We're on our way back to China

The picture is of an older gentleman from China who was visiting his son and daughter-in-law in Minnesota. He was a friend of our Chinese teacher, Youmei, and we met him at her home one evening. He loves, and is very accomplished, in painting Chinese calligraphy.

NEWS FLASH !

We are on our way to China again this year. Both of us had such a wonderful experience last year that we've signed up for another September-January term to the same university, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University in Xiasha, Hangzhou, China.

Before we start classes in September we are heading to Tibet. Yep - Tibet. Our close friend, Sharon Shapiro, has agreed to join us for this adventure and boy do we plan on having loads of fun and excitement. Well, we're hoping for it anyway .

If you are wondering how this all got started here is our explanation. Our dear friend, Chenchun, really was the instigator of this plan. Well, not really. She was our tour-guide in 2005 and has remained a friend of ours ever since she bedazzled us with her personality as well as with her knowledge of the English language, literature and music. Since our trip with her she has taken many tourists to Tibet given that her city of Chengdu, China is a gateway to "the top of the world."

Last year we were supposed to go on this fabulous trip with Chenchun but due to illness we couldn't make it and we came home earlier than expected. Well, then we decided to go back to China and said to one another, "Why couldn't Chenchun arrange a trip to Tibet and join us this year?"

Alas, she couldn't join us but being the wonderful person she is, she has taken it upon herself to arrange everything for us . Our trip to Tibet will last 10 days and we look forward to posting many of the pictures from that trip here.

This first entry into this blog is just a precursor to what's to come. Hope you join us for this year's adventure. There is a lot to come and hope you stick around for it all.

Cindy & Michael