China signage

Just a little break from the "main" China blogging to show some of our favorite signs we saw. It is very hard to make a direct translation of English from Chinese as Chinese is more about ideas while English is very literal. This often results in really funny signs affectionately called "Chinglish."

Not really Chinglish, just funny. Sadly the bathroom was
closed so we didn't get a chance to see what a 4 star toilet
looked like.

I just liked this :)

Again not really Chinglish.... but it's funny when you know that
this sign was inside the shower in our hotel room in Harbin

Ahh, here we go... Sports Bar anyone?

So.... the children are the ones taking the pictures??

On the Great Wall.....

Finally.... Jon took this one in a bathroom, good advice I guess!

China 3

From Tuesday to Thursday morning we were in Harbin, a city in the north of about 10 million people. (Half the size of Beijing!) We met with some teachers there, Jon got to spend some time in the classroom and I got to meet with a mom and hang out for the afternoon talking about life as a non-teaching spouse. 

After we checked in, Jon and I wandered around campus before lunch. 

Like I mentioned earlier, exercise equipment for all to use!

Lunch was great, had fun hanging out with some super sweet
students!

Rollerblading class! Part of a phys ed requirement.

This was the youngest son of one of the teachers we met.
I could totally imagine Wade running around like this!
It was so great to have some little ones to play with
and cuddle as I was missing mine like CRAZY!

After English Corner (a time when students come to practice
English)- they all want to practice with native speakers so
we were swamped! This student was my "bodyguard" so sweet!

Jon after English Corner with his student helper.

Hanging out in one of the teacher's apartments with some others
from our group. We loved getting to know the other people
with us who are also interested in coming to teach in China!

Another couple, the Neidergall's who are looking to come teach.
They were amazing!

Old Catholic Church in Harbin, lots of Russian influence.

So cute!

I don't think this was for Halloween, purely for warmth!

Ben was our guide to Harbin. We got a snack of
sourdough bread and sausage, not Chinese, part of the
Russian influence and very yum!

Harbin

Hawthorn berries on a stick covered in a sugar glaze.

Waterfront in Harbin

Dinner at a Hot Pot restaurant with other teachers in Harbin.

China 2

 These were all taken on Monday.

Walking through another hutong. The discrepancy between
a main street in Beijing that has every kind of high end store you
can think of to the poverty in these hutongs is staggering. 

Bicycles everywhere! 

This was in a park, lots of people doing tai chi and
other exercising. Chinese people work hard
to be healthy and there is even exercise equipment in parks. 

China 1

 It's hard to know where to begin... we've tried to let people know as we've seen you, but if you haven't heard, we're looking into and working towards moving to China to teach English. We like to joke that all Jon's students are going to have a southern drawl by the time he's done with them!

We visited for 9 days to meet with current teachers, learn about what they do and what life is like for their families. It was an eye-opening, confirming and encouraging trip! I'll follow with many other blog posts (overload on pictures but I'm narrowing it down from over 500, so this is actually good!)

Walking through a hutong (older neighborhood in Beijing)
on our way to church Sunday morning. 

At a Chinese Three Self (government registered) church.
We wore headsets to understand the service.

This was the first thing that I noticed when we flew in
and had to get a picture. This was taken around noon on a sunny day...
The "haze" or "clouds" are the politically correct way to refer to
the overwhelming smog. 

The second church we visited, also a Three Self church in the middle
of a major university area. This service was in English and was PACKED
There are several services and there's always a line to get in. 

Lunch with a student, great to hear about his experiences and what
life is like as a Chinese college student.

After lunch, capturing the haze once more. 

Night, after dinner. These vendors sell everything... all on sticks.
There's the usual like chicken, pork, or even corn but we
also saw scorpion and snake!

it's good to be home

We got home late Saturday night from 9 days in China. It was beyond wonderful to all be together again. This was Sunday morning... too precious! China pictures to come :)

park

This is just a shot of everyday life. I love it!

 

the ridiculously long homecoming post

I guess "homecoming" isn't the best term for us since this is our home! But the festivities were fun nonetheless! We tailgated and went out to see the homecoming displays. 

teamwylie

Where's Wade (and Mama)?

Peek-a-boo! 

my boys!

 

Wade was really curious

LG preferred to stay back from the displays safely on
Uncle HaHa's shoulders

LG with Aunt BekBek, Uncle HaHa, and new baby cousin!!!

Kind of neat that the clocktower building (Tillman) in
the background is where Jon and I really got to know each other!

And LG finally climbed up on one of the displays!