These were taken before we left. Would not have

 happened without Jesse and Jamin and Robin.

It was Ruth's idea. At 9:00 at night at Chik Fil A. 

So I said to Jesse and Jamin, "You think we could pull it off?" 

When they didn't say no (very loudly), I took that as a resounding YES!

So we stayed up until 4:00 in the morning. 

How come stories involving me and Jesse usually involve 4:00 in the morning?

It's Green Arrow.

Just doing our part...

appreciating muslim cuisine

There are a few muslim restaurants in town. Not much pork in those. Lamb and beef. Never had lamb before. Also, I never saw signs like this before...

This one is Jesseesque, worthy to be included in his inimitable gallery. Hold on to your cookies.

You couldn't make this stuff up.

Please come to China. There is so much I want to show you.

from a certain point of view...

ellipses marks are the...

Here are some photos of where we live. Starting to feel like home.

Timothy Kenny Wesley Andrew City Gate

Ruth at the school gate, first day

Andrew and Marianne's Tim up in the mountains

Stinky Dofu, haven't tried it yet, not sure I will.
Our building. Well, it's not ours, but we live there.

Come visit, then you can see for yourself!!

Adventure lurks at every corner...shop

I ordered food today. By myself. In Chinese. And I got what I wanted!!!! I was afraid that when I ordered fried rice, that I would get broasted eel in horse brine, but all I get was rice and egg and bits of scallion! Yeehaw!!

Getting Lost

I have found so many new places the last couple of weeks. Getting lost is a daily occurrence. I have found a Tupperware store, guitar shops, cross stitch shops, a bus station, 3 KFC's, my apartment, 23 ways to get home (some more direct than others), the same restaurant over and over, and the crazy circle of death where no one dies.

The funny thing is, I am trying to go home form school the same way everyday. Why didn't they teach us the 25,000 Chinese characters in Texas public schools? It would make my life so much easier.

This is a very diverse town. I have seen 1 Hummer, 2 Navigators, a cadillac and streets filled with poor people living in poorer houses. It's funny, but I am preferring the squalid streets to the neon lights.

We have found a great outdoor grill place near our apartment. The meat is just all laying out there and you choose what you want cooked on the grill. It smells great when we walk by at night. It's sort of under a canvas awning on the sidewalk and it doesn't open until after dark. Come check it out with us when you come.

6th graders are great no matter what continent you are on! Just that here, they represent 9 different nations. How cool is that!