Home in America Again

 

We were met by our oldest son and three of his five children (lower left) as we arrived back in Utah Saturday night (16 June). We will miss many of the common people we might otherwise take for granted like our faithful taxi driver, Mr Zhang (upper left), our favorite fruitshop owners (top center), our street sweeper (lower center) and garbage man (lower right) all of whom we frequently greeted and let know we cared about them. We will also miss special friends like one of Susan's doctor students and her family (upper right) and Kai Xu, a fellow teacher (upper right). Now we must make the adjustment back to the "life before." All that we have left will become fond memories.

Last Excursion --- A Trip to Qingdao

 

Ten of us teachers (lower right) here in Jinan took a weekend trip via fast train (upper left) to Qingdao where we were treated to dinner by the tour guide, Marvin Wu (pictured with his wife and daughter top right), of all our other tours. He lives in Qingdao. We attended the Qingdao Branch on Sunday and saw the former governor's mansion (lower left) when the city was formerly under German control as well as the acquarium complete with a performance by some "mermaids" (top center). It was a beautiful city and a very relaxing trip.

Some Wonderful People We've Met

 

We were recently invited to dinner at the home of one of the children Susan tutors. Sisi Li's mother has been friends with Ken Yu's mother for over twenty years and she is also the sister-in-law to Robin Cong who has done more for us than perhaps any other person here at the university since we came. The Li's invited the Yu's, Cong's and us to dinner at their place and we had a group picture (lower left) taken afterwards. Sisi Li and her parents (far upper left) and Ken Yu and his parents (upper left) are not happy to see us leave. A Church member from South Africa, Lulu Pilson (top center), recently started as a medical student here at Shandong University. She now joins us for our weekly Sunday meetings. Xue Chong Wei and his doctor wife, Tricia (lower right), invited us out to dinner as well. Lowell tutors Chong Wei in English occasionally. They will also be sad to see us leave. Tricia has become good friends with all the BYU English teachers here in Jinan and has assisted most of them with one medical need or another.