May 2015: Somethings change, somethings stay the same

31 May 2015
Greetings all from Shenyang, China. 

I've been saying that for over 5 years now.  It hardly seems possible that we've been here in China that long.   Time really does go by quicker as we get older!  I remember when we said "Yes" to 5 years it seemed like a long commitment...now looking back, it's gone in an instant..a few more grey hairs, a few more wrinkles and a lot less pounds!  Yes, there have been many new experiences...some exciting, some boring, some happy, some sad, none of which would have been possible had we not moved to China. 

So, as many of you know, we have now been asked to stay longer here in Shenyang, and we've said yes.  For how long, I'm not sure, but I'm guessing for another 3 years.  I'll be doing a similar job to what my previous boss was doing, with a little different scope of work.   Some of it is new to me and some of it is what I have been doing, so it's a nice mix to keep things interesting.   In the new position, I'm the site manager and one of the benefits of this job is to host "family day" at our factory and open the doors to our plant to the family members to let them see how tires are made and see where their loved ones spend much of their daily lives.  Below are a few pictures from the 2015 family day at Michelin Shenyang.

Sarah in front of the door that says "Director, Plant Manager"

Sarah in front of an aerial photo of the plant...it's huge! Roughly 175 Acres

Rod posing with some of our Supervisors

Sarah with one of our Industrial Engineers

Sarah with a group of our family members with Mr Bib (The Michelin Man)

Sarah in the lobby of our factory main office building with some of our tires

The "multi-function hall" at our factory at family day

Sarah with one of the children at family day

No family day is complete without a little inhouse entertainment!

There were 2 consecutive weekends to allow all of the teams to join, and honestly speaking, I'm glad they are over for this year, but I have to admit, I was quite proud of the plant and I know our families appreciated it.

Other than that, it's been business as usual for us.  Rod is getting ready to go back to the U.S. To see family and friends and I'm getting ready to welcome my sister Patricia back to China for continued cancer treatments, then around the beginning of July, I'll join Rod for a short visit to the  U.S.  It will be quick for me, going to Ky, OH, and SC in 10 days. 

After spending the 4th of July with family, we will drop in to Greenville, SC to run some errands and visit friends.   I've been asked to speak at a Michelin event for women where I'll share some of my experiences with other Michelin employees (some women and some men in a "woman's network" meeting) Not sure what I'll say exactly, so my plan is to prepare a few comments about my professional journey and Michelin in China.  Starting Michelin in 1987 as an electrical engineer and looking at who I was then and who I am now, I can honestly say I would not have dreamed then where I would be 28 years later.  It's been an exciting career...not all perfect by any means and not without sacrifices...but the good outweighs the bad by a large measure.  Living and working for Michelin in 3 different states in the US (SC, IN, AL) and 4 different countries (US, France, Romania and China) is a long way for this Kentucky farm girl to dream to dare possible.  The plant here in Shenyang that I had a hand in building is ~175 acres...our family farm in KY was ~  200 acres...I can't put the two equal in my mind, but the numbers don't lie.  I thank God for the many opportunities and blessings in my life and I thank Rodney for being so supportive and encouraging me all along the way.

We'll finish our time in the U.S. at Myrtle Beach for another treatment at the Alternative Medical Clinic.  We both feel those are good for the body and soul...helps us get everything in balance.  A balance we'll need to keep as we continue on this journey of life here in China.

Love and blessings to all,
Sarah & Rod

2015 May..Sisterly love, a journey with Cancer

15 May 2015

Greeting all,
Alert...if you don't want to read through another medical update (on my sister's journey with Cancer), then skip this entry!

About 6 months ago, my sister Patricia (Trish)  was diagnosed with Anal cancer and as we are very close, I kept a private blog about her condition and my feelings at the time. It's very similar to the one I wrote during Rod's journey with Cancer, so it is quite personal.   As I write this update she has completed a series of treatments at the Alternative Medical Clinic in Myrtle Beach, SC (same one that Rodney did) and also here in China  (also same one Rod did) and is now back home in Florida.  This entry is similar to the one I did for Rodney, where I will go back in time and take excerpts from my other private blog and share it with you.  When I have them, I've added photos of her time here in China.

Does it run in the family?

29 Nov 2014

Rod’s been home for 2 weeks now, and cancer wise, feeling good.  It seems I go from frying pan to the fire in that I just got the news that my oldest sister Patricia has now been diagnosed with some sort of cancer…either lymphoma or colon cancer..not sure which one and what will be the treatment protocol. I’ve talked to her about going to see Dr Dong and also coming here to see Dr Yu. Not sure what she will do.
Of course all of this makes me think of my mother with pancreatic cancer..now my sister with some sort of cancer. What about me? Today, I try to keep eating healthy, taking nutritional supplements and exercising…all to keep my body and systems to not be a place where cancer thrives. It’s easier with Rod right here with me on the healthy regime. God bless my sister and God bless my Rodney.

Quiet Christmas 2014

28 December 2014

We stayed here in Shenyang this Christmas…partly because I had no vacation left, and partly because we didn’t want to travel from one winter to another winter. It was quiet and we both missed family. I worked every day which helped the time pass and I got several things done at work that have been a long time on my to do list. Now, we’re fast approaching a new Year 2015.

My sister Patricia has been diagnosed with cancer of the anal tract.   She has 3 tumors they know of…1 in her rectum, 1 in her anal canal and 1 somewhere in her groin. She is going to the Alternative medical clinic in Myrtle Beach, SC tomorrow and she says she has started changing her diet. She plans then to go through a very intensive Chemo and Radiation therapy. She told me yesterday that if they recommend surgery, she wants to come see what Dr Yu could do before she has surgery, assuming he could do something to help her. She will see the oncologist after she completes her week at the AMC.
Obviously, this disturbs me…my mind can go crazy…my mother died of pancreatic cancer, my oldest sister diagnosed with rectal cancer…both with type A blood type, both with cancer in the digestive tract…both with diets similar to mine before I changed…did I change in time?  Who knows?

My sister's cancer

29 December 2014:

Below is an update on my sister’s cancer, taken from a private message she wrote to our family members today:
..." I am writing this to update you on my health. I am writing to ask for your prayers.
I have been diagnosed with cancer of the anal tract. There are two masses, on in the anal tract and one in the rectum. (I really did not know there was a difference between those two!). There is also I inguinal lymph node involvement. So after much testing I have an intense several weeks ahead of me.
Today I am at the Natural Healing Center in Myrtle Beach that Rodney went to. I will be here for a week to look at nutritional and other wellness issues. When I get home I will see a radiation oncologist. I will then have a port placed Thursday and see the oncologist again on Friday. I think treatment will begin on the 12th. The treatment is a combo of both radiation and chemotherapy. The first week will be continuous chemo 24/7. Along with daily radiation. The next three weeks are radiation daily and the last week is both continuous chemo and radiation. So the next 5-6 weeks will be intense. I will need your prayers.
Thanks
Patricia"

Come on Trish, we’ll praying for you non stop and ask God to bless you and our family as you embark on this journey.

My sister is coming, my sister is coning

11 Jan 2015

My sister has finished up at the Alternative medicine clinic and she is determined to stay on the nutrition and supplements and in fact she made the decision to come to Dr Yu here in China first to get the cancer treatment before taking the chemo and radiation in the US. She cancelled her appointments at the cancer center in Florida and I will call her tomorrow to find out the date she is coming to China. Should be either late Feb or early March.  Rodney said he would stay with her for 3-4 days to get her set up and able to cook for herself and be self sufficient. I will go for a few days too to spend some time with her and keep her company.  Trish said she found the Alternative medical clinic to be a very caring and healing atmosphere and that even if there was a place closer she is not sure she would ever feel as comfortable anywhere else. We will take care of her logistically here on this side and Dr Yu and his staff will take care of her medically. I continue to pray that nutrition program shows it down, the chemo will stop it everywhere she has a tumor and the nutrition will keep it gone. She has already said she will go back to the clinic in 3-4 months to continue to get a treatment like a tuneup…and hopefully show good progress on her cancer, liver functioning, blood, circulation and diabetis. She is not well, and until the cancer diagnosis, she was in denial about the problems the weight was giving her. I ask God to bless her.
Otherwise, Rod and I are doing well. We got the results from Rod’s last PsA test and it was 0.04, so we were happy with that. All of his other lab. Numbers came back good too. 😊😊

Let the healing begin

25 Feb 2015

Rod left this morning to go to Beijing to help her get settled and guide her to the hospital from the airport .  There is no food service in Chinese hospitals and so one of the major things Rod will help her with is to get her able to find food and cook.  He took several kitchen appliances and tools with him and has now got his "mobile kitchen" set up. Below are some pics of his set-up in the hospital room

Rod's Mobile kitchen..veggie steamer, borrowed juicer, egg cooker and misc other items!

The fully stocked fridge in the hospital room

So begins her healing journey in China. I ask that God will bless her and heal her.  Rod will stay there for some period of time (duration to be determined, depending on her mobility) to make sure she can take care of herself for food and treatments. I will go to visit her on weekends as time allows.

Trish and Rod in the lobby of the Baofa hospital.  The banner welcomes Trisha on the 26th of Feb 2015!

Rod tending his mobile kitchen...doesn't he look great!?  This is in Trish's room

Happy Birthday Chinese style

28 Feb 2015

Trisha arrived safe and sound and 1 day later her luggage arrived. Rod is an absolute angel cooking for her and helping her adjust to her surroundings. Today is her birthday and she got flowers so that was just as it should be! They did the CT and drew fluid off of the tumor in her groin and I assume they will start treatment tomorrow once they get the results of these diagnostics. She is in good spirits and anxious to get it all started. God bless my sister Trisha and my dearest husband who has been a more than welcome host, helper, caregiver for her.  Love you Rodney!

 Happy 64th birthday Trisha! Let's pray this is the 1st day of your healthiest year ever!

Dr Yu with Trisha in her 64th birthday in his hospital.

A thousand mile journey starts with the first step

1March 2015

Yesterday was my sister’s 64th birthday. She spent it getting the first diagnostics for the cancer and hopefully the healing. They did the CT scan and also an ultrasound and also pulled some fluid off of the tumor in her groin. I don’t have the full results but so far it looks like the anal tract cancer has not spread, so that is at least good news. The fluid from the tumor in her groin was positive for cancer, so they will treat that too. No news yet about the place in her aorta. She has started in the IV’s and drinking the anti tumor tea, and we believe they will start with the direct inject Chemo today. The first day of the most healthy year of her life! Rod is cooking her her and also for another man (who is man from Switzerland, that is a spiritual guru of a chinese woman friend of Rod’s…a very connected world!)…so Rod's international food service support is up and running at Baofa hospital! This guru’s name is Stephan and his "followers" here in China put up the money to bring him here, but they didn’t know his dietary requirements, so consequently, Rod Said this guy was going down hill fast…on top of the cancer, they man was getting nothing to eat…so Rod started feeding him, and showing the chinese followers what to feed him and how to prepare it and so hopefully now, he will start to thrive. I’m amazed yet again at how great my husband is!
After her 1st treatment, she said she didn’t feel too bad. She was hungry but couldn’t eat yet. She said they went through her back to get to the tumors in her anal tract and went at the one in her groin from the front. She said when they went after the one on the front, it did hurt some. Afterwards, she said that she felt a little achy, but not too bad. I’m so glad Rod is there to cook for her and also provide moral support. He’s helping her in so many ways and for that I’m grateful.

Trisha shopping at one of the markets by the hospital in Beijing

Rod and Trisha walking in Beijing

Trish with Dr Ma at Beijing

The hopes and fears of all the years...

6 March 2015

I talked to my sister Trish this morning and she didn’t have a good night. Lots of rectal bleeding and didn’t feel well. Emotionally she is full of fear and thank God that Rod is there for her. He is talking over a lot of emotional and real feelings with her and he told me tonight that he thinks she has accepted that this lifestyle is what she is going to be on for the rest of her life. I hope that is true. She really needs Rod to cook for her right now and since being here she has lost 4.7kg…and that is 1 week. She says she’s not hungry..and is eating the right foods. Rod fixes her a cottage cheese/flax seed oil and fruit blend and a green drink for breakfast, a salad for lunch (if she wants) and brown beans for dinner or some variant. The doctor told her he could stop the cancer but the weight was going to kill her. He also told her that if she would have stayed on the U.S. Treatment protocol she would have died. Both of those news are very sobering. Rod told her that he was going to stay with her until she leaves to go back to the U.S. That was a relief to her. I will go down there next Friday 13th and stay the weekend to at least give Rod a break.
I write this small prayer:
God, I thank you for helping both Rod and me to lose the weight we did when we did and I ask that You help my sister Trisha stay on this lifestyle no matter what. I ask that you give her the strength she will need around her family to stay the course and know that her life depends on it. She is such a good woman and serves you and I ask that you bless her and heal this cancer and lose the weight so that she can live the rest of days serving you and helping others. Father I ask this in Jesus’ name.
Amen.
Come on Trish, you can do it! Hang in there Rod, so grateful for guy! Love you!

Palliative care...not what we are shooting for!

9 March 2015

Talked to my sister again yesterday and she seems to be doing better. She has had 2 treatments on the tumor on her groin and 1 on the tumors in her anal tract. Rodney and I put two and two together and have determine that she has stage 4 anal cancer that has metastasized into the lymph system and that is where the tumor on her groin is coming from. They are treating the tumor on her groin much more aggressively.  When she read the medical report herself and saw it say ” palliative chemo” she knew that it meant no cure. Of course we know there is no guarantee that this treatment will work, but we all believe it will. Who knows.. I just pray this Treatment works and that she has the courage and strength to be committed to the clean eating lifestyle when she gets back to the U.S.
Rod had told her that he will stay the entire time with her, helping her prepare meals and being a companion. I will go down this weekend to be with her and take some re-supplies for his mobile kitchen! He really is an amazing man and has helped me and my sister to no end. Thank you Father once again for putting and keeping us together. We really do share real love.
Keep that positive energy going Rod and Trish! Father, I ask that you continue to open my sister’s mind and give her strength to stay the course and lose the weight by eating the menu prescribed to her. We ask that you energize her body to heal itself once the doctors have the cancer stopped. We ask that you guide the hands and hearts of the doctors here to stabilize the cancer and give her many more years to be a messenger of Your word, power and salvation. Thank you Father for Rodney being willing to help her and stay with her. Amen

The storm before the calm...or so we hope

15 March 2015

It’s Sunday morning and I have seen my sister face to face during her cancer treatments here in the Baofa cancer hospital here in Beijing. It is clear, she is sick. She is alert, she is ambulatory, but she had no energy. She is over weight, and since I have been here she has no appetite. They are loading her up with the treatments… Once per week with the direct injection chemo on the anal rumors and once per week on the groin tumor, and every day with IV’s. She is getting a special IV at some frequency to treat the cancer around her aorta as they cannot treat that with the direct injection method. She feels good in the morning, and gets her treatments in the morning, then after some rest, we went for a walk on Friday and Saturday afternoon (1 mile) and she had to take breaks in the middle both times, and by the time she was back here at the hospital, she was really pooped. Last night she went to bed at 7:00pm. She gets nauseous with the direct injection anesthetic in the evening.  She is losing weight quickly here, as she is not eating much…is that the cancer?
So, I pray for her constantly, I ask God to heal her, to help her lose the weight, to give her peace of mind and courage to continue her lifestyle changes in the US.
Rodney is absolutely an incredible care giver. He fixes breakfast for her, the Guru and has been a gem to help her confront the issues with her weight and is encouraging here all along the way. Thank you father for helping her and helping my Rodney help her. He was tested here too, and so far he is doing well…good results and he is on no treatment here at all…a miracle man compared to this time last year! Thank you Father!
So, I hope and pray this is her low period and that the tumors can be stopped and that now new ones can’t form. I hope and pray that this is the storm before the calm.

First signs of "the calm"

16 Mar 2015

I went with Trish yesterday for her treatment. This was with ultrasound so it was one of the ones on her lymph system (they are treating 2 on her lymph system and one in her anus). I saw the one in her groin yesterday and it is quite large..looks like a sweet potato. The treatment was quick and she said not painful. She had an appetite yesterday, so that was really good news for me. When I left Beijing, she was taking more IV’s…not the “special brown bag” stuff, but IV’s.
After I got back from Beijing, my sister sent me a text to tell me that the Doc’s had said that one of the tumors (the one they zapped yesterday?) was shrinking and dissolving on the inside! This is really good news! Thank you Lord!
If one is dissolving, then maybe it’s happening for all 3 they are treating? Who knows, but we take the good news when we get it!

Calm comes in many forms

22 March 2015

After a particularly tough week at work, I came to Beijing to see my sister (and then take Chinese lessons!) and see how she was. Rod had told me during the week that he had had some tough treatments this past week. I was relieved to see that she was up and about and in good spirits. Trish and I spent the time just talking, and it was delightful. We talked about all kinds of things from her cancer treatments to diet and nutrition to memories growing up, Mom and Dad and grandparents, the importance of her friends and church group and students etc.
The doctors made their rounds and stopped in the room and discussed with us （ I was trying to translate, but I just didn’t know the words!). We found out that she will finish her treatment on the 26th of March (all 3 tumors would have been zapped 4 times each) and after that she should stay here in the hospital until she flies out in the 2nd of April and rest and let them monitor her. Rod said he will stay with her and take her to the airport, which made her very happy. The doctors think the treatment is going OK, but they won’t really know a lot until the do the blood test the day after their last treatment. To be determined if she needs to come back or not. After she goes back to the U.S., she will get a followup PET scan to see what the results are, then send the results to Dr Yu for him to determine if she needs to come back.

Sister time in Beijing

More Sister time in Beijing

Walking in the sunshine and plum blossoms in Beijing

selfies in Beijing

Supercharged calm!

22 March 2015

I got some good news today from my sister Trish! I have copied her exact note below:
"What a great day!! I felt so good even with doing the external lump. Rod and I did the same walk we did and we stopped at the end to wash my hair. Then Rod took me to dinner. It was very good and I ate like a pig!! All good stuff. We had steamed lettuce with sauce, lichens with egg, seaweed soup, and mushrooms with Chinese cabbage. It was all very good. It was so great to have an appetite and things tasted great today all day. I had two Budwigs and a bowl of watermelon and an apple earlier. Something happened on the night. I slept 9 hours. Longest since I have been here without waking up. I woke up and I knew something had changed. No nausea hungry and full of energy (relatively). God must have done something. Anyway a great day for me!"

How do you top that?? Thank you father for the healing you are making manifest in my sister. Thank you for her weight loss and giving her energy and an good appetite. Thank you for continuing to give Rodney a good attitude of service and helping her. You have blessed me beyond measure in letting me share my life with him.
Let’s go Trish, keep that great attitude and knowing of healing and stay in your new lifestyle of healthy eating. Let’s get the cancer gone and keep it gone!

Trisha eating out with Rod at one of the Chinese restaurants by the hospital

The last treatment (in this series) for Trisha

29 March 2015

Today Trish got her last direct injection treatment today. The doctors said the tumors are shrinking so that is good news! We really won’t know if these tumors are stopped until she gets a PET scan in the US. She has an appointment to see Dr Dong at the alternative medical clinic on the 9th of April.   She is really looking forward to going home, and I can’t say I blame her…those hospital beds are really hard! I hope she gets her appetite back and can continue the healthy lifestyle eating and menu! We are all convinced that is her best chance for survival long term and so far she seems willing to do it.
Rodney has been her rock and counselor through all of this. He has counseled her on her eating habits and tries to give her tips on things he has done to to change his lifestyle.
Thank you Father for a good job so that we could offer her this opportunity for healing. Thank you Father for giving her the strength and courage to take this big step. I ask you to bless her Father and heal her and if it be Your will, give her many more days in this earth sot hat she can bear witness unto others of Your power. Thank you Father for giving Rodney the right words to say and giving him patience to comfort her. Bless them both Father and thank you for Healing that we have experienced so far.

Parting shots at Bejing before Trish goes home

Now the real choices begin

4 April 2015

My sister is back on the ground in the US having made her flight yesterday from China. The last 5 weeks have been a very controlled environment with Drill Sgt.Rod doing all of the cooking, cleaning, exercise coaching and counseling! Now, she has had all her treatments and has been on a very regimented nutrition plan (when she had an appetite) and no opportunities to ‘cheat’. We hope and pray now she has the resolve to continue her healthy lifestyle and continue to lose the weight by making good choices with her food. Only time will tell. Time will also tell just how effective her treatments have been here in China. She has either 3 or 4 tumors …still not sure how many..I know they treated 3 main ones in China with the direct injection method. The small ‘micro tumors’ could be anywhere along her lymph system. So, we wait and pray for good decisions on her part!
Thank you Father for healing so far and we ask that you grant her the resolve and ability to continue eating well and we ask that you send your spirit to her and heal her body.

A tune up for the road

11 April 2015

Just heard from my sister Trisha and over the weekend while she was at the Alternative health clinic in Myrtle Beach, SC for a visit and 3 day session of treatments. Dr Dong said Trisha has made good progress  and she is treating her exterior tumor that is now open and draining.  Patricia said she has a little better appetite but still not back to normal. I pray there are no other tumors in other places that are causing this. Time will tell. She has decided not to return to her Doctoral studies until the Fall. I think that is wise so that she can focus on her own health.

Appetite restored and PET scan scheduled

29 April 2015

Talked to Trisha this morning and she happily reported that her appetite is back to normal and she is doing well with her eating plan.  She went to her family physician in FL and they were all pleased with her progress on weightloss.  She now has a PET scan schedule in May, so of course everyone is hoping that shows good progress.  Now we wait.  In any case, I was pleased to hear that her appetite is back and things taste right and that she is eating well.

The results are in

  15 May 2015

Talked to Trisha yesterday and she got the results of the PET scan.  The good news is, 2 out of the 3 tumors have shrunk and the 3rd one is stable (did not grow, did not shrink) and the micro tumors are not mentioned at all.  She sent those results to Dr Yu here in China and he wants her to come back for another 6 weeks of treatment in Beijing.   She is a little disappointed with this results and so am I.  But when we look at where she has come from, either stage 3b or stage4 rapidly growing and 'palliative care' being the treatment after heavy duty chemo and radiation and the prospective of feeling horrible to where she is feeling great and the belief and conviction of the Dr who says he can stop the cancer and still keep her feeling good...it's a big difference in her longterm outlook.
Father I ask that you keep my sister in your healing hands and bless the Doctors as she goes on the next leg of this journey.

So that's where we are now...preparing for the next leg of the journey and figuring out how we can help.  Thanks to keep my sister Patricia in your prayers.

Sarah & Rod

2015 Feb our 5th Chinese New Year celebration in China and what a difference a year makes!

23 Feb 2015

Greetings all in the Year of the Goat/Sheep/Ram..it's all the same in Chinese.. Yang 羊 (if you use your imagination, in the character, you can imagine looking eye to eye with a goat...the pointy parts on top are the ears, the top line is the eyes, the 2nd line is the nose and the 3rd (bottom) line is the mouth and the straight line is the neck to the rest of the body...not sure if that's correct, but that's how I see it!) So it's out with the Horse and in with the Goat.  My year is the mouse/rat and Rod's is the Pig..neither one have been celebrated in the 5 years we've been here.

Our 5th Chinese New year..wow, hard to believe!  We arrived in late March 2010, so we're just now coming up on our 5 year anniversary...we've lived here about as long as we've lived anywhere in our life..that is amazing too!  And it is true..the older we get, the faster time seems to go by...and the more grey hairs that seem to arrive.

Grey hairs or not, we're both grateful for the healing Rod has experienced in the past year.  What a difference a year has made. This time last year he was really sick with the cancer growing, he couldn't pee without pain, had the urge to go all the time and couldn't..just miserable.  I've written about it before and if you've read that in this blog, you know we took an alternative path to the traditional US healthcare system.  Today, 1 year later, I am proud to say that today with the help of Dr Dong and Dr Brown in Myrtle Beach to get him on a healthy lifestyle and diet, Dr Yu in Beijing to get the cancer stopped , Dr David here in Shenyang to get him the hormone therapy medicine and the decision and Actions made by Rod, he has had great success.  He just had a full lab work done and his results are very good!   Thank you Lord!  Of course we never know if it will come back...he's doing everything he can to increase his own immune system to make his body not a place for cancer to grow.  Like many other things, we take it one day at a time and do the next right thing and ask God to continue to keep him healthy.  We take the good news when we have it! 


Now, back to Chinese New year!  We started this New Year with my work annual meeting where we show the accomplishments of the past year and give the new year a kickoff.  It's unlike anything I've ever experienced anywhere in the Michelin world.  There are videos and simple powerpoint presentations and as I mentioned in last year's blog..a type of talent show at the end.  Here are a few pictures of this year's meeting...

Sarah on the big stage for the 2015 Annual Plan meeting

Sarah talking to a coworker at the meeting

After the business part of the meeting, there was the annual 'show'...this is where the union (not at all like unions in the US) put together a show from employee ('volunteers').  Since I sang last year, I was requested to sing again...this time as part of another group.  So, this year, I took an opportunity to get a new chinese dress and lay it on thick!

Sarah singing in the big show at Annual Plan meeting in Feb 2015

 It's too big to upload to the blog...so if you want to see it check it out on my facebook page or go on Youtube to see it:
Link to Youtube Sarah's Channel


After the business meeting,  I went home in the dress and got a picture with Rod. 

Rod and Sarah Feb 2015 ready for Chinese new year!

  The hotel where we live had a dumpling making class and display..we've both made dumplings before, but it was fun to play in the dough again and wear chef hats!

Out of the dress and into a flannel shirt and jeans, Rod and I played chef here at the hotel, making dumplings ready for Chinese New Years!

For the actual Chinese new year, we started with a small celebration at our Chinese friend/family doing the traditional feast and dumpling eating and gift exchange.

Rod and Sarah at the table with the appetizers

Mama Rod, Daisy, Sarah, Baba with the 5 gord (good luck) fountain they gave us

Mama bringing out the shrimp

Rod setting up the fountain

All of us together drinking tea after the meal

We've been here almost 5 years and this is the first time we've actually traveled anywhere in China during this time of year.  We've been to Korea, Hawaii, Taiwan and stayed in Shenyang but never anywhere else in China (to stay away from the 1.2 billion people who are traveling!)...it actually hasn't been too bad.... we traveled on the equivalent of Christmas day.  We didn't want to go far, and some friends of ours had visited a small old city in the Shanxi province and really liked it, so we decided on Pingyao.   We took an additional risk by arranging this travel by ourselves...no tour guide, just Rod, me, our limited chinese and some recommendations.  To get to Pingyao, we flew into Taiyuan, then spent the night in a Wanda Vista hotel.  These are big hotels, very nice...coming to a big international city near you in the future!  Very nice, over the top decor and pretty much had the place to ourselves!

The lobby of the Wanda Vista hotel in Taiyuan

Rod and Sarah in the lobby of the Wanda Plaza hotel in Taiyuan

Rod in the "His Majesty the Baby" chair in the lobby of the hotel!

We took a taxi from the hotel and the driver asked me (in Chinese, which I understood!) what we were going to do and I told him we wanted to go to Pingyao the next day.  He asked me if I wanted to take his taxi.  After some negotiations and discussion with  the concierge, we decided we could take this driver and his old beatup VW Santana taxi.   In hindsight, this was both good and bad...the good news was we had a taxi to take us on Friday and bring us back on Sunday...the bad news was, he was slow..at least going there!  But, we had a deal, so off we went...part of the adventure!

When we awoke the next day and had a really good breakfast (you learn to load up in the 5 star hotel when you're not sure what the next meal will be!) our Taxi guy was waiting and off we went to our first stop on the way to Pingyao.  We had a dusting of snow and the driving was slow...I'm pretty sure he had may-pop tires and the heater was not working...so we sat bundled up in the backseat of the taxi getting to the winter wonderland of the Jinci Temple.  This temple is about 25 km from the Taiyuan and is a big complex (more than 100 structures)  of buildings, ponds, bridges, old trees, a pagoda and of course several temples.  It was started to be built a long time ago (Song Dynasty 960-1279 AD) and has been rebuilt and preserved over the years.  Some trees there are said to be 3000 years old!
Here are some pictures of the snowy Jinci temple.

Sarah and Rod at the entrace to Jinci temple area

One of the streams (fed by a natural hot spring) in the temple area

Sarah and one of the 4 iron guards (these guards are 900 years old...still in very good shape!)  (The metal working was much better in ancient China than modern China!)

Rod up against one of the iron guards standing in front of the main temple

One of the beautiful trees in the temple area of Jinci temple

Another tree in the temple area

Some of the clay sculptures in the temple.  I didn't get close up pictures (because you couldn't get close and I only had my phone camera!).  They are magnificent..beautiful expressions and are actual sculptures from the Song Dynasty.  Just stunning

The offering table at the temple.  At the center is the "Holy Mother" Yijiang. 

A picture of a picture...one of the eunuch's in the hall

Another picture of a picture...I just love the expressions on the faces of these sculptures

Another picture of a picture...Not all of the maid servants were skinny...love this one

Another picture of a picture of one of the maid servants of the Song Dynasty in the temple. There are 43 of these sculptures lining the 'Holy Mother Hall"  She looks a little sassy to me!

One the guards outside the Mother Hall

Some interesting roof lines in this structure highlighted by the snow

One of the bridges over the spring-fed koi fish pond

The stream feeding the pond curved stream facing up to a curved pond..architecturally an interesting problem to solve!

Sara in the snow at Jinci temple

The pagoda at Jinci temple

He stood in the doorway..Rod looks like an integral part to a keyhole doesn't he?

You've heard of a snafu...well, this is a happy snowfu!

After spending a couple of hours walking around in the snow, we found our waiting taxi and got on our way to Pingyao.  According to the distance, it should be about 60km...well, at 45 miles/hour, I can tell you it took about 2 hours to get there!  We're not sure the driver was worried about his tires or his engine, or both...but he never made it over 45 miles/hour.  Just about drove Rod nuts!
We finally arrived, then of course the driver didn't know the city of Pingyao well, and our hotel was in the middle of the old town..so we had to circle the wall until we found the right entrance to have someone from the hotel meet us.  We finally got there and established when and where the driver would pick us up on Sunday morning..so far so good!

The hotel our friends recommended was closed for renovation, so we had to get another one..it was located in the heart of the ancient city (all pedestrian streets with electric golf carts and scooters allowed...and a bazillion people!)  The hotel itself used to be the 'Finacial club" and was built about 300 years ago.

Rod and Sarah Checking in at the hotel (Yun Jin Cheng)  in Pingyao

Rod getting the door open to the room at the hotel

Inside the room at the hotel...bed looks nice..typical Chinese bed..hard as a rock!

View from our room into the Courtyard of the hotel

 After getting settled into the hotel, we took a stroll around the city.  Pingyao is an old city with an 'ancient city' inside a wall. During the Qing dynasty (1644-1912) it was the financial center of China.  Similar to Wall Street. The Ancient city goes back about 2700 years and is a UNESCO site.

Walking in the city by the City tower...with a bazillion other Chinese people getting out to spend some of their 'Hong Bao' (Red enveloppe) money they got for Chinese New year

Having a drink of tea at a tea shop...good tea and warm!

Tea shops always have interesting tea pots..no I didn't buy one of these...tempting, but held off!

 After a long day, we got in for the night and even though the bed was hard, we slept well.  The next day, we got up and ate breakfast at the hotel and then checked out the city.  There are 19 different types of museums (not like a museum in the US..these are venues in the city that you walk through seeing and reading (in Chinese...not yet!)  about what was operating here back in the day).  We bought a ticket that gets you into all of these places, knowing we probably wouldn't see all of them.  Actually, you have to buy this ticket as you can't get it any of the places without it...good marketing on their part!

The entrance to one of the old banks in Pingyao ancient city

Rod playing with some old martial arts 'tools' in Pingyao

Sarah and Rod inside one of the museums (seen one seen them all!)

Rod in the entry way to a bank in Pingyao

Sarah with an old 'banker' in Pingyao

Rod standing beside 'big money'!

A view of Pingyao from the South Wall around Pingyao.  Still today there are about 50k people who live in this old city

Rod having fun on the Wall around the city of Pingyao

Sarah having fun too on the Wall in Pingyao

One of the many shops in Pingyao..I just loved the colors in this shop!

A view of the city wall around Pingyao.  The wall is a square about 8km around (I walked it!) and it has 6 gates.  Pingyao is called the turtle city and the gates of the city are positioned on the wall like the Head, tail and 4 legs of a turtle.  The turtle is also thought to bring safety and I'm sure good luck!

A view of Pingyao Confuscious temple in the background from the vantage point of the old wall.

Sarah and Rod at Erhang temple in Pingyao

Rod and Sarah at the Erlang temple around the north gate of Pingyao

Slicing and cooking noodles on the street in Pingyao

Getting ready to eat a full plate of dumplings (sharing with me!)  after a full day of exploring Pingyao

Sarah standing in the door at Erlang temple in Pingyao

After a full day walking around, we got back into the hotel and settled for the night...then the lights flickered and went out...we heard a generator sputtering and it came and went...and the electricity stayed off all night!  The good news is, we had steam heat that was circulating, and we had big feather comforters and stayed warm.  I'm pretty sure this has happened before!  All part of the adventure!  The next day, we had to get up early to take our taxi to Taiyuan.  We were not entirely sure he would be there, but sure enough at 6:00am, he came rattling along and was there to take us back to Taiyuan.  Glad we had arranged him ahead of time because there was no taxi anywhere at that hour in Pingyao!  He took us back a different way and we were at the airport with time to spare.  Always better to be early than late at an airport!

All in all, it was a good trip..good to see another old city, and good to return home again!

So, now we come to the end of our trip...we come to the beginning of another new year in China.
May God bless you all and give us all health, happiness and gratitude for all we have.  We are blessed to call you our friends and thanks so much for your kind support over the years!

Sarah & Rod