When It Comes to Brothers...

I have the BEST!

And that includes their very supportive and awesome wives.

Thanks, Kaey & Shauna, for the visit.

Thanks, Gav. Libby, Preston for the phone calls and the supportive words of confidence.

You are all inspiring.

Sunday Morning - St. George, Idaho

Where will we be next Sunday morning?

It's exciting to contemplate....

The stages of living abroad...

First is the honeymoon stage. Everything is new and exciting and beautiful. Then reality sets in. The honeymoon is over. Now everything seems strange and foreign. The food Is a challenge, the language is impossible to understand, and home seems so remote and far away. Finally comes resignation...this is just the way thing are, so deal with it and enjoy the experience...

This is what we have to look forward to.

Not About China; I Couldn't Resist

Every morning, I take a little different route for my walk. Today, I headed south towards the schools...as I got closer, I thought, "Since school started last week, why don't I just go in and look at the intermediate school's library?'

So, I did.

As soon as I stepped inside the door, the memories came flooding back. And, oh, what fond memories they were.....

new school, new books filling new shelves, old books on new shelves, kiva for story telling, computers for research (many of the students didn't have home computers at that time, so having a computer was a great/fun/intriguing novelty for them, check-out station where each day eager/reluctant students would give their id number, little room for office, marvelous people to work with over the years: Joan, Susan, Linda, Beverly.


I will always consider it one of my greatest blessings to have had that job...to me it was a dream job; books and kids, what's not to love?!?!?!??!

A Letter to My Mom

Dear Mom,

Today I started packing for our 11 month foray into China. How I yearned to just call you up and ask you how you packed for two years for yourself and two little children when you headed to Germany.

I'd like to ask you what you packed for your missions to Hawaii and South Carolina...what did you decide you didn't need, and what do you wish you had taken?

We've been given long lists of things to take, but I just wanted to ask YOU....you have traveled and lived such a rich, full life in many places.

And, so, as I pack today, and over the next two weeks, I just keep thinking of you, and wishing you were here, Mom. You have so much that I could learn from.

Much, much love, Loni

China Teachers 2010-2011

Teeny picture, giants of men and women..

there's Dale, who with his wife, Joan built a private school....and I mean literally built it. It's thriving today after years of their personal hard work and sacrifice.

There's Jamie whose father taught in China for five years, so Jamie and his wife left their beautiful home in Homer, Alaska to follow in the footsteps of his father.

There's Doc Bullock, a former oncologist. He is so happy to be doing this with his wife, Nancy. He feels a sense of relief and peace that he hasn't felt for many years as he worked every day with patients whose end was near...he's energized to do this.

There's Gladys, Ruth Ann, Karen, Meridene; all single women going on their own for the big adventure.

Or how about David; the former lietenant governor and congressman from Utah. He's a big man with giant shoes and giant heart, and he's eager to get going, along with his fun wife, Julie.

Don't foget Katy, who has hiked across England twice!

Or Sue and David, who lived in Saudi Arabia for 19 years...they are beautiful, classy, elegant. The Chinese will love them both.

There's Rainer and his wife Trix. Rainer LOVES techno stuff; he spent $200 on a pen that records the lectures, then prints them out. Glad he'll be in the same city where we are even though we will be on different ends of the city.

Oh, so many people who know so many languages who have had so many experiences who have led remarkable lives.

China, here they all come! Lucky you, and lucky them.

What to Bring....

mosquito repellent (a MUST HAVE for where we are headed),

deodorant ( not readily available in Guangzhou,

Taco/enchilada powder mix (Mexican food is not found much in China),

Warm socks (it will be very cold where we are going, and the classrooms are not heated),

This is DeVon and Sharon Nelson...the teachers we will be replacing. They have been just amazingly helpful in so many ways. This was their 2 year teaching in China, and Sharon is flying back in the spring to see her students. She LOVED this experience.

Zai Jiian

Linguipotent, I'm NOT!

To all you Chinese out there....congratulations! You are all very very smart. To have mastered your language is amazing! I can't even remember, good morning or good-bye.

I am definitely not linguipotent - which means to master language.

But, I am fascinated by what we learn each day, even though I can't remember it.

*40% of China is not subject to the one-child policy for a variety of reasons

* 6,000 foreign companies have a presence in China, including 480 of the world's top 500 companies ( including the NBA!)

* Justice is swift in China...on March 23, 2010, a man killed 8 school children. 35 days later, on April 28, he was executed.

* in 2009, more cars were purchased in China than in the USA

* this one truly is astonishing.... 1 million cars are added to China highways each month.

* Since 1989, more than 1,000 teachers have gone to China through the generosity/foresight of the Kennedy China Teachers Program.

*This is a marvelous opportunity for us, and I am grateful for it.

SIDE NOTE: this picture has nothing to do with this particular post. It was a picture that appeared in a Chinese ad showing the Chinese how to use Western toilets, as th Chinese use squat toilets, and were not sure how to use these new-fangled toilets that were installed specifically for the Olympics. Another reason to admire the Chinese...very strong legs.

Zai Jiian