7 & Kevin

Wow, it has been a bit of a whirlwind getting to know our two new students. It is quite a different experience having 16-year-old Chinese youths in our home, as compared to Japanese college students.

The process of picking up our students was a cumbersome one. These poor kids had to endure a 13 hour flight and then a 7 hour drive from Los Angeles. Combine that with a flat tire and several stops, they were traveling for over 24 hours. But, in the end, each of us American host families was able to emerge from the UCD campus with at least one Chinese student in tow.

On the way to the car I asked our two new housemates their names. They offered their Chinese names first, which were surprisingly hard to pronounce. They then said that they had English names. Hallelujah! The first said his name was Kevin. Great! The next said his name was 'Seven.' What? I inquired. He responded by saying "One, two, three, four, five, six, SEVEN! My name is Seven!" He said that he didn't like the first name his teacher gave him, which was Andy, so he just chose this name. Yes, I thought, I am going to like these boys.

They are so enthusiastic and inquisitive. After we got back to the house, I took them with me to pick up some Rico's Pizza (which was Seven's first time eating pizza), and Seven asked where all the policemen were. Interesting. Later, when driving by a park, Seven asked if it was free. Interesting. During dinner (it was hilarious watching them eat pizza), Kevin pulled out his electronic translator, typed something up, then turned the screen to me, asking, "Do you have this?" The screen read: guns.

They were thrilled when I said yes, and even more thrilled when I mentioned my dad's collection. According to them, Chinese citizens aren't allowed guns (though both the boys are avid fans of gun-based computer and video games). They were shocked that we could go to stores to by them. We may take them to a shooting range while they are here.

Some interesting notes: they have never had tuna or peanut butter. They were amazed by my lawnmower (they live, like most every other Chinese citizen, in tall apartment buildings). They use Windows XP on their computers at home. They were very nervous about prayer, and asked that we show them how to do it (before meals). They are very focused on the salty or sweet nature of food. The vast majority of Chinese families have only one child, and those children (at least those involved in our program) live at their schools. They have seen nearly every movie that we own and they about know Kelly Clarkson.

I'll tell you what. If all of China is populated with kids like this, who are inquisitive, energetic, good-natured, and eager, then there is hope for that country.

At the Tide Pools

One of my favorite things to do at the beach is visit the tide pools. Bringing the twins along makes it extra fun, because every shell, rock, crab, and seastar I point out to them is brand new and worthy of oohs and ahhs.

Kate and Genna are little stompers. Despite the cold (look at their hats), they were in sandals and eager to jump into every puddle and pool. Like father like daughters.

New Guests

Today I will be going to UCD to pick up our two newest guests. We will be having two 16-year-old young men from China staying with us for the next two weeks.

Both hail from the Sichuan province of China, which is one of the most affluent and developed of that country. It is bordered on the west by the Himalaya, but it is most known for the Yangtze river that flows through the middle of it (Sichuan is a very large valley). From what I can find out online, our two students will be of Han stock, and will be speaking Mandarin.

Here are two brief bios:

Jinqi Yin: Hobbies: "Playing badminton, playing computer games, reading books."

Cool. He sounds like a pretty normal teenager. We can accommodate that.

Jinglun Li: Hobbies: "Go fishing, observing and catching living beings."

Hmmm. Something is lost in translation here. Are we going to have a teenage youth stalking our children with nets, bear traps, and blowguns? There isn't much fishing here unless he wants to drop his line in one of the nearby irrigation ditches. But there are a lot of animals for him to 'observe and catch.' We just need to clarify how broadly he intends to interpret the term 'live beings.'

Now, there are a few complications that I foresee. They come from a communist country, and for both of them this is their first time in the U.S.A. I wonder how the culture shock will be, given Annie and I's rampant consumerism. Second, I wonder how they will take our religious lifestyle (prayer, church, etc.).

My first thought was to make them feel at home. I was going get my hands on a few posters of Mao Zedong and some Chinese copies of the Communist Manifesto and place them in conspicuous parts of our house. But that didn't sit right. So, instead, I am going to hang pictures of Bill Gates and Donald Trump, and on each of their nightstands they will find copies of Adam Smith's The Wealth of Nations. That should help a lot. We'll be wonderful ambassadors.

Can anyone offer some advice on how best to make our new housemates feel at home? I can't let them on our computer, because they are most likely government-trained hackers who will use our internet access to mine NSA databases. Also, I feel compelled to ask them about the Chinese gal who faked having 5 babies in her womb. I'll hold them accountable for her lies. We are going to have bonafide commies in our house ... don't tell the Department of Homeland Security.

A Disturbing Song

Just prior to dinner the girls were pretty riled up. Genna grabbed the nearest stick/wand and began dancing, choreographing her own moves on the fly.

Not just dancing, but to song as well. In Disney's Aladdin, the hero courts Princess Jasmine by taking her on a magic carpet ride. During the ride he sings her a song, "I can show you the world ... take you wonder by wonder ..." Admittedly it is a very catchy tune. It has been the culprit of many an ear worm I have suffered from.

Genna began singing this song. "I can show you the world ... if you don't die."

WHAT?

Annie and I looked at each other. "Genna," Annie asked, "what did you say?"

"Die," Genna replied. "Die. Mommy, I said die."

Yes, she meant exactly what she said. Suddenly what had been an adorable scene turned sinister. I'm not sure if Genna is now going through some existential crisis, or some nascent antagonism towards all these princesses is now emerging. It merits close monitoring.

Kate & Horsey: A Love Story

Horsey was a gift to Kate from Auntie Chrissy a couple of years ago. The stuffed animal was a spontaneous present. Little did we know that the purchase would spawn such a touching love story.
This picture illustrates the love Kate has for the pink equine far more eloquently than words can. The two are inseparable. Only laundry time can split the two up for more than an hour at a time.

Were you able to look closer, you wood see that poor Horsey has seen better days. She is balding in several places (Rogaine is useless). She is permanently stained with the oils, foods, and dirt of the three-year-old that loves her so. One ear is pushed forward and the other back because Kate will sit for minutes at a time, rubbing the ears. She will also sit for quite a while, simply rubbing Horsey softly against her lips, kissing Horsey, and engaging in general snuggling.

We thought that this affection would wane with time. Not so; it has only strengthened. One sure fire way of getting Kate to lose all semblance of control is to misplace Horsey. This has actually provided some good leverage for us - behave or Horsey goes night-night. Works like a charm. Kate has almost replaced Horsey with other animals (in a Woody - Buzz Lightyear-style manner), but in the end, not even pink kitty or red dog can supplant her beloved Horsey.

We hope that this little animal will survive the next few years. We can't find a replacement (originally purchased at Target) and she will only become rattier as time goes on. But then, love is eternal, is it not?

Fourth of July

We are a patriotic family. Even while at Dillon Beach we all made arrangements for Fourth of July celebrations. This included an ambitious parade, red-white-and-blue cookie making, fireworks (utterly frightening for the girls), and dresses and crowns (for the girls at least).

Here are the girls demonstrating their love of country and showing off for the camera. Does it get much more all-American? Does it get much cuter? Check out Julia's hair; Annie did it up in 'fireworks fashion' using a lot of hair twisties. Her nieces and sisters were similarly done up.

Had to Pass This One Along

Gotta love Dilbert ...

We're Not Dead

No, not dead. On vacation. We just got back from the longest vacation we have ever taken as a family (or a couple for that matter). We had a blast at Dillon Beach.

I am still processing the 130+ pictures we took (be prepared!), but I wanted to recommend a book. During the trip I read America: The Last Best Hope, Volume 1. This book by Bill Bennett covers U.S. history from Columbus until the beginning of World War I. It is one of the best histories I have ever read of the U.S. It is Pro-America, which is a wonderful change, though he goes to great lengths to present an honest history.

Read it! I challenge you all!