I promised to tell you about the students,but forgot.

Gosh,I did not realize how long it has been since I posted the last blog.

Sandra Lee computer went down and I thought I wrote a blog on the computer in the student center,but it probably did not go through.

The three weeks in China went fast. I loved talking with the students. Every meal I went there so I could converse with the students. They were prohibited from speaking Chinese. "English Only" signs were everywhere. Because of this policy many students who had graduated from Chinese universities had come to Gateway Language School. One such student said that she majored in English and was able to pass all her exams,but felt she was not able to communicate well enough in English.

The range of student ages were from 17 to 40. Many had graduated from universities in business administration,engineering,human resource,import export,etc. and already had been working in their respective fields. At the table we frequently discussed Asian and Western styles of thinking and doing things.

Besides learning grammer frequently they read the words of popular western songs and sang them to improve their pronounciation. They watched Western movies.

I learned much about what Chinese students thought about. I quit eating every meal in the dining room because I was eating too much. I love eating and enjoy Chinese food. However, I continued to sit with them at almost every meal. Many attended my hula and Qi Gong sessions at night. They were very impressed that at 77 years old I could travel alone around the world. They were also impressed that I could play ping pong at my age and do line dancing with them.

When not with the students Sandra saw to it that I had a chance to see the beautiful West Lake area and enjoy relaxing in some of their lovely Tea houses and Chinese foods I had never tasted before. I was very surprised when we ate in a small restaurant which served food from Northern China. Not only was the food very different featuring lamb and bread like in Kyrgyzstan and Pakistan but some of the customers and the owner looked more European and less Asian looking.

One day we went on a boatride down the canal. The canal was started in early A.D. by one of the Emperors. It runs from Beijing and ends at Hanghou. We went under many old and beautifully built bridges. The canal was lined with willow trees. Their lacy light new green leaves hanging gracefully down near the edge and looked so beautiful.

I also experienced Chinese foot massage not just once but several times. They first soak your feet in warm water and give you a shoulder massage before working on your legs and feet. Wow!!! after one of those you can sleep like a log.

I also did a lot of walking around to see the old places and the new developing areas. There seem to be constant construction not only near where the school is located but just everywhere. The streams and waterways appear highly polluted. I saw people washing vegetables in these polluted water. Ugh!!!

Although Sandra is paid only 600 in Chinese money she no longer worries about it. She is able to get along quite well. Lodging and food is provided and costs of living is so much less that she is able to save enough to travel all over China.

Here in China at Gateway Language School Sandra Lee has found a family. Having white hair and given the respect afforded to the elderly according to their standards she commands respect from the younger Chinese on the staff. They watch out for her and take good care of her. She is also able to visit her family in Hawaii and US almost every year. She just completed her first book of her 7 years in China. It is being published now. She hopes to write a second one. She loves living in China. She finds it unpredictable and very exciting.