Thanksgiving and Head Wounds... 感恩節

感恩節 (Thanksgiving Day)
Before you read this post, I want to wish you a happy Thanksgiving!



We had the big Thanksgiving party last night for the locals. We did a play about the reason Americans celebrate this holiday. I was a Pilgrim guy that died on the Mayflower, then Chief Massasoit. I think my death was the peoples favorite part. lol So since Germaine's house was really dirty from the almost
one-hundred people that came, they all went to town today to get out of the way so their house helper could clean. I stayed to help her. After lunch I was playing Frisbee with a guy here and he threw it on top of this little awning. I climbed up on the hammock then the roof. As soon as I was on there, I knew it wasn't strong enough. It broke off, I tried to grab on but fell about 8 or ten feet. The next thing I knew, I was on my face on the concrete... they came over and
I had my hand on my head, when I took it away it was covered in blood.
As you can see from the picture...it was pretty deep. No foreigners were at the farm. The Chinese people wanted to take me to the Hospital, I said I didn't want to go because one of the Americans that lives in town is an EMT and I thought he could look at it. They ended up driving me to town and meeting Nick (the EMT) He said it was deep and needed stitches, he said he could do it. Monty came, they decided to take me to the hospital anyway. Nike took my vitals and checked my eyes, (at first I had a little vision distortion in my left eye, but it went away after about a half hour) they were fine. The Chinese doctor washed it and gave me local anesthetic, he cut the dead tissue off and then gave me three stitches inside, eight outside.














I didn't get to see it before he bandaged it up, but Nick and Monty said he did a really good job. They asked if I wanted a tetanus shot and I opted out because I had one last year, and I don't really trust that things are really sanitary there. Nick said it was OK. It wouldn't hurt but it wouldn't necessarily help. I guess I just had to wait until I went to China to have stitches... ;P















I had a bunch of other little scratches, but nothing bad. I am disappointed though. We are having a "Turkey Trot" then we are going to play football. I guess I will just have to be support from the side line... Can't risk reopening it. I am thankful for Nick, Monty, and all the other people who took care of me and that my head is not really broken. ;) Hope you all get to take advantage of your good health tomorrow, do something active.

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.

Camels and Soldiers

The local town's 5th anniversary of becoming a city was last week, a huge bazaar came to town. They had a camel of all things, for under a buck you could take your picture on it. So this is me on the camel! No, the camel did not do the whole cool kneel down thing, we climbed up a rickety little ladder and mounted it like a horse.
It was "The Bactrian Camel" (Camelus bactrianus) is a large even-toed ungulate native to the steppes of north eastern Asia. It is one of the two surviving species of camel. The Bactrian Camel has two humps on its back, in contrast to the single-humped Dromedary Camel.^[2] Nearly all of the estimated 1.4 million Bactrian Camels alive today are domesticated, but in October 2002 the estimated 950 remaining in the wild in northwest China and Mongolia were placed on the critically endangered species list."

No, I didn't know that I looked it up. :)


I also saw the Soldiers practicing. it was pretty cool to see them all marching and drilling. My old Chinese teacher took me to see this and told me that the next day (which I was unable to see) all of the students would be dancing their, about 2500 of them.

So when we got back to GH we went to dinner with the Jmen ( Chelsea's nickname for them) and some of their local friends at a cool Dye restaurant. My favorite thing was the fern, it tasted really good! Everything was actually delicious. Later on in the meal...we had a little to much fun with the chopsticks and the candle...
The next day we worked with the disabled children at a special orphanage. At the end of the day we taught English to a little girl named Bessy. Then our friend that had brought us there locked his keys in the car so after trying to break in for awhile...we took a different car to his house where we had a wonderful fun filled evening of pasta, salad, fresh lemonade, awesome gymnastics (with the little kids), music, and Boggle.
The next day we again worked in the orphanage and then went shopping around town were we found some awesome shades and took this picture of us looking like thugs. lol
We wound up our time with our friends at the hotel pool were Jack took to dressing up like...well...you decide. ;)





Then for our last night in GH we went to an exceptional minority dance show.
Although we saw everything from drum dancing, to acrobats, to fire dancers, I think my favorite was a young girl who did these crazy contortions with her small body holding real burning candlesticks! Then she went into a handstand while balancing from a board held in her teeth while another girl held the other end in her mouth.

The next morning we got up early and took a taxi to the bus station, after looking over all the buses and not finding one going to our city...we took another taxi to a different station where we easily found our bus and were on our way back.

4x4 in a Bus!

After downing a hearty breakfast of oatmeal, fruit and yogurt at 5 am, we rode to the station in town and loaded our bags. We climbed aboard our bus and found out we had the seats in the very front! All was well until people started smoking! Yes, on the bus...
I would say about 80% of the passengers smoked most of the trip.

After a smoky, but nonetheless pleasant, three or so hours on the bus, Monty called and asked us if everything was OK, and specifically "how is the road?" Other than a few rough places it had been great. But after the check point we understood what he was talking about...let's just say it was about as good as four-wheeling in a bus gets! A few places, the water went right over the road. And they would pass other buses! This proved no problem for the drivers because our bus was not just any kind of bus, but the rough and tumble WANDA COACH! these things were definitely made for these types of roads.
Our bus also apparently was the postal service as well. We picked up boxes at random places along the way.



After many hours of beautiful scenery and bumpy roads, we stopped for lunch and people would non-stop stare.











At one point, it had been about ten hours and we got on a paved, flat stretch, we figured it wouldn't be long now...
five hours later we pulled into the bus station in GH.
It had been a long day and we were ready to hit the sack. We met our friends, who took us to a little cafe and we talked about our trip a little. But the best part about it was the Tacos. Neither of us were very hungry but we got a couple of tacos to share, yummy! Then we were instructed to meet them at eight in the morning to drive to Laos.


So after a good nights sleep in a little place close by, we were off yet again. This time, in our friend's van which was much more comfy.

One of the cool things about the drive to Laos was the amount of long tunnels. Sometimes they didn't even have lights! We desperately wanted to roll down the windows, honk, and yell. Since our driver spoke very little English and we are as of yet unable to say things in Chinese like "Scream" "Honk" "no we are not dieing or crazy, just for fun!" we decided against it. ;)

We got to the boarder, left China and rode on a "Tuk tuk" to the Laos border for ten yuan.
(which is like a trike with a buggy on the back and a windshield)






Then we bought our Laos visas at one window, entered Laos (according to a stamp) at another window, walked to the other side of the building and exited Laos (according to a stamp)
We now are travelers of Asia with a visa into Laos! :) That was all we saw of Laos it looks like a bamboo forest...just like were we had just been, shhhh!






We decided that the ride in the "Tuk tuk" was overrated and walked back to the China border, where we were greeted with this sign stating WELCOME TO CHINA
In the entry building, we filled out a health form and an entry card. Chelsea, who was in front of me, was inundated with questions. I, on the other hand, was just asked if I was with her and told "very young, very beautiful!" and let through. Thanks Chelsea!
So we drove back to GH.
My next post will be about the fun we had during the week there.

A Road Trip!

So I need to get my visa renewed. Since they can't do it here, that involves going on a road trip.
Chelsea and I will be going to Laos. A breakdown of the trip: Early Monday morning here, we board the bus and drive ten hours or so south to a city we'll call GH. We spend the night in a hotel, (with a pool I might add) then on Tuesday we take a day trip into Laos. It's apparently a few hours to the border, an hour at least inside the country, then a few hours out. We spend Tuesday night in GH. On Wednesday, we will get to help out in a home for severely disabled children. Thursday, we will visit some friends and help them out and do whatever, it's all up to them. Maybe work (homeschooling), maybe play (shopping), maybe both! Then on Friday, we board the bus again for the ten hour ride home. It will be an action packed adventure, and then I'll be able to say that I've been to Laos! I can't wait, tomorrow we go buy the tickets. So get ready for some pictures of our road trip!

These are a few pictures from the wedding.
Unfortunately I don't have the pictures with the bride yet.
So, after traveling down winding long narrow roads in a van stuffed with people, we arrived at a small village area.
We were greeted by the Bride's father and brother, then led to their house.
There were tons of people sitting around little tables, (about two feet off the ground) eating.
We stepped over and made our way through people until we went into a little room where the Bride sat. We shook her hand and she gave us all candy. We sat around here for an awkward amount of time until finally I found one of the ladies we had come with and her small boy. On the way through the crowd to them, an elderly lady was pulling on my arm and pointing toward a man I think was her son... I did not know what she was telling me but I did not try it out, I shook my head and said no thank you. when some of the guests had finished, it was our turn to sit at the very low tables and eat. The food was delicious, something that looked and tasted like roust beef, fish heads with some meat also, something that looked like chicken nuggets...it was not, etc. they also served beer, homemade alcohol, and a juice type drink that after I tasted and did not like, told me it probably is a very low alcohol content pineapple beer they have here...oh well.
After dinner we had a delightful walk around the village and saw a lovely sunset.
When we got back the tables had been moved and they were starting to have a special dance time. It was kind of like a dramatized dance they would act out a story while dancing. Then before i knew it the people I came with pulled me up to the middle of of this ceremony, one of the men said something in the mic then they all started singing. I pretended to be singing too.
Although I think from the language I know, it was a blessing for the couple (which would make seance) I really don't know what I was supposed to be singing. :P
Anyway... we left in the late evening, the party was far from over, it had started long before we had come. It was a very interesting and fun experience.