December 10, 2005

Hello Mom,
It looks like in the last year or two Chinese and foreign companies are trying to capitalize on the Christmas Holiday in China.   And, the Chinese (at least in Beijing are hooked on it).  In the last two weeks Christmas trees, christmas signs and decorations and English Christmas Carols and other Christmas songs have popped up in all of the major shopping malls, and even regular department stores.  Last night at Walmart Chinese people were going crazy over the different oranments, and Christmas gift displays.  Chen Meng tells me each year it is getting bigger in China, becasue the major department stores (like in the U.S.) are agressively advertising it to the Chinese consumers.  What is neat, is that (like us) they don't celebrate it for the religious aspects, but instead to spend more time with the family and to give gifts to each other.

I'll send you some pictures . . .  Also, Yang Fan and Chen Meng decorated their restaurant for Christmas, complete with Christmas tree, oranaments hanging from the ceiling, 3D Santa Clause decorations on the door, and elf outfits for their workers!  You know, Chen Meng is a graphic/other designer and she likes western culture/style alot!  

I finally got to look through the box yesterday.  Thank you for the "Christmas in a Box."  Mike will arrive from Chengdu at the end of this coming week, and then we will go get a Christmas tree and decorate it with my roommates :O) 

Please send me more pictures of the new tree, and some pictures of previous Christmas trees.  Chen Meng is very anxious to see them.

Love ya,
 Darrol 

These pictures are in Yang Fan and Chen Meng's Restaurant.  Two pictures are at WalMart (yes, I quickly whipped out my camera and took them.)

	Christmas at Hot Pot restaurant
		Santas and Christmas trees at Walmart in Beijing!

December 11, 2005

Hello Mom,

Sorry, I heard the phone ringing last night at 11:30 when I was laying in bed trying to sleep.  I was so tired I only looked at the clock and then went back to sleep.  You have to shift your time conversion one hour because you are now on standard time.  Anway, I came down with a sore throat and I am tired and a little stuffed up.  I got 100 on my test last Monday, which brought my score up to 89.6 for the last section we covered in my Kouyu class.  My Hanyu teacher announced on Friday that we are going to have a test on Monday, so I am trying study for that.

Mike will show up probably on Thursday or Friday of this coming week.

Love ya,
 Darrol

 
December 12, 2005

Hello Mom, 

Sorry, I missed you guys.  I found out yesterday, after I was expecting your call, that I didn't have any money left on my cell phone.  Please tell everyone I am sorry, but I am happy that they are all thinking of me.  Well, it has been very cold here, and just getting colder.High of 28degrees and a low of 12 today!  But, when the wind kicks up it feels even colder, the wind actually stings the face.  And, I came down with the flu again . . . More time this year then ever before in one year in my life.  Actually the winter air is by far cleaner than the often smoggy days of summer.  I can usually see pretty far now that it is winter.  I think there are two reasons, one is having spending my first very cold winter in a developing country, and the second is that there are so many people to help keeps the bugs spreading around.  (Also, you know how clean (read, not clean) many of the uneducated Chinese are).  Busy, busy, busy, I have to prepare for a speech on Friday, and we are down to two or three weeks of cramming in the last few lessons in the book (regardless of whether or not we can even learn, yet alone retain the information.)  As for the Christmas you gave me motivation to set up a Christmas tree with Mike and my roommates, something I wouldn't have done otherwise! 

Sorry, the Christmas presents are all going to be late, I have either been to preoccupied with my studies or too sick to go out and get things.  I am hoping for next weekend though.  I was actually set on doing it this last weekend, but my landlord (the owner of the flat) I live in, found out I am living here.  So my roommates told me that he and his wife wanted to meet me.  So I was stuck cleaning my room and waiting around to meet him this past weekend while studying.

Okay, I have to go.  Love ya,

Darrol