A Wonderful Visit
A few weeks ago I made another trip to the mountains outside of Xinmi. I went there to see the Feng family, Shaolei and Shaoyan and their grandfather. I had not been to see them for a few months and missed them very much. I always like to bring a few things for the family so I went a little shopping first. I picked up a big bag of rice for them. I know it’s pretty basic, but I thought a 25kg bag would give them some reasonable food for a month or two. While I was there I got a bag of flour so they can make their own noodles, dumplings and other food as needed. I saw a store selling dry noodles, so I bought a pretty big bag of that too. The dry types of food would keep longer without refrigeration. I know that the food is but a small token of their needs, so I gave the boy and girl an envelope with 100 rmb each and the grandfather an envelope with 500 rmb so he could get things the family needs. I also picked a big gift box of moon cakes for the family to share, a big red and gold colored box. This was a special day. It was Mid-Autumn Festival, a pretty big holiday here in China. It’s a day where everyone is supposed to eat moon cakes to celebrate the harvest moon, the brightest full moon of the year. It is celebrated similar to our American Thanksgiving, and day of joy, abundance and of family.
When we arrived at the base of the road leading to their home, they heard us coming. Shaoyan was the first to appear. I saw her turn the corner at top of the hill, make eye contact with me and gave the biggest smile. As she walked quickly down the hill towards us, that smile never left her face. It was beautiful. I looked up behind her, and here comes her brother Shaolei and grandfather. Grandfather had a big smile too, and as I looked at Shaolei, I thought I saw a faint smile on his face too. Shaolei stopped smiling almost a year before I met them when his father died. I have been trying 1.5 years to get him to smile. We exchanged greetings and hugs, grabbed a few of the items and started up the final hill. Inside their home, we sat and talked a while.
I sat on the edge of the bed with Shaolei on my left and Shaoyan on my right. Shaoyan has improved her English very much. She and I can talk somewhat unaided. Shaolei is learning more English but still needs some help. Their Headmaster from their middle school is there with me. He helps greatly by watching them both at school and encouraging them to study harder. He said that Shaoyan is doing well but Shaolei is a boy, a bit younger, 
and wants to play too much. I spoke with him through an interpreter and got him to commit to work harder at school. I told them my plan is to assist them to go to a university when the time comes, but they have to study very hard and pass the college entrance exam first. If they do, I may be able to get them into Henan Agricultural University where I now work. That would be “my” dream.
As I talked with them both, I was holding their hands. At two points in our conversation, Shaolei squeezed my hand. It was very encouraging to me. He has never done that at all. After a while it was time to go. As I stood to walk out of their home, both of them took my hand. This time it was their idea which is rather uncommon here especially with a foreigner. We all three walked hand in hand along
the road and down the hill to our car. At the bottom of the hill, I walked to Shaolei to say good bye until next time. As I reached out, he easily accepted my hug. I was touched by his affection. As I reached Shaoyan, she also reached out to hug me. During the hug, her head was next to mine; 
she softly said “I love you”. Now I was having a problem. I became so choked up, I was unable to speak. I tried to tell her that I love her too, but I’m not sure if any words actually came out. I turned with a tear in my eye and got into the car to leave. As we drove off, 
both of them were standing there waving to us. I tried to not let them see my tears (that macho man thing) but not sure how successful I was. My next visit I have to bring Shaolei a basketball. He told me that was his favorite sport.
A few weeks ago I made another trip to the mountains outside of Xinmi. I went there to see the Feng family, Shaolei and Shaoyan and their grandfather. I had not been to see them for a few months and missed them very much. I always like to bring a few things for the family so I went a little shopping first. I picked up a big bag of rice for them. I know it’s pretty basic, but I thought a 25kg bag would give them some reasonable food for a month or two. While I was there I got a bag of flour so they can make their own noodles, dumplings and other food as needed. I saw a store selling dry noodles, so I bought a pretty big bag of that too. The dry types of food would keep longer without refrigeration. I know that the food is but a small token of their needs, so I gave the boy and girl an envelope with 100 rmb each and the grandfather an envelope with 500 rmb so he could get things the family needs. I also picked a big gift box of moon cakes for the family to share, a big red and gold colored box. This was a special day. It was Mid-Autumn Festival, a pretty big holiday here in China. It’s a day where everyone is supposed to eat moon cakes to celebrate the harvest moon, the brightest full moon of the year. It is celebrated similar to our American Thanksgiving, and day of joy, abundance and of family.
When we arrived at the base of the road leading to their home, they heard us coming. Shaoyan was the first to appear. I saw her turn the corner at top of the hill, make eye contact with me and gave the biggest smile. As she walked quickly down the hill towards us, that smile never left her face. It was beautiful. I looked up behind her, and here comes her brother Shaolei and grandfather. Grandfather had a big smile too, and as I looked at Shaolei, I thought I saw a faint smile on his face too. Shaolei stopped smiling almost a year before I met them when his father died. I have been trying 1.5 years to get him to smile. We exchanged greetings and hugs, grabbed a few of the items and started up the final hill. Inside their home, we sat and talked a while.
I sat on the edge of the bed with Shaolei on my left and Shaoyan on my right. Shaoyan has improved her English very much. She and I can talk somewhat unaided. Shaolei is learning more English but still needs some help. Their Headmaster from their middle school is there with me. He helps greatly by watching them both at school and encouraging them to study harder. He said that Shaoyan is doing well but Shaolei is a boy, a bit younger, 
and wants to play too much. I spoke with him through an interpreter and got him to commit to work harder at school. I told them my plan is to assist them to go to a university when the time comes, but they have to study very hard and pass the college entrance exam first. If they do, I may be able to get them into Henan Agricultural University where I now work. That would be “my” dream.As I talked with them both, I was holding their hands. At two points in our conversation, Shaolei squeezed my hand. It was very encouraging to me. He has never done that at all. After a while it was time to go. As I stood to walk out of their home, both of them took my hand. This time it was their idea which is rather uncommon here especially with a foreigner. We all three walked hand in hand along
the road and down the hill to our car. At the bottom of the hill, I walked to Shaolei to say good bye until next time. As I reached out, he easily accepted my hug. I was touched by his affection. As I reached Shaoyan, she also reached out to hug me. During the hug, her head was next to mine; 
she softly said “I love you”. Now I was having a problem. I became so choked up, I was unable to speak. I tried to tell her that I love her too, but I’m not sure if any words actually came out. I turned with a tear in my eye and got into the car to leave. As we drove off, 
both of them were standing there waving to us. I tried to not let them see my tears (that macho man thing) but not sure how successful I was. My next visit I have to bring Shaolei a basketball. He told me that was his favorite sport. Click on link here to go to next page:
2 comments:
Sir, I was one of your former student,the first time read your blog carefully! Though I have learn English for a long time, I still can't read English as fast as my native language.
It's so kind of you, God bless you!
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