Day 2

So today we went to catch the bus. Well that was in the afternoon. The morning was spent seeing the city. We went to a temple which I think was more of a museum of two large towers. Oddly we needed identification to go inside. I don’t know the reasoning behind that. Afterward we went to explore the university.

But the real adventure starts with the bus ride to Louis’s home village. Well it’s more a town than a village. The bus was several several hours. I half slept half watched movies. I wish I would have downloaded more of the audio books. There is one book about a man who sold real-estate on the moon (true story) that was very interesting. But I only had the first 5 chapters and I only have the first 3 of an intelligent design vs. evolution debate that I personally love but I know Alissa would never sit through or understand. I think only j would listen but not get my fascination with how religion and science play off each other.

The bus ride was comfortable enough. Well the seats were too small, a bit cramped and I sat alone. The scenery was of endless fields and I swear we hit almost 9 different tolls. I thought Texas was bad…

We did not arrive in the city till very late. Well it was dark to say the least. I did not really believe Louis when he said his town was poor. I don’t know why but I was surprised to see yes it was a poorer town. It was not at all like the poor town I expected. I mean people say poor village in china I think shack, no electricity or running water. I think of one room where 5 people live and chickens sleep in a corner. But this was listening to too much American media. His home town was very much a town and yes it was poorer but not at all like I feared or expected.

His mother is a nice woman, petite and quite gentile. His father is a bit of a larger man by Chinese standards and what I thought somewhat silent. (I learn later his true nature but that is later) the home is very nice. It s a small compound. Well I don’t know if compound is the right description. There are three buildings around a small courtyard. One is the outhouse, another is the kitchen and shower and the third largest is the house. The first room is a hallway and living room. Branched off are three different bedrooms. Louis and I share one room and a bed. I am more pleased than anything as this is a cold climate and sharing a bed means body heat. He is no cutie by my standards but body heat is body heat.

That night we went out to eat for hotpot. This was when I truly realized I was not in Kansas anymore. I can not tell you the amount of stares and double takes I got. I don’t think many folk like me come out this way. It was quite fun to have people ask me who or what I was doing here but I must admit the language here is very difficult than what I learned back in Wuhan. It borders on not being a different dialect but different language. Yea doesn’t help. I personally was not overly hungry but being on a bus after many hours I was just thirsty and tired. They asked what I wanted and I just said as long as there are vegetables I am ok. This to me meant anything as there is always loads of veggies in Chinese food. This was take not mean order veggies. The amount that came was staggering. Luckily Louis was a ravenous wolf with the food and quite made up for what I was unable and unwilling to eat. Don’t get me wrong the food was good, I just was not hungry.

It was home and to bed.