Last Post from China

I was very disappointed that I didn’t even see the boys today. By the time I got downstairs in the morning, they had gone to the park. I tried to find it from what I remembered Tina telling me the other day, but no luck. I came back in time to see Anna’s ayi and another ayi preparing to take their babies out, so I gestured to see if I could follow. I assumed they were going to the park too, but not so. They just walked around the village…for what seemed like an hour, but might have been slightly less. It was still an interesting walk, though most every part of my body was numbed from the cold by the time we got back. They had the babies bundled, but I noticed no mittens on two of them. I doubt most of us would take our babies for a stroll in the cold like they do here.

There were old men sitting on the front steps of what were either houses or markets. Others had tables set up along the street with raw meat lying right on them. Another had a large pan on the ground with fresh fish. I got many strange looks along the way, but felt better for being with two Chinese women.

Everything looks pretty drab and run down. There are some street corners just filled with garbage. It’s such a huge difference from back home. I had wanted to take pictures, but had been advised in the volunteer instructions that you shouldn’t take pictures of the village or villagers without their permission. Being a Communist country and all, I didn’t want to do the wrong thing when I had no way to communicate with them, so I opted to keep my camera in the bag.

I did get to spend a little bit of time with Jennie, so Timmy and Caitlin had to get in on the fun, too. How easy it would be to just stay and love on them more.

I was supposed to go to Beijing with Tina, but with the number of people going, I ended up riding with Robin and Katie. They still had many gifts to find for the wedding, so I ended up getting to go to three different markets. We started with a stop at Subway. While not a restaurant I would choose in the States, it was certainly a welcome change. And I FINALLY got a Coke! Boy was it good! Even better…after we went to Lidoo Market again, we went around the corner to Starbucks. I didn’t see my white chocolate mocha on the menu; and I don’t think my caramel machiatto tasted quite the same, but it was still a welcome treat.

After that came the “Dirt Market.” It apparently used to just be a dirt road where anyone could set up a booth with their wares, and grew into a very large market with covered stalls and small shops.


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Katie “bargaining”

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What better souvenir than a bug in glass? paperweight or keychain version?

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Parking space is a premium…

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I could have spent hours there, but we moved on to another market, which was more like a 5-story department store. A couple floors were mainly clothing, one for jewelry and souvenirs, one for silk items, etc. I was pressed for time in finding the last couple gifts I needed and really could have used a bit longer. This place had the pushiest people outside. One grabbed me by the arm trying to get me to buy Olympic hats. He and another lady followed us down the street to the car. I just could not deal with that regularly without telling someone off.

In the midst of Beijing traffic…

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Tina’s computer had died, so we stopped to get a new one on the way back, and also Domino’s pizza. Again, not a usual choice in the U.S., but I found it very good tonight.


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Sadly, when we got back, the boys were already asleep and the ayi was getting Jennie ready for bed. I did go into the Nemo room to say goodbye to Jamie and Cyndi. Katie was in there, so I got her to translate for me to tell the nannies and Jamie I was leaving, and to thank them for letting me play with the babies. They told me to come back again. I got a hug from Jamie, then quickly had to leave the room as the waterworks were beginning. The kids get up pretty early, so I certainly hope I can tell Justin, Benjamin, Jennie, and the others goodbye before I leave.

The driver is to get me at 6:15 a.m., so I’m off to finish packing and get to sleep. I look forward to seeing you all again back home, yet it’s killing me to leave. Though not a single ayi can converse with or understand me, though even the children don’t understand 90% of what I say, the hugs, the kisses, the smiles and the laughter have been communication enough.

And so I leave this country more enlightened…more aware of how much I have and more thankful for it…yet more painfully aware of what I am missing and not knowing when I’ll be back for it.

Zai jian, Zhongguo. [Goodbye, China]

I will be back.

And next time I will not be leaving alone.