Happy Veterans Day and Single's Day!

Ni hao, my people! Today has been a gorgeous fall day. I taught two classes in a row this morning, which is what happens usually on Tuesdays. It's difficult for me to teach the same exact lesson for four hours straight, though. Today at lunch time I got to go back to old campus. I've rearranged my office hours so I can come home on Tuesday afternoons. I had a few hours beyond the required amount, so I reoranized my schedule. That way I'm not sitting in the office by myself for 5 hours on Tuesdays. It wasn't very productive.

Shannon and I both rode the bus back at noon. Then we ate a good lunch at our favorite restaurant by the back gate. It was enjoyable and then I hopped on the bus by the front gate for the 20 minute ride to Walmart. I won't be doing that every Tuesday, but I've needed some things you can really only find at Walmart (like lotion and peanut butter)!

The bus wasn't very crowded so I could sit quietly by myself and gaze out the window at early afternoon traffic and a million different activities going on. I felt quite content to think about things and watch everything. These are some sights I saw: little babies being pushed in strollers constructed out of a chair and some wheels and wood; groups of men huddled in circles playing chess along the street; elderly men hoeing makeshift vegetable gardens in the midst of falling apart buildings; young women scrubbing pots and pans in the filthy water that had collected in the grassy areas from the recent rains; little children peddling their tiny bicycles from school with red handkerchiefs tied around their necks that were flapping in the wind; men on the sidewalks welding metals with only some newspaper protecting their faces...

And one thing I noticed was that nearly everybody had a smile on their face. And then I wonder, are they really as happy as they seem? Do they know that they're really poor? Sometimes these scenes have become so familiar, that I don't notice this isn't the place I've always lived. Everyone seems to have so little, but they seem so content, at least on the outside. Then I think back to living in the U.S., where babies have fancy cloth and plastic strollers, where people stick their dishes in a dishwasher, and where children don't risk death on the chaotic streets just to get to school. Then I wonder, do they know how blessed they are?

For some reason this ride there and back made me a little meloncholy, but I'm not sure for what. I love living here, especially with the people and the simplicity. I don't really want to return to America right now, but maybe I wish that my family and friends could be here in China with me to share in the adventure. I get to share things with my team, but it's hard to put words to all that is happening here for people at home. I just want to say that I'm very thankful you've helped me get here. (And you can visit anytime!) I hope you know how amazing this place is and how much the Father loves these people.

Right now I'm sitting in my apartment, with music from outside pulsating through my head. Like usual, hundreds of students are practicing for "sports meet" under my window. About every other minute I'm getting up from the computer to watch what's happening. There are formations of students dancing and marching around to a mix of communist and techno music. Now there is a man shouting instructions through the loudspeaker. Oh, here come the flags and marching students. They are goosestepping (I don't know if there's a different word to describe that). The crowds today seem more electric, like there is a lot of anticipation in the air. Some students have unfurled huge banners with Chinese characters on them, and they stretch all around the perimeter of the campus. Maybe the old campus sports meet will be tomorrow, but of course no one really knows.

Supposedly the new campus sports meet is tomorrow through Friday. Classes are all cancelled, but our team still has to teach because of the classes we missed to go to Zhengzhou. That will fun. I bet my students won't be paying any attention. They are supposed to compete and dance and stuff all day and then run back and forth to class. Hopefully I can get to the sports meet to take some pictures. I don't know if I'll be able to find any of my students, since there are supposed to be at least 25,000 students there.

Okay, I think I've rambled on long enough for today! Thanks for your reading patience. Today is "Single's Day" in China. So merry single's day to all you singles! And happy veterans day to all the veterans reading this in America. (That's you, Grandpa!! I love you!)