We went to the Waterfront pool!!

After we went to the fellowship and had lunch, we decided to try out the pool before we left Chengdu for the summer. It has not been open very much, but today it was open. We were the only people that spoke English and a little boy kept coming up to Chris speaking Chinese. Chris kept telling him he didn't speak very much Chinese, but the boy kept talking to him. The girls had fun anyway. We played house with the big rocks. The pool is very shallow so that makes it safe for the girls. The girls could touch the bottom through out the whole pool. We still missed our friends and the pool from home, but it was a good alternative. Attached our a pick of the girls in the pool and you can go to photo gallery to see more photos it is under the fellowship and Waterfront pool.

We are Blessed!!

Today, we were able to go to the Fellowship. We didn't have our driver so, we opted to take a taxi and it was quite an experience!! Rylan kept going Whoa!! and Yeah on all the turns. We made it safely to church. Attached is what the fellowship looks like. I posted some more pictures on our photo gallery. The place is pretty run down. A lot of it is due to the earthquake, but we are very fortunate to have a place to worship at all. Before this, people were meeting in homes. Now people can meet as a community. As we sang songs, I was reminded of how fortunate we were to even have this place where we can go and worship in freedom. During the music, the leader requested people to shout out words/phrases that reminded them of "G". It was awesome to hear all the different accents literally around the world. All Chinese people can only go to a government rule church or go underground. I am grateful to have this freedom and it saddens me to know that other people are not given the same opportunity. In fact one of the girls that is working for a company that helping us out shared with me the other day that she had never heard of "G" until she got to college. Someone from the states had shared with her and the she walks the road now. I also realized how truly blessed we are back in the states. So many times, people complain about a lesson or are not happy with the music, or who lead VBS, etc..when really they should be counting their blessings for even having the opportunity to learn more about "G" in freedom. We are very blessed!!

We went to the Panda Reserve

Saturday, we decided to head to the Panda Reserve with our driver, Mr. Long. It was very hot!! As a result of the heat, most of the pandas were inside their air conditioned cage. It was still fun and we were able to take some pictures. Attached is a picture of the girls in front a big panda poster. After we saw the red panda and all the other pandas, we decided to stop for some food at the restaurant inside the reserve and we were sure glad we did. The girls loved the stirred fried vegetables (we think they were the tops to sweet potatoes) and we had cashew chicken with white meat. It was delicious and probably the highlight of our time at the reserve. Avery has now gotten the hang of eating with chopsticks and they are both acquiring a taste for the tea once it cools down. You can see our pictures of our excursion on our photo gallery. We then finished our day at Jin Li Street with some coffee for Chris and fruit slushes for girls and I. All and all it was a good day. Hopefully tomorrow we can go to the fellowship, but Mr. Long said he had to go somewhere. So we might try a taxi..we will see!! Mr. Long hasn't had a day off since he started working for us so it was good to give him time off.

We have a helper and I bought plates with my driver

We decided to hire our helper that we tried out. She seems to be a fairly good cleaner, but I think I might have to give a little more pointers on cleaning. She comes 3 times a week for now and cleans the house. Most people hire them everyday, but that seems too much to me. The house really needs to be cleaned almost everyday because this place in China acquires alot of dirt. We also said we might be interested in having her cook for us, especially Chris while I am gone. She said she would. Wednesday I tried to take her shopping and the first place she took me to was to buy some Chinese bowls and serving dishes. I told I wanted to wait. Of course she didn't understand so I finally called someone to help translate. Trying to pick out food was another difficult task. I had a sichuan menu in English and Chinese and pointed to items. It didn't go so well. Finally she starting bringing vegetables and some meat and I would nod my head yes or no. We left there with a bunch of food,but I was pretty tired from the whole experience. We decided to have her cook for us on Friday. She cleaned and cooked the meal while our driver, Mr. Long and I headed out to find some plates. Chris's boss's wife offered to watch the girls at the hotel. They had a blast!!! Mr. Long and I found 8 plates, 8 bowls, 8 spoons, and 3 serving bowls and got it all for 16 dollars. He took me to a street that sold nothing but dishware. That night, Sho Jia (our helper) made us stir fried tomato and egg, broccoli, chicken and celery, and cabbage soup. It was all good. I think Chris has decided to have her cook for him while we are away. Hopefully it will continue to workout. Attached is a picture of Mr. Long helping finding plates.

We finally had some Fellowship on Sunday!!!

Yesterday, we finally had an opportunity to go to The International Fellowship for worship. It is much different than our place at home, but it was nice to sing songs and everyone spoke in English. Everytime we go, we must bring our passports to get in to show we are foreigners. The government will not allow chinese people to come. We met on the third floor behind a shopping store. It was lead all by volunteer staff. There was all types of people, Koreans, Europeans, Americans, and much more. We saw some teachers that we met when we came the first time that went to the CDIS school and also met some people who knew a mutual person in college. We are participated in the same group. I didn't get to hear much of the sermon since Rylan wanted to go play in the kids room after we worshipped. Avery was excited to go at first, but then was ready to leave once it did not reach her expectations of where went at home. I hope it will change once she gets to meet people. It will be an adjustment, but I think we can do it. Life here is so different. I ask our father to help us everyday!!

We went to the Haung Long River (Yellow Dragon River)

Today our driver took us to the Huang Long River. This place is about an hour away in ancient city where they now have a ton of markets and Chinese foods. They also had several temples there but we decided not to go in. It was very hot and the we were swarmed again with people wanting to take pictures as well as sell us things. When we first came in, they gave us necklaces with flowers around them and then put flower/fern wreaths on our head. We kept saying no, but our driver bought one and gave it to me. I felt obligated to wear it. Here is a picture of us in front of the Yellow Dragon River. I have enclosed more pictures in the photo gallery, please feel free to come explore where we have been. While we were there, we also saw some Chinese boats and the girls immediately wanted to take a ride. We asked our driver how long it would be and he told us about 20 minutes. He knows a little English, but we thought we would be okay. He opted to stay behind and we went on our way. The girls seemed excited. About 15 minutes into the ride, Rylan decided she had to go potty and of course there was no where to go on the boat. We thought we would turn around soon, however we ended stopping at another place on the river that was very poor. The captain of the boat said in chinese to get off. Chris tried to ask in chinese (the best he could)when the boat was headed back. The man pointed to the sign that had a bunch of words in chinese and then had 16:00 and 16:40 on the sign. Well that met the boat was not headed back til 4:00 pm and it had just made 12. We were not very happy. All they had there was fireworks, incense, an ancient temple, and outdoor restaurants that sold nothing but river fish and we were told to never eat the river fish. I felt hopeless and at this time, Rylan really had to go potty. Chris and I didn't know how to say toilet in chinese, so Chris with is great art skills drew a picture of a toilet and asked where one was. A lady showed us and I wish she had not so we could have gone in the woods. It was the most disgusting squatty potty or any such bathroom in my life. Just writing about it makes me want to vomit. Once we went to the bathroom, we thought we heard a boat motor off in the distance. We had walked about 10 minutes up the road. When we heard it, we started to walk fast and we were determined to get back. I told Chris to run ahead to see if we could ride the boat. He did and we made it back to our driver. It was an eventful day!!

The trip to the park with Daddy

Today while I was cooking, Chris and the girls went to the park inside our apartment and seemed to have fun. They even went out exploring a bit. I have put some pictures of them on our photo gallery so you can seem them. They even went across the street to walk along the river. Tomorrow we hope to go to this one place called the Yellow dragon river. It is about an hour away. Also we found out we get our furniture July 23!! Can you believe the day before we leave. Hopefully I can change it!!

We may have an Ayi (maid)!!

Today, we decided to hang low at apartment and I met with I-Leen who is from America but speaks chinese. We met I-Leen when she installed some air purifiers in our house. She had mentioned she had an ayi (maid) that she was training and wanting me to talk to her. The woman is very young and speaks no English, but is very nice. It turns out she is from the area that was hit by the earthquake and came here for a better life. She told me her family was all okay and that she is staying with a group of girls in a place here in Chengdu. The American friend, I-Leen said she wanted to help and that is why she is training her. Of course, I felt compelled to help her as well. She will start Monday!! I am not sure what I will do with her since I don't speak chinese but thought I will have her shadow me on how to clean and then give her the opportunity for me to watch her. I will give her a bike for transportation. She also said she could do some cooking. My friend, I-Leen said she has a chinese menu written in chinese and english that we could look at and try. It might be fun for her to cook for us twice a week. I-Leen has her ayi everyday and she cooks for her everyday as well as cleans. I can't imagine having someone at my house everyday. i told I-Leen it will be a new experience for me as I learn to have someone else do something. Please pray it will work out for us. I will have a short time to see.

Last day of hotel life, first day living in apartment!

Yesterday was the last day of living in the hotel. We packed up our bags and had our last gourmet breakfast. Here is a picture of the girls up on the 36 floor where we had breakfast everyday. In clover photo gallery I posted more pictures of our hotel and where we had breakfast and dinner appetizers everyday as well as pictures of our room. I though I should take some so I can remind the girls of living like Eloise for a month in a hotel. So we left the hotel and went to the apartment. Everything seemed good until I realized we had no water. I contacted a person and they said they were working on the pipes so we didn't have any water for 3 hours. Not such a good start, but it worked out. I then decided to make homemade spaghetti for dinner!! It turned out good, just took a long time because I had to peel and cut everything then soak it in clean water from the water dispenser and vinegar and then rinse it again with clean water. It much longer than normal but it was a success. Avery said it was very good and had 2 helpings!! I think she missed some of mommy's cooking or at least food that is more like the west!! The girls were very excited to take baths and sleep in their new bunk beds!! I still just have a fitted sheet with no bedding but I guess that is okay since we will leave in less than two weeks.

We have a DRIVER!!! and went to a new store

Yesterday was an eventful day!! We finally got a driver. At first I was a little upset because I heard he did not speak any English. I thought that was suppose to be guaranteed, but I am finding out nothing is for sure in China. However, when I met him I found him to have a nice temperant and he knows a little English. He is probably in his early 40s and has an eleven year old daughter. He likes to listen to Michael Bolton and Whitney Houston in the car. I am not sure if he put it on for us or if he really likes it. He is very nice and is teaching us some chinese. He told Chris that we can teach him English and he will teach us Chinese. He won't be able to translate for us when we go places, but he is really nice.

Yesterday, we also ventured to a store called Metro. It is like a Sams or Costco, but even bigger. Apparently people you have to have a card to get in and it is only offered to those with a working visa. I don't have a card so Rose(my latin friend) took the girls and I. It was quite an experience. They had almost everything. Still no cream can soup or sour cream, or shredded cheese, but most everthing else. I even found chicken breast and ground beef from Austraila!! I spent so much money I had to borrow some. (I ran out of cash..everything is in cash). It makes it hard because you have no idea how much everything cost. After today, I felt like maybe I could make it here. I still cannot find any lunch meat and if I do I only find ham. I guess the girls will adjust. They also sell lots of lamb here and other food to sell like toads, octupus, cow tongue, and all other body parts of a cow. I guess I will have to try the lamb. Not sure about everything else. Tommorrow, we move into our apartment.

Meeting another new friend and 4th of July party

Today, I met with a friend of a friend from the states that lives here in Chengdu with her husband and 2 small children. Her husband and her do work for the same father as we both have. Anyway, it was really fun to meet with her and her family. She is Taiwan so can also speak very good Chinese and grew up in the states. Her family lives in a complex that has alot of the people who do what she does and said they are all fairly young. I hope it will be a contact to find some fellowship here. She also gave a contact of a person who delivers milk and homemade tortillas so hopefully we can buy some things that feel like home.
This afternoon, everyone at Chevron got off work at noon and we had a party at a Irish pub in the hotel we are staying at. We had burgers and even shot off paper fireworks. The girls loved it. They were the only kids there!! Avery and Rylan seem to be doing well still, but I know they miss their friends. I am thankful that they have each other to play with. We hope to move into our apartment next week. Please continue to lift us up.

Our trip to the store with our new Latin American friend

Yesterday, the girls and I met with a woman whose husband works for Chevron. She is 31 years old and is 13 weeks pregnant with her first child. She wanted to take me to a new baby shop. The store was fairly nice and pretty expensive. She will have to get her crib here and I found them to be very little and their mattress pad to be very thin. I am glad that I will be able to bring mine from the states. They seem to love clothes with mickey mouse and winnie the pooh because that is all I seem to see. They also had clothes from Europe and seemed to be expensive and again not my taste. I think I will buy my clothes from the states and bring them back. It also doesn't seem like you can bargain here as much unless you are at the markets. All clothes that look western are very expensive.
We then went to a Japanese store that had everything, from bathroom items to food to a McDonalds. The girls had chicken nuggets and fries and loved it. No hamburgers here as well as no free refills! They also had a play area and Avery and Rylan loved it. Chinese people love to swarm the girls. They are constantly having people swarm them with cameras and camera phones. They especially love Rylan and say in English what a cute baby. She yells back to them "I am not a Baby". We try to talk about politeness, but it is hard for her to understand.
Lastly, I had mentioned to Rose that I wanted to buy some dvds. She took us to a street called Computer street where they have nothing but electronics. We went up three stories and then a young man saw and asked us if we wanted to buy some DVDs. we said yes and he said follow me, so went down 4 stories and then into a basement with cars and then into a secret room where he did a secret knock. They had ton of movies and some recent ones as well. The girls were in heaven and the best part is there were only 10 yen a piece. That is 70 cents in the USA. It was exciting but I am not sure if we will do it again.
All in all it was fun to have a outing with a new friend and to have conservation about our life here in Chengdu. I think we will have a lot in common with Rose and she is really nice.

My first adventure to the grocery store in Chengdu

Chris and I have done a little of grocery shopping before today and we have spent what feels like a lifetime at Ikea. I never knew how hard it would be to buy things when you can't speak the language. There has been a lot miscommunication, but that is for another story. Anyway, today the girls and I were able to borrow a driver from 10:00 am- 2:00 pm, but we had to go to Ikea and then try the newest grocery store called Auchan. After 2 hours at Ikea returning and trying to get things resolved, we ventured to Auchan. There stores are really big and have different stories for different items. They are like super-walmarts, but with chinese things. The first thing that made it hard was I had to use to grocery carts, one for the girls and one to buy things. I started in the cleaning supplies and detergent area. Laundry detergent was easy because they sell what looks like Tide, but looking for other things like dish washing liquid and powder was much different. After trying to ask someone, and spending 15 minutes in that aisle I think I got it. I guess I will see when I try to wash the dishes. The other thing that was hard is that even if I want to buy some food to make all the directions are in chinese. I didn't know what meat to buy because everything is in chinese and it might say beef but from what part of the body. They had vegetables there but I couldn't find carrots and cucumber. It was a difficult day. So today I left with cleaning supplies, hangers, cd player for the girls, some bread and what looks like roman noodles. I was also able to get garlic oil, ketchup, and I think mayonaise. No mustard or virgin olive oil here. I am told I will have to go to 5 different stores to find all the western food I may like. My life will be like the grocery game, but no deals here, just the game of surviving in a foreign land. I am sure it will get better once we get a driver and find someone to take me shopping that knows chinese. I am already thinking of the things I miss back in the states.