First American!

I left on Thursday with with Deborah (her English name) for GM. We took a bus for 40 Yuan. It was about 4 1/2 hours to GM, but her village is up in the mountains. So we walked around in town were I bought some mandarins for them and candy. It is a cultural thing to always give something to people that have you too their house, besides it just being a nice thing to do of course. We left on a Tou-la-ji (the trucks here that they use for everything) there were about 6 people and only two seats, I wanted to sit in the back but they wanted me to sit in the front. I am convinced that they use more water to run then gas. When we turned off the main road and started up the mountain to her village, Deb and I left our stuff in the TLJ and we got to ride the quick form of transportation; a motorbike. We went up, up, up the beautiful mountain. We saw a mountain filled with caves! One was huge! The sun was just setting as we reached the village at the top. You could see far out over many other
mountains, the view was breathtaking! Especially with the wind blowing in my face on the motorcycle. ;) When we got to her house and said hello to her family, they did not speak Chinese. Only she and her brothers spoke Chinese and she was the only one that spoke any English, which was only what I had taught her through the Chinese I know. As we walked through the village, people would just stop and stare, and ask Deb where I was from. We watched the little Children playing Chinese jump rope. We had some things that the Mowerys didn't need anymore, to give to the people. It was so sweet to see how happy they were with a just a little doll or a pair of shoes.
Then we ate dinner which was really good, salted pork with green veggies and pepper, over rice of course. They gave me some water when I accidentally ate a piece of dried pepper, when I realized what it was I just swallowed so It wasn't too bad. The water is in big bottles (about three liter, soda bottles) which I think is just water from a well, that had been boiled. Everyone drinks from these, even people who are friends that stop by. They gave me a "new" bottle to drink from, although it was an old bottle that had been used several times.
Deb apologized for them not having a shower, which I knew would be the case. They gave me a basin of warm water to wash in. She gave me a tour of the house which her Mom and Dad, brothers and their families all live in, there were four rooms. One was the mom and dad's room. Which also had the last seasons corn in bags in it. Two rooms for her brothers and their families and for their kids. And a room that her unmarried, youngest older brother and she use when they are home. He was gone when we got there so that was our room. They all lived together and shared everything.
I did not know this going into it, but to our knowledge I am the first American or foreigner ever to go to this village...That night it started with just a few but then more and more came until there were about twenty young guys that came to "see" the American. They could only speak a little Chinese and the usual "Hello!" and "What is your name?" in English. They asked me my name probably ten times. They got closer and closer until they were all around me, ( I was sitting on a low little stool) they stayed and asked me about everything they could think of; where I was from, if I had a boyfriend, how old I was, was China nice, did I like Chinese food, etc. We went in our room to get ready for bed but some of them followed us. They continued to talk until about ten thirty one of them said that they would go home so we could sleep, because we were probably tired from traveling all day. some left but new ones came. They they just came right in and kept talking, after a long time Deb said to me "oh, you are tired. Go to sleep, its OK" But they didn't get the hint. At about 12:40 they left...
The next morning we slept until the roosters started crowing and then we just slept between crows until about 7:45. We got up and went to the "Xi shou jian" or public toilet. Which is on the girls side, four silts in the concrete with two foot concrete barriers between each. It was actually not too bad, compared to some were lots more people use them... and even better if you bring your own paper. :)
I ate "mi-shian" the normal Chinese breakfast. (sort of like chicken noodle soup)
Which is the only time they don't eat rice, because the noodles are made from it. It tastes good just takes getting used to for breakfast. We walked to the school, and played basketball. The little neighbor girl came over, couldn't help herself and touched my hair. lol
On the way back we saw some little girls not bigger then 8 or 9, carrying big bamboo baskets of clothes to wash. The baskets have a strap that comes up around their foreheads where the weight rests. After lunch I took a "shou xi" which is the Chinese siesta. When I woke up Deb was gone getting things for our friend that are coming. But I did not know this at the time because I can't speak their language. So I took a walk with the neighbor girls who understand a little bit more Chinese and can understand gestures. Near by their house is a clinic for people and apparently they treat people with HIV. All the bottles, syringes, needles, were in piles outside. The children played right there and with bare feet. : ( I also saw Children playing with the stuff...
Our friends came and we ate "guo zi" (sunflower seeds) and candy, while we talked. Deb's brother made "mouix-ye" (a rice and chicken dish) I happened to get the bowl with a chicken foot, it tasted fine, not much too it other then the bone. Better then I had expected. I was glad I did not get the bowl with the intestines in it, that I saw another friend eating, she was happy to have it and I was happy to let her have it. ; )
After they left, I ran up the hill to take a picture of the sunset. It was so beautiful, the picture doesn't do it justice. On the way home we stopped to "shou huo" (talk) with her friend. Her little kids were adorable and though I couldn't speak any of their language they started playing around with me and laughing.
The next day we went to visit the people who had come to visit us down the other side of the mountain. We again rode on motorcycles behind her other brother and a friend. They turn them off most of the way down to save gas. We had "mouix" again which I like, but they don't stop feeding you until you are bursting at the seams! I tried to eat really slow so I wouldn't have to eat more then one bowl, but they came over and filled it up again even though I said no. : P We walked to Y.G.'s village about a mile and a half away. Everyone we passed would stare, the girls thought it was funny. Their village was very different, it was a sort of like a bunch of condos all just separated by a wall in between, but from the outside looked like one long building, with lots of doors and windows. still pretty rugged.
We went to a little town close by and I bought some knock off converse shoes for 30 yuan or about $4.50 the lady was going to charge 50 but Deb and her brother and friend talked them down. ; )
I bought camera batteries, (couldn't take allot of pictures because mine went bad during the trip) That night when we got back I washed my hair. I wish I could have taken a picture, lol! I did it like they do, squat down, flip your hair over and pour water over your head.
Then wash it and do it again. The whole family was sitting around watching. : ) At least they make me feel like one of them. They got a hair dryer from somewhere but I told them I didn't use one. I think they just like to observe me.
Because I went to some of the language classes, when they sang songs, even though I couldn't understand what they meant, I was able to read the words and sing with them. : )
I don't know how I could ever complain again, thank You Father for what we have!
That night I asked Debs brother if he could read in their language, he couldn't. I read out of the song book and it was the weirdest thing to speak something I couldn't understand, to someone who could understand what I was saying but not read it.
I ate so much "mouix" that day that my stomach was still full at ten o'clock, but Deb made me eat a little.
We went to deb's uncles house where her grandpa and grandma live, to eat lunch. The Grandpa would just smile at me and then say stuff I couldn't understand, Deb would translate into Chinese and my words back to him. He said I should stay there forever, I should study their language and then come back so he can understand what I say. :)
Deb's nieces, ages 4 and 2, would play with me and stuff even though I can't understand them.
When I left I took a picture with them and they gave me some peanuts, and a purse that they hand make on these loom things they have.

On the way home I was questioned at the check point. The guy couldn't read my name on my passport. They tried to speak English, I understood them better in Chinese. : ) It was fine.

It was really a life Changing experience.