Dr. Thompson in China 12-13: May 2013

Hi from Xi'an

It's a rainy morning and I've enjoyed several Face Time chats with friends and family. My home office looks out into the trees and I have the window open so I can listen to the rain and enjoy the fresh air. I finished my oral exams this past week and it was very sad to say good bye to students knowing I will probably never see them again. We had lots of pictures and hugs ... we've been together the entire year and I have so enjoyed their energy and excitement for their future. With some of the changes in China they are starved for information about the world beyond their own country so it has really been fun sharing in their journey of learning.

I continue to enjoy my walks in the part ... it has been a long day for this little guy!

Field Trip to the Park

Last weekend a couple friends and I made a quick trip to Beijing for a Church Women's Conference. We enjoyed an afternoon strolling through the summer palace and taking a dragon boat across the lake to an island and then walking over a bridge watching all the people out in paddle boats and flying kites.

Kind of a Chinese corn dog

stuffing pillows for an orphanage in Beijing

We made over 100 pillows

left over from fire crackers celebrating the opening of some new shops

Interesting architecture

During a bike ride to the plateau area we encountered workers stuffing bags with trash which were then used as "reinforcement" in construction along bridges and walls ... interesting.

Pictures from the village ... I love all the goats, farmers, and how all the land is used when planting.

Cherries are now in season and farmers were all along the road

If you are looking for a job??

Made in China ... Here are a few pictures from a furniture factory ... we watched them cut the logs into boards and make different kinds of chairs ... all "low tech" but pretty amazing