The China Experience

Life has been a flurry of activity lately. As I get ready for Mum and Dad coming to visit, cleaning, rearranging and making it all comfortable, I know that (as it must be for everyone that visits real China) it will be a life changing experience for them. My Mum has of course visited before(during my first year here) so she is prepared somewhat for China (if that is at all possible :-) Dad on the other hand will experience a way of life like he has never seen before. The food, the people, the lifestyle all drastically different. It all hits you when you land ((we're not in Kansas anymore Toto :-) The language barrier instantly becomes a problem as you try and find your way around Guangzhou airport which has a serious lack of any English signage, try and find something resembling a cup of coffee and a sandwich and then try and actually order it....then find your way to your small Chinese connecting flight....It's definitely an adventure :-) Of course all these things just make it more amazing and character building. Once here, wondering around and observing life in a Yangtze river city is never dull and being able to show my parents some Chinese customs and pastimes and many new experiences will be so much fun.
China throws me challenges day after day after day. It has made me stronger and given me confidence by sometimes making me feel very weak and vulnerable. I hate it and I love it at the same time.
I recommend it to anyone and everyone who really wants to see and experience a whole different world to the one in which they have grown accustomed to.

gorgeous weather

Just took a ferry across the Yangtze river (behind my apartment) to Bingjiang park which runs along the city side of the river. Packed Ham and Cheese sandwiches, drink, Pringles and Moli's lunch. We've just returned from a lazy couple of hours laying on the grass, under the trees looking at (amazingly) blue skies with the fresh cool breeze blowing across the Yangtze. About 25 C here today...Absolutely beautiful!

Traditional Chinese Song

Here is a link to a beautiful version of the Chinese song that my little dog Moli is named after.
Enjoy!

and here's what it all means
Lyric:
Traditional Chinese                 Simplified Chinese
好一朵美麗的茉莉花                 好一朵美丽的茉莉花
好一朵美麗的茉莉花                 好一朵美丽的茉莉花
芬芳美麗滿枝椏                         芬芳美丽满枝桠
又香又白人人誇                         又香又白人人夸
讓我來將你摘下                         让我来将你摘下
送給別人家                                 送给别人家
茉莉花呀茉莉花                         茉莉花呀茉莉花

Hanyu Pinyin
Hǎo yī duǒ měi lì de mò li huā
Hǎo yī duǒ měi lì de mò li huā
Fēn fāng měi lì mǎn zhī yā
Yòu xiāng yòu bái rén rén kuā
Ràng wǒ lái jiāng nǐ zhāi xià
Sòng gěi biě rén jiā
Mò li huā yā mò li huā
Literal Translation                                                       
What a beautiful jasmine flower 
What a beautiful jasmine flower   
Sweet-smelling, beautiful, stems full of buds 
Fragrant and white, everyone praises
Let me pluck you down
Give to someone  
Jasmine flower, oh jasmine flower

Figurative Translation

Flower of jasmine, so fair!
Flower of jasmine, so fair!
Budding and blooming here and there,
Pure and fragrant all declare.
Let me take you with tender care,
Your sweetness for all to share.
Jasmine fair, oh jasmine fair.