Sorry for the lack of updates, it’s been busy here! We’ve had visitors, celebrations, events, all mixed in with our normal day-to-day activities.
After Thanksgiving, our friend John came to visit us. The team had a fun time showing him around and he obliged us in preparing a presentation on the topic of family for our weekly English Corner. It was a brief visit, but we’re thankful that he was able to see us.
Some of the team hanging out at 南锣鼓巷 (Nan Luo Gu Xiang).
Just prior to Christmas, the You family came to visit us and prepared a fun Christmas presentation and activity for our EC. On one of the days they were here, some of our teammates took them to a local 市场 (shichang, or marketplace) to buy small gifts for a white elephant gift exchange activity. It seems like the EC participants had fun! Some of them even touted their winnings at our Christmas dinner the next evening. The Yous also came bearing tons of gifts and snacks from our M-Care team at BCC. We’re so thankful for the support we’ve received (and continue to receive), and we hope that we can bless you as much as you’ve blessed us!
Travis and Alex attempting the cookie face challenge at EC.
We had a few Christmas celebrations and had good conversations with friends. Christmas isn’t quite the same here. People don’t really make a big deal out of it, but we learned a few unique traditions. One being that people give out wrapped apples on Christmas Eve for 平安夜 (Ping’An Ye), or Silent Night. Haddon received two! They also use Santa (圣诞老人) and Christmas tree imagery very freely. Some of our teammates had to work on Christmas day, so we decided to spend Christmas with a short book reading, Secret Santa gift exchange, dinner, and by watching Home Alone together.
Haddon wondering why a random picture of this old man is hanging on our building door.
Secret Santa gift exchange
Some of our teammates spent pre- and post-Christmas preparing for finals. Others went back to the daily grind. We’ve been fighting the heavy winter pollution, which has been challenging. But it helps us to be thankful for the “good air” days.
We celebrated Andy, Flo, and Alex’s birthdays in December! It felt like we were constantly eating cake. Birthdays are a great way for us to show our love and appreciation for one another, and also to try out restaurants. Through all the birthday celebrations, we’ve also discovered that Haddon finds the practice of “caking” terrifying and is now traumatized by someone getting caked in the face. I’m not sure if it’s because people scream and it looks mean, or if he’s really sad about the cake being wasted. Who knows.
As we wrap up 2015, there is much to be thankful for and to reflect upon. We hope to share some of that with you in our next couple of posts.
Merry Christmas!
Some things we miss
- Clean air and blue skies
- Freedom to go outdoors whenever we want
- Family and friends
- Good, affordable American food
We’re thankful for…
- Friends and Family
- Opportunity and a plentiful harvest
- Being able to make friends anywhere and everywhere, especially at our favorite coffee shop/cafe
- Delivery services