As the only foreigner in our school, perhaps you might think I would be lonely. Well, that would be impossible, because since the moment I set foot in this school, my Chinese family was here waiting for me. We didn't know at the time how close we would all become, but now, we are a family forever.First there is Susan, my right hand and daughter of my heart, Alexander, my lieft hand and my son, Adan, our Master Chifu and also., my son, Alice, my daughter, Michael, my first grandson, .our baby of the family, our dearest Panda, and Candy, Alexander's bride to be who is also a very good cook and the one who has made our Alexander very happy. Oh, we have had such happy times together, times that all of us, I'm sure, will remember and cherish forever.I want to tell you about the youngest one in our happy family here, That is our baby, Panda. His English name is Kevin, but he quickly became Panda to us. Why? It is because he is so cute and cuddly, just like a baby Panda. He is also the youngest of our little family here. Actually, it is not so little. My Chinese family here is me (Mom and Grandma), Alex, Susan, Adan, Alice, Panda, and Michael. They are the kids who have been there for me every moment of my life here in China, and the ones who will be always and forever in my heart, and on my mind.There are two very special boys here, Michael and Panda, who have become my Chinese grandsons. These two have been so good to me. When I first came here, I met Michael. One of the things I remember from those early days was that Michael wanted to cook. In those days, we called our kitchen "Michael's Kitchen." He made some very yummy food in there. We had a lot of good times, didn't we?We have had so many good times together. All of my kids are excellent cooks and we have had a lot of fun, with our dinners together just about every day. We went out to lots of great restaurants too, and had some really fun parties, and worked on lessons and some of us had classes together. You know, I was the only foreigner here at this school. However, it has never, no not ever, been lonely for me because of my kids, who are now and forever my family. Hey kids, never forget the good times we had.

Since I came to this university nearly two years ago, two very special people have been with me every step of the way. They are my dear Susan, and Alexander Dakota the Great! Without these two my life would have been far different. They have both in fact become my own children. There is nothing in this world that I would not do for them. They have been with me through thick and thin, through the good times and the not so good times. What can I say to you two... It brings tears to my eyes to even think of saying goodbye to you both. So, I won't. I will just say see you later, and hope with all of my heart that it is true. That somehow, some way, we will meet again. For such a long time it was we three, we did just about everything together. The memories we made, the times we shared, the difficulties we made it through, the sad times and the happy times, those are what I will take with me. And you know, you will always be a very important part of me, in my heart forever and a day.

Let me tell you guys about my dear kids, Adan and Alice. The first time that I met them, they were both graduate students in my classroom, going on two years ago. The first thing I noticed about them was that both of them had beautiful smiles on their faces and they were glowing with their love for each other. I had never seen two people so much in love.At that time, their love was new. They had only met each other about a month before, I think, Since then, they have become very close and dear to me, and we have been on a long and not always easy path. There have definitely been ups and downs, as there probably is in most love stories. Now, today, they tell me that they will marry. It makes me so happy to know this. I want you two to know that you will always be a big part of my life, and always in my heart.Alice says, "we always quarrel with each other, but our love is true love." She goes on to say that "maybe we will get married very soon!" Adan says, "She often cooks for me, especially in the first period when we met each other. The classical food is green bean soup. But, in fact, she doesn't like green bean cookies. For her, the green bean soup represents something about love, the only way she knows how to express how much she likes a boy. Even though she always burns the noodles and porridge every day, but she can only cook the green bean soup very very well, and maybe that's the best soup in the world I have ever tasted." Now that is TRUE LOVE!

So, it is with a heavy heart that the time for me to say goodbye to China is almost upon me. In about a month, maybe two, I will go back to America. Since I first came to China in 1992, China has become a second home. Yeah, maybe I am American born, but I can honestly say that I am Chinese by choice. Alas, it is easier said than done... One cannot easily immigrate to China. If it were possible, I think I would surely do so. China has become my real home, more than any other place. The kindness and the gentleness of the people is what I will miss the most. That's not all. I will miss the laid back and easy going pace of life, with people always ready with a smile and a helping hand.Most of all, I will miss my students and my kids. I have come to love all of them very dearly. I hope that we will be able to stay in touch, but it definitely will change. Such is life. So, it's time to move on, go back, realize that my dream DID come true, and for that, China, thank you.

Okay, guys, I have to admit that this is not my original idea. The Happiness Project I recently read about is written by a much admired blogger, Mary Anne, who writes "A Totally Impractical Guide to Living in Shanghai." It's a great blog. She's in London now, with a new baby, but I wouldn't be surprised to see her back in China sometime soon. Anyhow, back to my own happiness project.As some of you know, I will probably be leaving China in late June or early July. This is something that has the power to make me feel quite sad, so, after being inspired by the aforementioned Mary Anne, I have decided to try to find one thing every day that makes me happy. It doesn't have to be a big thing, but it has to be something, anything, that will take the sorrow away and make me feel better about here and now.Today, there were several things that made me happy. The first one was my class. We acted out some scenes from "Harry Potter." My students must perform some scenes with gan qing (Feeling!) and also proper emphasis, body language, and pronunciation. It goes something like this... I will play a scene from the movie, then call on a student to act that scene. They must do it without any errors. Sometimes, we use subtitles and sometimes it is by listening and repeating only. It is really fun. If they get it right, we move on and watch some more of the movie, if they make a mistake, it is the next kid's turn. The same thing with reading dialogues from our oh so boring textbook. It makes it a little more fun and interesting, and we all enjoy it.The second thing that made me happy was going out and walking around our beautiful town. My right hand, Susan, and I went out for dinner (we usually eat at home) and then just strolling around our beautiful town, going in and out of shops and just hanging out. It was relaxing and fun. So, yeah, these small things did bring happiness. I guess we just have to be conscious of the little things that make up happiness, whether it is shared laughter, good food, or eye candy on the street. So went my first day of this happiness project. Photo by Susan 2014

These days I picked up a new phrase from my students. I asked them what it means? They said it means that if you don't do something stupid then it won't come back and bite you on your backside (to put it politely). I thought that was pretty funny, and asked one of my students to give me an example. So, according to Keven, when you can use it is something like this...Somebody bet me I couldn't do even one pushup. So, being a supremely confident person (sometimes) I gave it the old college try. If I hadn't tried to do that "one" pushup, I wouldn't have kissed the floor and COMPLETELY lost face! That was cause for my kids to say "no zuo no die." It really happened! I was trying to keep up with my active kids, and I couldn't even do ONE lousy pushup! As a result, I am now on a diet of green tea and no sugar, in an effort to be able to lose some of that extra weight and not only be able to fit into Chinese clothes, but also to not lose face again by not being able to do even one pushup. Okay, it is also true that I'm not as young as I once was, but still. It's downright embarrassing to kiss the floor, and the kids laughing and saying "No zuo no die!" If you don't have a clue what I'm talking about, send your questions and I will try to put it into plainer English. Perhaps I should have named this blog, More Chinglish by Miss Barbara!See you all next time. And no zuo no die!Photo courtesy of the Internet, photographer unknown.

Things that have improved:Although this is by no means a complete list, it is some things that stand out in my mind.1. Bread - It used to be that all of the bread that I was able to find was much too sweet. Nowadays, pretty good bread can be found in Walmart and specialized bakeries. No one wants to eat a sandwich made on sweet bread. However, now that I have found bread, I no longer care to eat it - at all. Isn't that ironic?2. Toilets - There seems to be better access to western style toilets these days. I can always find one, nowadays, at most malls and public places. In the old days, they were few and far between, and it is hard for foreigners to use the squatties, at least at first.3. Toilet Paper - When I first came to China, the toilet paper was all pink and it seemed to be of a much rougher quality. Nowadays, there is a huge selection. Don't squeeze the Charmin!4. Highways - The highways are wonderful these days, and lovely, with trees and flowers to brighten long drives. 5. Trains - When I first rode trains way back in 1992, it was not comfortable at all. In fact, I lost my best walkman in train toilet when it fell directly on the tracks. Nowadays I can catch a bullet train that is better than any train I've ridden in the world, so far. Clean, safe, and comfortable, with a nice snack bar too!5. Quality of Goods - The quality of Chinese goods has markedly improved since I first came to China. It used to be that people only wanted to buy Japanese goods, but now, stuff made in China is just as good, like cars, and phones and such. 6. Service in Department Stores - Service in department stores has come a long way in the 21 and a half years since I first came here. Nowadays, the clerks seems to be more sensitive to the needs of foreigners and they go out of their way to be helpful. Before, I think it was more difficult because of the language barriers, perhaps.7. Diapers - I never thought I'd see the day kids in China wore diapers, but Pampers are here and lots of babies are wearing them these days. Not so good for the environment maybe, and probably better for the kids the old way of the parents holding them up to go potty, but for better or for worse, diapers have come to China.8. Hospitals - Hospitals have improved 100%. I feel completely confident nowadays in Chinese hospitals whether it be for a check up, or if I am ill, the care of the doctors and staff.Things that have stayed the same1. Chinese Hospitality - The warmth and hospitality of the Chinese people is something that has always drawn me to China and keeps me coming back again and again.2. Love of country - I heard then, and I hear now people openly saying "I love my country!" in a joyous way. That is just not something I heard a lot of where I came from, at least not with the same delight that the Chinese take in China. It is heartwarming.3. Food prices - Although of course it has become a bit more, food is still a great bargain in China. Fresh foods and meat are much more reasonably prices than in America. Chinese people do know how to eat well. There is just about every fruit and vegetable under the sun for very reasonable prices.4. Access to western stuff - You can pretty much get whatever you want, except maybe clothes that fit western bodies, and what you can't get in the markets or at Walmart you can get from Toubou or Amazon.cn. It doesn't matter that much to me these days, though, as I've pretty much learned that I don't need so much western stuff anyway!5. The relaxed atmosphere - There is nowhere else in the world that I have been that is nearly as relaxed and laid back as China. People seem to stop and smell the roses, there is a deep appreciation of nature, and of life, that is enriching to the spirit here. It is another reason I enjoy it so much. I like how people stroll in a leisurely way here, it is refreshing. No one seems to rush, and they get just as much done.6. China is one big happy family. I recently found out that Da Jia hao means hello my big family. That is how the teachers have always greeted their students in class, and it is true. Every one is a sister or brother or grandma or auntie to everyone else. It is a loving place to be, and kinder and gentler.7. The people stick together - in the West it is much more individualized and every one is kind of on their own. Here it is always about people helping people. The people pull together for the good of all, rather than just looking out for number one. 8. Peaceful and respectful classrooms - Nowhere in the world will you find students who are such a joy to teach. My students are, and always have been a huge part of why I love China, and for many years, many of us have kept our close connections. I have seen these kids grow up and still they never forget their old teacher. It is a deep loyalty that is so meaningful to me, and has made my life more meaningful.Okay, guys, that is it for today! I know it is not a complete list by any means, but it is what came to mind. China is a little piece of paradise, especially where I live in beautiful Sichuan Province. Coming here has been my dream come true. I feel very fortunate to have seen all that I have seen, and what I have learned from China will remain with me for the rest of my life.

Photo by Candy 2013So, today I want to talk about history. Not on a large scale, but about how each one of us has something to contribute to history, as we know it. Someone said once that history is some stuff that happened, someone saw it, and someone wrote about it. It is written from that person's point of view, and maybe it is not at all how we or our parents or our grandparents experienced it. Maybe we see it in a whole different light.We hear sometimes about history being rewritten. Maybe someone comes along that doesn't agree with some official version, gets some other people to agree, writes a different version of it, and voila, history is rewritten. Now, many people might read the new version, and believe that it is what really happened in the past. The best way to really know what happened, if we were not there, is to read, read, read, and get as many perspectives as possible on what might or might not have happened in any given situation.History can be pretty boring, right? But if you think about it, what happens to you, personally, and to your friends and family is interesting. So keep track of what happens, maybe keep a journal about how things that happen affect or have affected you. It is a good way to keep track of events in your own life and contribute to the history of the world, using your own voice.Photo by Candy 2014

Photograph by Candy You know, in China it is so difficult to get a driver's license. I know this because my husband got one, even though he is American. Now, my Chinese child, Alex, is getting his license. It is even more difficult, it would seem for a Chinese boy to get his very first driver's license. He has prepared for quite a long time. Several times a week he leaves the house very early to go practice driving. He has had to pay a great deal of money for this chance. He has also failed the exam several times, but there is no shame in that. Almost no one ever passes it the first time. It is very difficult, I know. He is studying right now, in fact, in the hopes that tomorrow morning he will pass the exam at last. We all hope and we all believe that this time he will be successful. However, that is not the end of it. After he passes this test, he must prepare for yet another one. The next one will be about the laws of driving. In fact, the test is quite complicated and is in four parts. It was not quite this difficult for my husband, and it did not take as long. Of course, he is an experienced driver, and Alexander is a brand new driver, so that might be in part why it seems so complicated for this, his first license. Alexander's fiancé, Candy, says, "He will do it, he MUST do it this time! He will succeed..." They have a deal, it seems. If he passes his driver's license exam before April 10th, Candy must take him to the movies, twice. If he loses, he must give her 200 rmb! That's definitely a good reason for him to pass. So, good luck, Alexander. We know you can do it!

Can Photo by Candy 2014 Last Saturday my dear friend and I were invited to attend the Dujiangyan Water Release Festival of 2014, and let me tell you guys, it was without a doubt the most magnificent performance I have ever seen, anywhere. The actors, the costumes, the dancing and choreography were a wondrous sight to behold. The traditional music, the gonging of the huge drums, and the beauty of the singing added to the overall experience, making it a day to remember forever. The performances were faultless, and the costumes, the color, and beauty of it all, was overwhelming. Our Dujiangyan Irrigation Project is said to be at least two thousand years old and the play told the story of the releasing of the water through dance and music, with probably hundreds, if not thousands, of highly trained performers including actors, dancers, Kung Fu masters, lovers, and of course, the dragons! One gets a real feel for what it must have been like in the ancient days of China. I have never seen anything remotely like this ever before. It was truly awe inspiring! It depicted many scenes from ancient China, from the building of the irrigation system to rice farming, and smaller stories too, such as a young son who had been abroad returning to his old parents after many years away. There was a charming story of young lovers too. There were men and women in glorious attire carrying sacrificial animals, and workers, both men and women, carrying baskets of stones (I think) on their backs. Words fail me in trying to describe the grandeur of this event. Watching this performance in the high mountains of Dujiangyan on a foggy day nearly took my breath away. The weather, although chilly and a bit rainy, was entirely suitable for this occasion. It is something that I feel so fortunate to have experienced. No Broadway show that I have seen could ever rival this. I heard one American guy sitting near me remark that China is so rich in culture, and what do we have in America? Baseball and hot dogs! Well, we do have some cool stuff in America too, but definitely nothing that rivals what took place last Saturday. China's civilization and their long and beautiful history is something that will stay with me always, and I will never forget this experience of my own favorite city and second home. China, thank you for sharing this momentous event! Photograph by Alex 2014