Wednesday, August 1, 2001

From: Meg Thomsen meginchina@yahoo.com
Subject: You are a hottie.

Hello Folks!

Deyang is still beautiful, China is still hot as all get-out, and I'm really enjoying life here. I'm starting to get used to Deyang, and Deyang is starting to get used to me. When I walk down the street, the stares and whispers of "laowai (foreigner)" have turned to "Ni hao, Tang Mali!" It's a really nice feeling.

Word travels fast in Deyang. Yesterday, three of us took a taxi home, and the taxi driver gave us the wrong change. So I was arguing with the driver to get the right change, and finally got it. My host mom came home about 10 minutes later and said, "Mali, did you just ride home in a taxi, and get the wrong change?" I said, "Yes, how did you know?" It turns out that she was riding home in a taxi and the taxi drivers were all on the radio talking about it. So Qin Xiaonu takes the radio away from the driver and started talking to them about it! My goodness...

Weipo, my new Chinese grandmother and Dong Shuang, a new cousin, have come to stay. It's nice having the house filled with laughter. I go to bed a little earlier than they, and I love falling asleep on my bamboo mat to all of the sounds- laughter and the pouring rain that makes the city green for the morning. It's a nice way to fall asleep.

Teaching is going well. Each day, I am astounded at my students. I taught them about land use and gave them a fictional pond. Then I divided them into four groups: cement factory owners, tiger preserve advocates, peasants and homeowners and made them decide how to use the land for everyone with little environmental impact. Their ideas were great. There's nothing that makes me feel better about the future of the environment than teaching.

They're all interested in learning English, and get a big kick out of learning slang. I taught several kids, "You are a player," and "You go, girl". I even taught my host mom to say, "You are a hottie" and now she says it to Brian, the only male trainee, all the time!

Hope all is well with you. I love hearing all of your news. Since I've been gone, people have come from the past, fallen in love, conceived babies, given birth, acquired dogs... It makes me sad that I'm not there with you, but happy that I can share in your life at least in a small way.

Miss you all, and hope that all is well.

Love, Meg

PS I went on a Chinese roller coaster recently called the "Crazy Mouse". If you ever get the chance, don't ever ride one. It's not a good idea!