The only people on earth

Spring Festival holiday--China's biggest holiday-- is fully under way it seems. I was reading today on BBC that China's Spring Festival holiday is "the largest mass migration of people in the world." Literally hundreds of millions of people are en route somewhere or another, on their way home.

Some of my teammates and I have witnessed our campus emptying out before our eyes. Supposedly the tiny old campus we live on is home to 20,000 people. I still find that hard to believe--maybe because they cram 8 students into a small dorm room. Anyway, probably 19,964 of those people have left. I went on a long walk today and there were maybe three shops still open in the whole network of back alleys we like to wander through and visit. Only stray dogs and a few middle-aged people at makeshift card tables have stuck around. It's a strange world.

Despite the fact that all of our students, acquaintances, and friendly neighborhood vendors have packed up and gone home, it's not as lonely as I thought it might be. We aren't letting any dust settle under our feet or on our heads, or whatever that saying is. For example, I've been roller blading in my slick new skates, which is fun, but not as fun as I once remembered. :) Maybe it's because I'm not roller blading with my little sister or playing street hockey with the rowdy kids in our neighborhood in Kansas.

A couple of times I've even sat down to study some Chinese or write a lesson plan, but I usually just end up getting frustrated with both. I am still tempted to want to be perfect at things, so it's hard for me to keep trying things that I'm not very talented in or don't naturally enjoy--like learning Chinese or writing lessons.

Since the majority of restaurants are closed, my remaining teammates and I have been cooking dinner together and eating like a little family for the past three or four nights. We did find a restaurant in the vicinity for lunch yesterday, though. It was pretty crowded with people, since it seemed to be the only restaurant open for a mile in every direction.

When we were done eating, Aaron jumped up to pay for the meal, but Jodi wanted to pay. So the Chinese thing to do is fight about who will have the honor of paying for the meal. Aaron and Jodi did a superb job at this, which drew the attention and admiration of all the restaurant guests. Aaron tried to pay, but Shannon held him back, while Jodi ran to the little counter. There was a lot of commotion, and it warmed my heart to see how well our team has adapted to this culture. :)

Just as a side note--I know that I write about eating in restaurants a lot. I would like you to know we aren't eating at expensive or even mildly expensive restaurants. These aren't Outback Steakhouses. These are places that are dirty and greasy and very cheap. Usually we don't even sit in real chairs. Often times we sit on little stools the size of pegs, and the wind is usually gusting in through the open doors--if there's even a door for wind to blow through. Smoke from the kitchen fills the place, and the meal often only costs about $1 per person, or less. But these are the best places to get filling food and live like the locals...

Anyway, the weather has been slowly getting more pleasant here. Tomorrow it's supposed to be around 60 degrees by mid-afternoon. I'll probably go for another walk and don my roller blades. But that's after our mini Chinese New Year celebration tomorrow morning. Several university officials, plus supposedly the "county governor," are coming to our apartments to eat dumplings. And apparently I'll have to perform a dance, of course. Ah, yes, of course. We are getting up early to clean, and we're not sure when to expect them. We were told the festivities officially begin at 10 a.m., but then they said that means they'll probably get here at 9:30. Oh, China! I can't live with you and I can't live without you!

The pictures are freshly uploaded from yesterday, when Lily and Marie from the Changchun team visited us. The first couple pictures are of us enjoying "dessert" at a swanky department store as a special occasion. Although the dessert was disappointing, the company and atmosphere were nice. The last picture I took of my teammates with Lily and Marie, who are loads of fun to be with.