http://www.tantetoedeloe.nl Working & living in Yulin, Shaanxi province, P.R.China Sat, 21 Feb 2009 15:16:31 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en .... and so does Qingdao! Upon arrival in Beijing, about 6 weeks ago now, I could still see many Beijing Olympics 2008 related signs, notices and shops. While visiting Qingdao, a week and a half or so ago, the same thing. SC and I walked the pedestrians path along the shore, from ... http://www.tantetoedeloe.nl/?p=298 .... and so does Qingdao! Upon arrival in Beijing, about 6 weeks ago now, I could still see many Beijing Olympics 2008 related signs, notices and shops. While visiting Qingdao, a week and a half or so ago, the same thing. SC and I walked the pedestrians path along the shore, from ... http://www.tantetoedeloe.nl/?p=297 During Guo Nian, I stayed with one of my Chinese families who live in the Ankang area. I learned to make jiao zi and bao zi, I practised my mahjiang skills, I took loads pictures, I saw people drinking so much alcohol they must have liver problems and of course ... http://www.tantetoedeloe.nl/?p=296 'Welcome back to home!', 'Welcome back home' were among the first messages I got when I set foot in China again; about 3 weeks ago now. Indeed, it immediately felt as if I had never left. The familiar faces, the sounds of the language, the numerous people doing jobs 1 person ... http://www.tantetoedeloe.nl/?p=295 It's freezing! Freezing cold!!!  Over the last week it froze moderately, but since last night someone decided I should get really used to the cold of Yulin before leaving for Yulin ;-) It froze 15 degrees and it will be even colder tonight! As some of you may know..... the Dutch ... http://www.tantetoedeloe.nl/?p=292 The old, Chinese kitchen cabinet that contained too much food.... is gone; the big table with the cheerful tablecloth, at wich we had so many great dinners with lots of laughter, serious talks and sometimes tears....is gone; the posters on the wall, with impressions of Holland... are gone; the pictures ... http://www.tantetoedeloe.nl/?p=291 When I said goodbye to SC, it poured; when I said goodbye to YWH, it poured; when I said goodbye to my kids at the YWI today, it poured and it still does!! In Holland we have a proverb saying:'The angels are crying..' Yeah, right! I cry inside. 1 Of ... http://www.tantetoedeloe.nl/?p=287 It's Thursday 17 July and we're in Xi'an. Marcel is up and getting ready, but it seems both SC and I do not want to as today is the day we need to say goodbye... We get up though and we get ready to take SC to the room he ... http://www.tantetoedeloe.nl/?p=284 My last months, weeks actually, in China started some weeks ago and I have been lucky enough to be invited to spend some time at my best friend's home. He lives in the Ankang area and we went there by train as I decided Marcel had to experience train travel ... http://www.tantetoedeloe.nl/?p=277 It's time for the exams again. The various national exams like CET-4 and CET-6 as well as the upcoming College exams. 2 Of my friends here have worked really hard to prepare for their CET-6 exams. They are non-English majors, but pretty ambitious AND pretty good at English. Passing exams ... http://www.tantetoedeloe.nl/?p=276