I met Jenny very first and she introduced me to her husband, Leo Yang and her 8 year-old girl, Angel in the English she knew. I couldn’t help but think to myself that they appeared to be the cutest little Chinese family I had ever seen. Although the husband only knows a few words in English, I could immediately tell he was a really kind and a humorous guy. Angel is extremely shy but knows a little bit of English. I decided that they know the perfect amount of English. They knew just enough English so that I can practice my Chinese with them and we can still clarify and not have too many misunderstandings.Jenny made me and two of my roommates breakfast! They call it (zhou) but the best way I can describe it is rice soup. They also had fried eggs and steamed buns. It was so yummy and we really got to practice our Chinese with them. One thing that I am still laughing about (and I am sure our new Chinese friends are still laughing as well) is when they asked us a question. For some reason all of us thought how did you come to China. In the moment we were all too excited that we knew the word and we didn’t think of how strange the question was. All three of us said Fei Ji in unison and made hand actions for a plane. The old woman and the two parents started laughing as politely as possible but we knew that we misunderstood them. All morning at random times the old woman would start chuckling softly and mumble “fei ji” with a small smirk and a shake in her head. Later on Jenny asked us in English how we get to school everyday. I hope that wasn’t the question she was asking before. We definitely don’t get to school everyday by plane. I can see why that would make the old woman laugh.
After breakfast, we sat down with the Tv on. It was set to a basketball game. This wasn’t surprising at all considering the fact that everyone in China loves basketball. After only a moment we realized it was the Jazz vs. Laker game! We were seriously watching the JAZZ game! Annie looked at her watch and calculated what the time would be in Utah. Sure enough it was perfect timing for when the Jazz game would be playing. We couldn’t help but wonder if we were watching it the same time as everyone at home! The dad, Leo Yang, LOVES basketball. He tried to tell us in English and it was the funniest thing. He said, “Wo… Wo, LOVE this game!” as he pointed to the tv screen.
My Chinese Parents are wonderful. We just named Leo Yang and he loves his new English name. His new name is Brian. I laughed so hard when we first told him. We had a few other suggestions and it was obvious that he didn’t like the others too much. When we mentioned Brian, his eyes got a little bigger and he turned his head upward as if he had just received personal revelation and then he said “brian…” in an enchanted voice. Then he turned to us and said “like Coby in NBA”. That made us both laugh when we realized the connection he was making was to Coby O’Bryant, the basketball player. He really does LOVE basketball. After we explained the difference between O’Bryant and Brian and gave him the option of a name he smiled and said, “okay, okay, I like Brian.” It made me happy to know that we found a name that he was so honored to have. He really is a jokester and I love it. 
Jenny's friend just got married so she invited Kristy and I to go to the wedding. It was really interesting. Very different from any weddings I have been to. One crazy thing, we were offered wine while we were there. Real wine… That has never happened to me before. I am pleased at how easy it was to turn down. Even with lots of questions on Jenny’s part I felt good about saying no. Thank you to my AMAZING parents at home for teaching me well at a young age. The first time we met they offered us tea and were a little surprised when we told them that we don’t drink tea. It just goes to show how sweet Jenny is because when the waiter’s came around to our table in the beginning and immediately Jenny told them to bring us Cola instead of tea. Then later on they came around with little glasses of Wine and asked us if we wanted some. Thank goodness I new the Chinese word for wine. I told Jenny that we didn’t want to drink it but thank you anyway. She respected that answer and then a few moments later turned to me and asked if she could ask me a question. Then she said, “How old are you?” When I told her I was 19 her face became confused and she said, “So, you are old enough to drink wine.” I thought it was very interesting that she should think that would be my only reason. Then her eyes got big and she said, “Ah, you don’t like it.” That made me kind of chuckle, and then I responded gently, “I have actually never tried it. I just don’t want to try it.” She nodded silently as if she was starting to understand. Later on that night someone invited everyone to stand and make a ‘cheers’. I was impressed to notice that Jenny, instead of grabbing her wine glass chose her cola cup like Kristy and I. She is so kind and considerate. She really must wonder what kind of 19 year olds are serving in China and don’t drink tea or wine.
I am happy to have their chinese family name in my name! :) They told me that they are trying to get Visas to visit America. I really hope they can and I would love treating them around to all my favorite places. They are a very sweet family.
Just a few days ago Jenny came and picked Kristy and I up from our apartment and brought us over to her house. Angel was upstairs and Brian had to take care of his mom (the old woman on the far left), so Kristy and I sat and talked with Jenny for a few hours. It was so much fun talking to her because the conversation was in Chinese half the time and in English half the time. So we really got to practice our Chinese and I learned so much. She took us shopping for food and then we went back to her house and she taught us how to cook a bunch of Chinese food. I love spending time with their family cause they make us speak Chinese the majority of the time. I am going to improve a bunch in the next two months solely because of them.
Brian is so hilarious. I love his facial expressions in reaction to everything. It is nice that he is so big in his actions because he doesn’t speak very much English at all. I think he is impressed and pleased by how much I know because he talks a lot to me and always gets the happiest looks on his face when we understand each other.
They discovered how much I love Martial Arts and so Jenny offered to teach us Tai Chi. I wonder if Brian has ever studied Martial Arts because he got really interested when I said that I could do it. I told him I have studied Changquan and I think he was surprised I knew the Chinese word for it. Jenny taught us a few steps for Tai Chi and I think I caught on really quickly. I feel as though my form was good enough and they could tell I have done Kung Fu before.
Tiann and I on a bridge looking over the Li River. You can see three bamboo boats on the river and the beautiful mountains behind us.
This old women was selling little sandals that she made. We bought some from her to wear in the mud caves and I couldn't resist getting a picture of her.
