a little. It was very pleasant outside. We are having a great time. Things are much differerent that I expected. The city is very modern, very clean and like I said earlier, like is simpler here. It is a very relaxing environment. We haven't eaten much of the food that the locals eat yet. I am anxious to start eating a lot of their vegetables. There are a lot of KFC restaurants here, but that is all I have seen so far, as far a fast food is concerned. Big stores like grocery stores and Wal Mart are usually located on three floors. You shop all three floors, then pay on the lowest floor. There are escalators going up and down to each floor. You just take your cart on the escalator. There are four zillion taxi cabs here. They are small, but very comfortabale. The drivers are very kind and considerate. You never tip here. Tipping is not an accepted custom. Well, I just wanted to tell each of you a little about where we are and what we are doing. Have a great day. I love you all. Love Dad

Email from Dad

2008-08-29T13:26:00.000-07:00

We really like China. The food is very good, however we really haven't tried any real authenic Chinese food yet. We have been venturing out a little more each day. It is very safe. You don't have to worry about getting hit by a car or a bus, but you must look out for the bicycles. There are thousands of bicyclists. They are all good drivers and hold their own with the automobiles. We ate at TGI Fridays tonight. It was all right. The Chinese food is much better. We ate at our guest house restaurant the last two days. The average meal is about $4.00. The food is deeeelicious. Our apartment is like a hotel room. very nice. We seem to be very close to most everything on campus. I received my schedule today. I teach form 8:00 A. M. until noon, on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. I have the rest of the week to prepare and to help my students. I hope that I can make a difference in helping them learn English. It is Friday evening here, time to got to bed.

Email from Dad

2008-08-27T13:26:00.000-07:00

I woke up this morning to find my pnone batter on the floor, along with the back of the phone. the battery had increased in size by about 4 times. I'm not sure just what happened, but I thin I'm about to find out. I'm not sure if I blew it up, or just a bad phone. Since I purchased the phone in China, I just naturally assumed it would work on China electrical current. I could be wrong. In any case, it didn't do the phone any good. I am going to get another phone this morning. I hope that will trade it in, but I'm not sure. We had a great flight over, and arrived here in good condition. We went to a restaurant last night right next to our apartment. (20 feet away. It was the dining room for the foreign teachers, or whoever else shows up to eat. Anyway, it was a chinese restaurant. The food was much like the chinese food we order in America. Very delicious. The servings are very large, about twice the size of servings at PF Changs. (or more) I orderered chicken fried rice, sweet and sour pork, some kind of egg with beef, and something like chow mein. It was all very good. When I received the bill, I was taken back. The total bill including a two liter bottle of coke was $9.00. No tip. I guess I could afford it. Oh, we also took with us a young college girl who spent the day with us helping us shop etc. We enough of that. Please call the family, tell them we arrived safely. Please tell them all to send me an email, so I can email them back. I donb't have email addresses on my computer. We are 15 hours ahead of you here, it is 10 A.M. Thursday here, so it is 7:00 P. M. Wednesday there. Love ya. Dad

Email from Mom

2008-08-27T13:24:00.000-07:00

Dad's phone "blew" his battery out onto the floor last night. Here is my number--13821713022 I seem to be having better luck all around!! We have a bath tub and it is marvelous! It is way more expensive to buy food here and cook so it looks like we will be having most of our meals in the faculty club. Very similiar food to PF Changs. Loved it last night. Going to meet our ybon and get our teaching schedule--We both start Monday and dad has 3 oral classes of freshman and 3 writing classes as juniors. I can plan the writing classes because I have 3 junior writing classes as well--More later!
Love, Mother

OUR ADDRESS IN CHINA!

2008-08-24T18:35:00.000-07:00

Hello friends,
We will leave this is a blog post so that if you are ever wanting to send a letter our way, you won't have to search high and low for the address-

Wynn & Paula Ferrell

Foreign Guesthouse # 206

Nankai University att; Juo Jing

94 Weijin Road

Tianjin 300071

PR China

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Last week of training

2008-08-19T17:06:00.001-07:00

We had a fabulous and BUSY second week of training. They crammed what seemed like 4 years worth of information into these two weeks, and if we can remember half (a tenth?) of what we learned, we will be in good shape! We actually "graduated" at the end and we were given diplomas, WHAT FUN! We leave August 25th, so it will be at least a week before we get settled enough to blog again and show pictures of our apartment, city etc! We look forward to a blessed adventure and we are also looking forward to lots of messages from the homefront, so please keep us in your prayers and in your emails!!! MUCH LOVE!!!

(Note: Never too busy to talk to my grandkids! I was leaving class so Jaxon could sing me a song!)

Training to go to China

2008-08-07T18:58:00.000-07:00

This is one of the fastest learning weeks of our life. We attend class from 8am to 9pm with a break for lunch and a break for supper. We have language instruction for 45 minutes, China history from the beginning until now for 2 hours, English language acquisition for 2 hours, how to teach English as a written language for 2 hours, ideas and suggestions that work for 45 minutes, and a different activity every night that teaches us about the "real" Chinese people we will be working with this next year. On Sunday we will have a 2 hour stake conference meeting and then the Chinese ambasador will come to speak to us for about 3 hours. We are so tired, but they tell us next week will be easier. This 2 weeks is certainly making us excited to be in China and get started. Paula will be teaching juniors and seniors--3 oral classes and 3 writing classes. Wynn does not know what he is teaching yet. There are 60 of us and they are very talented people.

Not There yet...

2008-05-02T16:07:00.000-07:00

This blog has been started so that Wynn and Paula can keep their many friends and family in the know about all the latest China happenings. Please feel free to check in (and leave your comments) at any time! We look forward to this great adventure!