31 Dec 2010: To the US and back to China for New Years

Greetings All from Shenyang, China!           

As I write this, it's the afternoon of New Years Eve here in China...by the time some of you read this, it will already be 2011!  Wow, where did the year go?

Many of you know, Rod and I were able to go to the US for Christmas, and what a wonderful, albeit short, time we had visiting friends and family.  As my FB friends know, we were saddened by the passing of my uncle Harry Hill just before Christmas.   A fine Christian man, after more than 10 years suffering from the disease of Alzheimers, he was finally released from that prison of Alzheimers.  God bless him and his family.  There were many highlights of the visit...but I'll only mention three here in this note:  1) I was able to attend a surprise birthday party for my best friend Joellen (we've known each other and been friends since we were both 5 years old!) Her daughters were able pull off a party and I was able to attend.  The venue, a lodge in Veterans Park in Hamilton Ohio was particularly beautiful that night with snow and Christmas lights!  We had a wonderful time!

Veteran's Park lodge in Hamilton, OH

Sarah Miller and Joellen Cummins...an embrace of friends

Sarah Miller and Joellen at her surprise 50th!

A snow-covered Veteran's park lodge at Christmas

Sarah Miller and Joellen Cummins...best friends for life!

2) the second highlights was to go to the Christmas eve service in the little country church where I attended church as a child with my father.  The Christmas pageant has changed yet stayed the same over the years...this year, it was very similar to when I was a kid.  I seemed to always be an angel..my shining hour was to be Gabriel...but obviously my acting career really never took off...I guess I wasn't very good a standing still though all the verses of "Oh Holy Night" with that tinsel halo scratching my head and my aluminum foil wings weighing heavily on my shoulders!

St Paul Lutheran Church, Chatham, KY

St. Paul Lutheran Church, Chatham, KY in Bracken County in the snow on Christmas Eve.  (Chatham is a bump in the road...no post office or stores there anymore, just a community of houses, 2 churches and 1 nursing home)...but it will always be a special place in my heart).  This was the first time I had been back since my Dad passed away in 2008.  He was indeed there in spirit.

3) The third highlight was to see our little grand daughter Olivia.  She is almost 21 months old now, and adorable!  

Olivia with Nana Sarah

Pappaw Rod with Olivia

Olivia with Nana Sarah

Olivia with Pappaw Rod

Olivia Miller in her Panda hat

Rachael, Olivia and Christopher Miller

Olivia, Sarah, Angela Miller Hamilton and Rod Miller

Hope, Sarah Angela John

3 Millers:  Angela Rod and John

3 Generations of Millers:  pappaw Rod, Olivia and Christopher

Our trip back to Shenyang was uneventful...and I'm grateful we came back when we did...because when we landed, it was lightly snowing and cold!  Today, I went out to watch the snow removal...

There is a crew that shovels the sidewalk and puts in the road, and another crew that comes by with a truck and wagon and shovels the road snow into the wagon.

I guess when you have over a billion people in the country and need to keep everyone employed, it's OK to have snow crews like this...I've only seen big snow plows on the airport run ways...I would think they are other places...but I haven't seen them!  All I've seen are these shovel crews...amazing!

Snow removal, Shenyang style

Have wheels will travel!   Cold and snow?  No problem with my scooter equipped with mittens!

But, here in Shenyang just because it snows, it doesn't stop the traffic or the need to move!

Notice the mitten type things that are attached to the scooter to keep your hands warm...these people have an amazing sense of balance..ice and snow doesn't mean no go! By the way, it has warmed up here...High today was 21F with a low of 6F...I don't think many of us reading or writing this note would want to brave that and get on the scooter

So, with my last update of 2010...I wish you all a Happy New Year and may we all enjoy good health, prosperity and wisdom to see all God's blessings in our lives!

Keep those emails and prayers coming!!

Rod & Sarah

11 Dec 2011: Christmas greetings from Shenyang

11 Dec 2010

Holiday Greetings all from Snowy and Cold Shenyang!

Yes, it snowed here yesterday and left a snowy, cold, icy mess.. I just got back from taking Rod to the airport...that was an experience!  The main road (toll road) we always take to the airport was closed...so we had to take a back way...of course my driver didn’t know that way, so he went really out of the way...really!  We went through some really small, ice-covered roads etc...but got Rod there on time..he got checked in, went through security, only to find out that his flight was delayed...he’s still sitting at the airport as I write this and he will surely miss his US connection...but at least out of Shanghai there should be some other options...we’ll see!  I leave tomorrow to go to Canada to work, then Rod will pick me up in Cincinnati on Thursday evening.

We're really looking forward to our time in the US with family!

Here at the hotel, the Christmas tree is up and the lobby decorated in festive silver and blue...The one picture this week is our Christmas e-card to you!

Merry Christmas 2010 from Rod & Sarah Miller, Shenyang, China

The next update will likely be in 2011!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year...and keep those emails coming!!

Sarah & Rod

5 Dec 2010: Shanghai highspeed train ride...wheeeee!

Dear Friends & Family,

It's December 2010...can you believe it?!  2010 is almost gone as I type this note!  This has certainly been a busy one for us and I'm sure it has been for you!

This week has been a busy one for us.  As you may recall from last week's update, we went to Shanghai.  I was hosting a meeting there and was very busy, so I didn't get out much...but I did get to go to the pearl market..if only for a few minutes...doesn't take long when you know what you want!

We arrived at the airport, we decided to take the Maglev from the airport to downtown.  The maglev is a really highspeed train that has no wheels...it's a magnetic levitating train.  Below are some pictures with the timestamp and speed.

On the Maglev in Shanghai

The train took off at 18:02 and by 1 minute into the trip, it was at 173km/hr (107 mph)

By almost 2 minutes into the trip, it was at 265 km/h (165 mph)

Just 2 minutes into the trip we were at 301 km/hr (187 mph)

The trip lasted just 8 minutes and it maxed out at 301km/hr...when it slowed down, it felt like 100mph was just creeping!

Very clean and orderly...no massive push to get on...at least not at the hour we did it!

Sarah Miller at time 0 on the Shanghai Maglev

2 minutes into the trip and we're at 173km/hr

3 minutes into trip we're at 265 km/hr

4 minutes into trip we're at 300 km/hr

Other than that, not a lot of news!  We're both recuperating from the trip in Shanghai...it was a very busy week...and I've spent a lot of time this weekend just recuperating!  We'll be here in Shenyang this week, then next Sunday, I'll go to Canada for a week, then down to the US for Christmas with family in OH & KY before coming back here to China.

Take care and hope you all have a great week!

Sarah