a small village....

Yesterday we went to a small village located outside of Xian. This small village had a population of around 300,000 people, a very small city in China.
Before I tell you about yesterdays's experience, I need to tell you a bit of backround knowledge, yesterday the officials decided that they did not want our group to go anywhere. They do not want us to organize anything, go to any public space and they don't even want us to leave the hotel; even to go to a restaurant was something that they were telling us not to do. But we only have three weeks in Xian, so for us what they were telling us to do was crazy, we have tons of plans, and things that the students need to do and they are just telling us that we can't even leave our hotel?
So today we decided that we were not going to go with that. The other professor who is half chinese and is the one who mainly talks to the officials, decided that we would have to go along with our plans and just see what happens. So now as we sped towards a village outside of Xian, we all had our cell phones turned off, in case the officials tried to call us; and a military car in front of us, heading towards a school.
After visiting the factory we took the bus a different way towards a high school. There were 4,000 students who attended the high school, and they all gawked at us as we entered the campus. But of course instead of simply looking around and waving at the masses of chinese children, we had to go into the class room and perform in a sort of talent show.
Their were around ninety kids in the one classroom that we visited and our experience was like nothing we had ever had before, as soon as we were ushered into the classroom we were asked to introduce ourselves, telling the small class our name, where we were from and if we liked China. Anything that we did, they clapped and shrieked with happiness and these were 16 and 17 year olds, not little children. I was starting to have flashbacks of my experience back at Jiao da.
First they tried to get my mom to sing, which did not work out well; as they cheered her on and she kept on telling them that she was unable to sing, she finally nominated one of her students, Keith, to sing instead. And... he did. He sang you are my sunshine, or half of it to the cheers of the chinese, then of course they choose one of their best students to sing. It was a group of three chinese and together they sang a trio of old chinese verses that was amazing; we were all stupidifed after this amazing display. Then they wanted us to sing a chinese song, of course that was doomed not to turn out well...but we were saved by Julia, whose Chinese teacher had taught her one Chinese song which Julia had memoorized easily...but I will let her tell you about that experience.
After that amazing display, a large fan grouop gathered around Julia, calling her lovely and talking to her in a mixture of Chinese and English, and then one of their students sang; this time in English. SHe had an amazing voice and beautifully sang an English song and did very well, and her song did beat Keith's song.
Then they wanted someone from our group to peform something, and this time we did have a trick up our sleeves. This time Nathan came up, who could bend all of his fingers backwards, all of his hands, all of his arms, all of his legs and the Chinese scrieked with amazement. Then Keith came up again and he, Jessica and Lyndsey did a kauta in some kind of martial art. Before we left our new friends and went back into the bus, this time heading towards a farm village that was home only to sixty families.


Hana

Ah...how we love food!

Finally, just to let you know..while some internet sites work, others don't...the best way for us to read your messages is by posting comments on our blog -- my UNL account is hard to access...you can also reach me at patricemcmahon@gmail.com...I think!! Miss you...especially our daddy and husband

Our first few days!

We have made it!! Our flights over were uneventful -- except when we got to Beijing and couldn't find most of the students. And just as the plane boarded, our little huskers came running. By the time we arrived in Xi'an, we were all exhausted but incredibly excited. The girls will tell more about our first three days -- they have been a Chinese adventure. The swine flu is very much a concern for the government and just as we had arrived, a case of swine flu was discovered in the next province. This has had important effects on our trip and schedule. Not only are we probed by a thermometer twice a day at somewhat regular intervals (as long as we are not overheated!), they requested that we do not go out in public, especially meet with Chinese students. They also wanted us to eat in our dorms instead in on campus or in nearby restaurants. Such a request however was regarded as impossible...and so we have continued to try to show others the wonderful world of Xi'an, China. The rain howewver has also made it difficult to wander around aimlessly but I've heard that it will be nicer on the weekend. The Chinese classes have been great and the girls are enjoying using their Chinese...

So, we just can't believe how quickly our reality has changed. The food, by the way, seems to only have gotten better. We enjoyed hot pot...and walked around our old neighborhood. Yesterday we went to a nearby "town"... of several hundred thousands to see a bit of rural life. We were warmly squeezed by the local middle schoolers.

The kids will write soon

Our next trip

We can't believe it...we leave next week. Back to Xi'an..spac is sad..

Patrice McMahon

On Returning Home

We have been saying goodbyes to lots of friends and familiar places. We've received more going away presents than we deserve and we are spending our days enjoying all of our "lasts"...our last kung pao ji ding (chicken with peanuts), our last hotpot experience (see Hana's blog), and our last visit to Xi'an historical wall.

After saying goodbye to some friends last night, we waded through a crowd of several thousand to find a cab. In the U.S., it would be like New Year's eve in Time's Square. In China, as our cab driver reminded, it is just a normal Saturday night. With cars, motorcyles, bikes and all vehicles bumper to bumper, we crossed several streets. The buses and cars honked while the throngs continued to walk, holding them up, forcing cars to the sidewalk. The sauna-like weather provided just the right touch to make it yet another surreal Chinese experience.

Where do all of these people go? How can they all be laughing and having fun. Families camped out in front of restaurants or on the corner, sharing dinner or a game of Majing. A toddler crossed the road in front of us; I grabbed his hand,looking for a parent. His father walked over and casually took his hand. No one else noticed, no one else cared.

As our cab driver explained that it was just another Saturday night in Xi'an, we went through our traditional story; was this the last time the girls would say how old they were, where they went to school, that I taught at the university?

From the window, we enjoyed the neon lights, pointing at the buildings we somehow missed before and remarking at how exciting X'ian and China are at night.

We so look forward to returning home,but in all honesty, I feel like only now am I starting to understand China, allowing myself the freedom of letting go, being more spontaneous, and learning not to take things and life so personally.

Tomorrow evening (it will be a long day) I will go to sleep in my own bed...there will be no construction to wake me up, no jack hammers, no cranes and no thick dust under my feet as I walk across the floor.

I will be happy and feel safe like I have not felt in many months...but I still will miss China.

My feelings about Home -- Julia

I feel happy and sad at the same time.

While I live in the U.S., I feel like Xi'an is my home. I have lived in Xi'an for so long, I have gotten to know it well and the people are very nice. The friends that we have here include Austrialians, a family from Boulder, and many Chinese people. I miss my friends, my family, my dog, my home and my school.

I will always remember how nice people were here, that they were never mean, and all the attention that they gave us. I will also remember some things that I didn't like so much like: the pollution, construction, how dirty things are, and the beggars. I also won't forgot how some people talk to waiters and waitresses, almost treating them like servants.

Things I will not ever forget in my life: Chinese toilets, baby outfits (split in the bottom area), and how different life is for men and women (men can drink beer but women have to sit and look pretty all the time).

I really miss playing with my friends, being at home, and running with my dog. But I still love all the food in China...!!!

Julia