Shaoxing Weekly Number One

Communication is a symbolic act OR going to Kentucky Fried Chicken.

 I was going to label this composition a “Tale of Two Cities” however, that title has been spoken for. At this point you may be wondering ‘what is the meaning of the title above?’ Fair enough. Read on and I will explain further in this brief newsletter.

This past summer yours truly finished his Master of Science in Communication. I examined how communication, between human beings, is a symbolic act. Many of you reading this probably know what Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) is. For those of you who do not know, this establishment is found all over the United States and China.  So when I write about KFC we may have a similar idea about this establishment. While KFC is not sponsoring this newsletter, I will say that this establishment is one of my favorite places in the United States and China.

I had the opportunity to live in China from August 2006 until June 2007. I lived in a small placed called Dawukou 大武口- it had one KFC. In 2006 my Chinese was good enough to say Ni Hao 你好 (hello) and xie-xie谢谢 (thank you). A friend gave me some coupons for this place. I then clipped out the coupons and handed them to the cashier. The picture on those coupons enabled us to have an understanding of what I wanted. Eventually I ran out of coupons, that reality made interpersonal communication an interesting experience over the next few months. After learning how to say ‘Qing gei wo’请给我 (Please give me), I was able to order off a small picture menu. The images on the menu enabled me and the cashier to effectively conduct business

In 2010, the privilege of being back in China is again mine. This time I am in Shaoxing (绍兴) which is in the Zhejiang (浙江) province. I am about three hours away from Shanghai (上海) by car. I received my salary this past week. You guessed it-I went to KFC.

However, there are a few more foreigners in Shaoxing; some of us are teachers and others are business people. Shaoxing has about 4 or 5 KFCs. The workers at the one I went to have a system to help out clueless foreigners like me. By the time I got up to the cashier, they had a small menu ready for me to look at. I confidently said to the cashier, Wo yao…我要(I would like…), and point at the pictures.

I’ve been here in Shaoxing nearly three weeks and yet it feels like I arrived yesterday. This place is huge and filled with many things to write about. As the weeks progress I’ll share more of my experiences with you, my reader. My goal in these newsletters is to give you a written account of the tapestry that is Shaoxing. So if we ever meet face-to-face, we’ll have the same understanding and mental picture, about this place.

Until then, Zaijian (Good-bye) 再见!

R. Draeger Jr.  Hao Yun 好运.

Shaoxing Report: Special Edition

Sept, 21, 2010

Why I’m grateful to be in China

The last few newsletters I wrote introduced you to some concepts of my life here in Shaoxing. These newsletters revolved around going to Kentucky Fried Chicken and finding a clean and legitimate foot massage place. However there is a story that I must tell so you can understand why I’m grateful to be in this land and surrounded by people that I admire so much.

For the last three years, yours truly has been on a warfarin regiment. I have an increased ability to form a blood clot in any part of my body. I would like to say that I learned about this after a routine doctor visit, but that was not the case.

On the morning of September 19th, 2007, I woke up and was short of breath. Before this day I was in relatively good health, even though the night before I was winded after walking up a flight of stairs. I got dressed and decided to go to the nurse. She would not let me leave her office until my heart rate and breath were back to normal. She also told me to get my heart checked out by a doctor at a near-by free clinic. I said I would do so on Friday, when I did not have to work. I left her office and climbed another flight of stairs to my class; again I was short of breath.

After class, I was again short of breath, really short. My roommate (who is one of the best friends I’ve ever known), bless him, was even concerned about me. My mind, at the time, was concerned with my next two classes and going to work latter in the day. I made a phone call to my work telling them I was under the weather. I made arrangements to simply ‘man the register’ when I got there. However, my shortness of breath was getting worse by the minute.

I don’t know what changed in my mind, but I called the area hospital. I told them of my chest pains and that I had no money or insurance. That did not stop them from sending an ambulance to my dormitory. In moments the first responders were on the scene, followed by the ambulance. Before I was put onto the ambulance, my College’s President spoke some words of encouragement to me.

Before long, I was in the emergency room of the hospital. My roommate even showed up to offer me encouragement. I was grateful for that because he also had health challenges. After the IV and contrast, I was diagnosed with a massive pulmonary embolism (a blood clot in the lungs). It was effectively suffocating me as it was lodged between my heart and lungs. The hardest part, for me, was calling my parents. I called home and my mother answered. Two days before was her birthday. I informed her of my condition; she did not say much but handed the phone to my father. I informed him as well. I also told him I would be going to Abbot’s Northwestern Hospital which was up in Minnesota’s Twin Cities area.

The Emergency room doctor informed me that a Flight-for-Life Helicopter would take me from the town I was in up to the cities. I had no idea how close to eternity I was that day. The next few days I spent up at Abbot’s Northwestern Hospital. My first few days were spent in the Intensive Care Unit. My parents came up from Wisconsin to visit me in the hospital, as did my sister and cousin who lived in the area.

By grace, and three years later, I’m here in China. I am grateful to be in such an ancient, yet enduring land and filled with friendly people. I do not know when the next blood clot will come. Until that time comes, I will enjoy meeting new friends as well as visiting old ones. I will enjoy learning about them and learning more about the miracle that is China.

Farewell Dawukou 2007

Newsletter 34

By: R. Draeger Jr.

Leaving on a Jet Plane…

I am forever grateful to my fifth grade teacher for introducing my class to the trio of Peter, Paul and Mary. In the fifth grade our teacher taught us the basics of reading, writing and arithmetic. She also taught us other things that dealt with the arts so I gained an appreciation for drama and the oldies. We must have put on two or three plays that year, and I have had an appreciation for the arts ever since. But I digress, sorry. I’d be grateful to see Peter, Paul and Mary in concert, if they have not yet retired. I’d like to especially hear the song, “Leaving on a Jet Plane”.

My appreciation of air craft is due to the fact that I grew up in the United States Air Force. I was surrounded by aircraft, except for the time we spent inWaukesha,WI. In the month of May alone I was on 4 jet planes as I went to Xian andBeijing. The reason for this is that when I initially came toChinaI became sick on the flight. That was due to the fact that I sat next to a kid who was sick. Needless to say that left a sour taste in my mouth as far as flying went.

Can you believe how fast time has gone for me here? I can barely believe it myself. It seems that I wrote the first of these newsletters yesterday. Now here I am writing the final one as my time comes to an end in this wonderful place. As that happens, my friends are inviting me out for lunch and dinner. I am grateful for the distraction that those meals provide. Because when I come to my pad the reality that my time is coming to and end is very evident.

I know that this newsletter is rather short. This is because my time here is short. For those of you who live in WI, I’ll see you sometime in the near future. Well, I’m off to another distraction.

Zaijian….

The Final Countdown

By: R. Draeger Jr.

The Final Countdown

I imagine that the city of Paris, France is an impressive city. I can only imagine because I have never seen that city, by my parents and sister have. I can say with confidence though, that the Black Forest, or Schwartzwald, in Germany is beautiful. Even though I only spent three days there while I was in the Fourth Grade at Zwiebrucken Elementary School. Mount Rushmore in South Dakota is also an impressive site. I’ve seen it twice and I have the witnesses to support me. When I was eight years old Germany seemed more a prison than the place where I lived.

 Having been here in China for nine months I can now say there is a difference between visiting a place and living in one. While growing up in Germany I visited Bavaria and Berlin, but I lived in Zweibrucken. I’ve since grown up and Fate has taught me the difference between living in a place and merely visiting one. It involves more that getting groceries.

 One of my joys in living in China has been writing these newsletters. This is because telling you what it is like here is as great as being here. I’ve also written these newsletters so in the chance we meet in the States you won’t have to ask me for the 143 time what was it like. Just kidding, feel free to ask the number one question. As an added bonus I’ll let you ask it for free.

Living in China means that one has a number of friends. These friends might be a little brother (or di-di) who will come over to play international chess or video games. This di-di is also a person who will fill in the void of free time when you have nothing planed. He understands your English enough to where he laughs at your jokes. This friend might also be an adopted little brother who is not from Dawukou. This adopted family member will invite you to visit the rest of the family who lives in another part of China. You find yourself going along not knowing what to expect. Then your expectations are blown away by the generosity and friendship of complete strangers.

 Or this friend might be the little sister, or two, that you’ve never had. This little sister you may meet on a train, and because she majored in English she strikes up a conversation with you. This is addition to the apple she gives you and the invitation to visit her family. When you visit her family and the bus leaves as 5 PM you are blown away because they invite you to stay the night. Then they make fried chicken for dinner after showing you around their city. This little sister may live in another city, or in Dawukou. When the weather is nice you find yourself going for a walk with her to one of the many parks here in Dawukou. Because she is nervous about an up and coming test you have the opportunity to encourage her.

 Living in a place means that you have absolutely no fear in going for a walk by yourself. This walk may be to the corner shop where you’ve stopped more times than you can count. At this corner store you see the same smile day after day and know that they have Oreos, which is just enough of America. They also have instant noodles which may be the dinner for many a night, but be careful of the spicy ones. They won’t burn your mouth, but they will make you breath fire. This walk may take you a bit farther to a dumpling restaurant that also serves green beans and garlic. It helps to be a foreigner in this place. The waitress knows what you order and you know how much it costs.

 Or if you are brave enough this walk will take you to the supermarket. Make sure to check your bag before you go into the store though, but don’t worry, there are baskets given for your convenience. Going to this place time after time you realize that this place has American chocolate chip cookies, or as you know them as Chips Ahoy. Make sure, however, that you don’t go grocery shopping on an empty stomach. Go into the KFC, or Dicos, and eat something. Don’t worry about the language barrier at these two places. I have them trained well enough to where they pull out the menu for all foreigners. It also seems that the people who serve me end up on the Employee of the Month Plaque. Hey, I am happy to help them out.

 Living in a place means that after nine months the language barrier is not what it once was. You are able to tell a taxi driver where you live and they understand you. You can communicate with your students, minimally, in their language and that makes life easy for them. Until you give them a test, in which case life becomes very difficult.

 Living in a place such as Dawukou means that you can see the past of a very ancient country in the city of Xian. You can learn a little bit about the history of this ancient land. You learn enough to know that you have to spend a lifetime here to even learn a fraction of its history. You also learn how to negotiate for a lower price on a silk garment. Living in a district such as this you can visit the future of China by going to Shanghai. You can hope the best for the Chinese people that go there trying to make a future a bright one.

 The difference between living in a place and merely visiting a place is vast. My only regret is that this time next month I will have to say good-bye to this place. Yet I know that while this place will be left behind, the next place is waiting to be met.

 Zaijian!

A Reason to Be Happy

By: R. Draeger Jr.

A reason to be happy

             Anniversaries are funny things aren’t they? To be completely honest I am not married nor do I have a girlfriend. However, anniversaries can accompany just about any event, I believe. For example next May I will be graduated from Lakeside Lutheran High School for exactly 10 years. I have now been graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater for two years. Think about your own life for a moment. If you are married or single like me, you have many events in your life that you mark with time. Latter you mark that period of time with an anniversary of some kind.

Normally a person can ask you when you will celebrate your birthday. Well, there is only one day that is your actual birthday. That is when your mother gave you life. The rest of them are actually the anniversary of your birthday. Speaking of which, my di-di (little brother) celebrated the 21^st anniversary of his birthday this past Monday. My biological Jie-Jie (older sister) celebrated the anniversary of her birthday. I’ll only say that she’s over Thirty, by one year.

This past Thursday marked my ninth anniversary here in the District of Dawukou which lies in the City ofShizuishan, in theprovinceofNingxiain the People’s Republic of China. While my departure is fast approaching (when I am writing this I have only 20 days left here) I have many reasons to be happy and to be thankful for.

The first are the many friendships that I’ve formed with the wonderful people here in this corner ofChina. I’ve also made friendships with people from other parts ofChinain places such asShanghai, Xian, Chuzhou andBeijing. When I first arrived here I had only the television and bare walls to look at. I was grateful, however, for the video game on the television which helped to pass time. The great thing about my friends is that I can call them up on a Wednesday and we’ll be going to a park or watching a movie together that very day.

Friends are also great because make traveling and bargaining so much easier. They also provide a kind of security when walking about in public, or a sense of wonder. I imagine that when I am walking with a friend in this town the people look at us and wonder “What is that foreigner doing with a Chinese person?” I don’t mind because it is nice to walk and talk with someone. Also when you least expect it they’ll invite you to their hometown in Inner Mongolia or the Anhui Province.

I am grateful for having visited Shanghai, Xian andBeijing. When I first came to China only Shanghai was on my mind, and when I visited this city it was certainly a dream come true.Shanghaiis the place where a sense of adventure is required. It demands the utmost attention and will drain you physically, but it gives so much more in return. This city gives you the satisfaction of having seen with your own eyes what you’ve seen in the pictures. This city and the adventure both to it and from it gave me enough material for four newsletters too.

Xian is also a wonder to behold. This is a city that is thousands of years old. The Terra Cotta warriors, parks, museums and the city wall testitfy that this city is as old as time itself. This place, however, is not stuck in the past. Like much of China it is striving to be a part of the 21^st century. One has to look no father than the McDonald’s or Starbucks to see how Xian is becoming a city of the 21^st century.

It is official; I have spent more time in the capitals of Russia and China than I have in the capital of theUnited States. Some day I’ll correct this, but for now I have no regrets.Beijingis a very manageable city. I was very grateful for the subway system, which made it easier to get around this magnificent city. I was very grateful to see the Bird’s Nest which will be the site of the 2008 Olympics. I was grateful to have eaten pizza in this very Chinese city.

 I am happy to have spent this time here inChina. I am grateful for having been here in the district of Dawukou and meeting it’s people. Before I arrived here I was told my time here would go fast. The people who told me that were right, it has gone fast, but it has gone well.

Parables

By: R. Draeger Jr.

Proverbs

20 years ago this summer my family was living in Germany for the second time because my father was still working for the United States Air Force. My parents took it upon themselves to instill in me an appreciation of the German culture that I was surrounded by. They did this by taking a trip to Bavaria, which lies in the south of Germany. They took the opportunity to take my sister and me to the famous Neuschwanstein (New-Schwan-Stine), which was on a high hill. After spending time there it was time to come down and get some dinner. The trip down was going alright until the last few steps for me. Loose gravel is perhaps my one known weakness. To this day I have the scar from that slip.

  An old Chinese proverb goes something like this: Going up the mountain is easy. Coming down the mountain is hard. Having lived here now 8 months I can now say that the Chinese are perhaps the wisest people on planet Earth. After all, they have had nearly 5000 years to learn from. This knowledge not only addresses issues such as mountain climbing, but which foods are good for the body. If I could spend a life time here I am sure that I could learn much more from these wise and friendly people.

 Even though I am in a considerable amount of pain right now, I would not have it any other way. My day officially began at lunch time where I had my favorite dish, Green Beans with Garlic (Gung bian do jaow) with friends. The beauty of living in China is that things are rarely planed in advance. So on this day when I did not know what I would do, my afternoon and weekend were planned for me. Much like my up a coming trip to Xian.

 Before lunch was over it was decided that we would go Pa Shan (or Mountain Climbing). I was invited to come along and so I said yes. One of my fellow teachers was a part of the hiking planning committee and so I was just a little nervous about this adventure. But it beat the alternative of just sitting in my apartment watching a movie, especially because time here in China is short.

 After going back to our apartments and making the necessary clothing change we commandeered some taxis and off we went. After some technical difficulties we would begin our hike at a little after 5 PM (or WU Dian). Our goal in mountain climbing would involve going to see some rock art. I will say that at this point I did not bring my camera, which considering the event was a wise choice.

 Going up, even with my challenges, was rather easy. Even with no clearly marked path it was easy for our group to go up the mountain. At this point I will say that even though I was the slowest, I went the highest. I knew no fear as I climbed this mountain.

 Descending down the mountain was a new challenge because there was no clearly marked path. I will say that at this point, mountain climbing requires critical thinking, movable appendages and a little luck. While my legs were long enough to get me down the mountain, even at some points I worked with members of my hiking group to get down the mountain.

 The area in question was a drop of more than 8 feet, and it was to the point where we would have to go back up and go down another way. There were two paths that we could try to navigate. The group chose another path, but I was about to go down another which was safe enough for my purposes. After the group objected I went down their path and made my way down the mountain with the rest of them. This reflects the Jewish Proverb that says a person should go with a friend. This way if one of them falls the other can help them up.

 I am grateful for this proverb and the friends I went with on this day. I wouldn’t have it any other way!

 Zaijian!

Lessons Learned

By: R. Draeger Jr.

 Lessons Learned

 Today has been very productive for me, despite recovering from mountain climbing yesterday. I have been able to write two newsletters and so I hope you enjoy them! Do you ever go into a new situation and try to learn something from it? The situation could be anything from trying sushi to sky diving. Before you go through whatever may be, how blank is your slate? I am grateful that Fate gave me a blank slate before coming to China. Through many experiences the slate of my life that I entitled “China” has been filled with many wonderful memories.

 This past week my school, the Ningxia Institute of Science and Technology had two days of sports for the students. In China I have learned that there is no such thing as a day off, and so since the sports days happened on school days my weekend would be different. I told my students that because we had class on Sunday (this very day) we would go to Forest Park.

 Before I had these students I was told that they would be a challenge to teach. Eight months ago I began teaching these “Diamonds in the Rough” and they were a challenge. The first semester that I had them they taught me how to make a decision and stick with it. Even though they did so unawares I am grateful that these kids were given to me. I learned that it is alright to give a weekly test. My father used to say, “If it doesn’t kill you it will make you stronger” and that applied to them as well as me the first semester.

 At one point one of my students did not pass the course because she missed a few major tests. While the justice in me said that she needed to face the consequences of her actions, she is the second student to teach me something. The powers that be said that she would be dropped out of the school, and at this point I am grateful that the decision did not rest with me. When this semester rolled around I asked my students the first day of class if she was back at school. They said yes she was back, so I resolved to teach her while she was in my classroom.

 Through this student I learned the beauty of a second chance that Fate so often gives me. Her attendance has been perfect this semester and she passed the mid-term test with flying colors. She has also helped me tremendously in the task of learning Chinese language. My biggest challenges are the four tones and how to say them. With her help they are not such a big challenge anymore.

 On the day of 29 April 2007 we met by the classroom at 2:30 PM. I was grateful that the weather was excellent for our trip. I was even more grateful for their company through Forest Park. This large bit of park in Dawukou lies at the foot of the Helen Mountains. I told my students that we would not go mountain climbing today because I was stiff from yesterday. They did not complain because the chance to have class outside of the room was hopefully worthwhile.

 On this day they reminded me of what I was some 10 to 12 years ago, and how far Fate has brought me to this point. At this point in their lives they are just in the second of five years from earning their diplomas. This school, I was told, was their last chance. They have taught me how give any task my all. Even though I am only in their lives for this moment, I will give them all I can. This is being done with the mindset that they will compete against 1.3 Billion people in this country alone.

 They taught me what it means to have fun at their age. It is amazing what can happen when nine strangers come together. Last semester I was tough with them and it has paid off, and this is further evidence of what can happen with a second chance.

 When we arrived at the Wudong Temple that sits at the base of the mountain we had our picnic. Picking out a table in the shade we shared the things we had brought for our time together. I’ve learned that as time comes to a close in any adventure the moments become more and more precious. The seconds that I spent with them seemed like minutes, but the two hours crept by too quickly. Even when class was finished we did not part company as we sang songs and played games.

 As we left the Wudong Temple area some of my students took a taxi because they had to get home. So I wished them a good break and went with some of my other students who had chosen to walk. Joking around with my students and them teaching me Chinese were the perfect ending to this class session. Before I parted company with the students who had chosen to walk they asked me when I was leaving for America. I gave them the answer to which they then asked if I would miss them. I said that I would, and they said they would miss me too. Talk about a heart-breaker.

 When we come back from May holiday I’ll only have four weeks with them. I would not change the time spent with them, for better or worse, for anything in the world.

 Zaijian!

Learning to say goodbye

Newsletter 29

By: R. Draeger Jr.

Learning to say good-bye

I remember exactly twenty years ago about this same month. My family had just relocated to what was then West Germany and we were only in our second month out of a total four years. I was not thrilled to be in this country, even though I was born in it eight years earlier. The one person that changed it was a young lady who had shoulder length brown hair and a nice smile. At Zweibrucken Elementary School we were in the same “Moonbeams” reading class.

 Even as a kid it was nice to have someone to talk to on the buss. This young lady, however, would be the first in a never ending process that is all too common with Military Brats. I do regret not having walked her home a little more often, especially since I was in the throws of “Puppy Love”. She would be out of my life by the time the next school semester started. I have not seen her for these twenty years. When I was growing up in the United States Air Force I learned how to say “Hi” and then “Good-bye” to friends. The “Good-bye” could come as early as the next week or it could come later. It does not get easier to say “Good-bye” even as the years go on.

 Such is now my situation here in China. When I was in the midst of returning to Yinchuan from Chuzhou I faced a similar situation. The young lady, while not my girlfriend (new pang-you), was indeed a welcomed friend. Her curly brown hair and nice smile were a sight for sore eyes compared to the other faces that sat across from me during that trip.

 I was grateful that she lived in Yinchuan, which is only an hour south of Dawukou. The week of Spring-Festival I spent with her and her family in Yinchuan. By way of size, Yinchuan is rather larger than my current city. That was until I met Cindy and she brought it down to size for me. I can now successfully navigate my way through the capital city of the Ningxia Province. This capital city, however, will not be the same much longer. As it was a source of joy, although temporary, it will soon become the opposite for two reasons.

 My friend has found a job in Xining, which is in a province that borders Tibet. It is far away from Ningxia Province. I will remember, however, the times we spent together. I will cherish them, and hope that one day either in this life or even eternity, that we can meet once more. I will not forget going to the zoo with her in Yinchuan or ridding the Ferris wheel. I will remember with fondness how I took her by the hand and led through a cave that was designed to frighten those who walk through it, or how she screamed at one point because of a hideous laugh.

 I will also remember her family, who adopted me and taught me a little bit of Chinese. The times spent with her and her family I will be grateful for. Fate knows that they fed and watered me well. Especially when her brother-in-law made Fried Chicken for me, it was delicious. I guess that I can take pleasure in the fact that we’re still on the same planet.

 Yinchuan, apart from now becoming a shell of its former self, is also a heart-breaker. In 50 some days I will be leaving from there. The trip I take from there will be when I go back to Wisconsin. I guess in the mean time I’ll have to learn how to say good-bye…

 Zaijian

Mid Autumn Festival 2011

Mid Autumn Festival…

The temperature in Shaoxing has been hot during the last few days. It is still warm enough to convince me that it summer is still active. My Chinese friends, however, tell me that it is the middle of autumn here in the Middle Kingdom. I, as a foreigner, am still trying to wrap my mind around this idea. I’m still wearing shorts and short sleeve t-shirts it is so hot outside. I’ll probably be wearing this get up until the end of October; that is unless I am in class.

Another festival I am trying to get the gist of is the Mid-Autumn Festival. This was observed during the last few days in China. I am not sure of the history of this observance; I’m not even sure what role this plays in people’s lives in the People’s Republic of China. The only certainty of this festival is the Moon Cakes which are liberally distributed between friends, families, and in schools.

Moon cakes are not exactly like Hostess or Little Debbie snacks. They can be bitter, sweet, or salty; I like the sweet ones. The nice thing about these Moon Cakes is that they are served once a year; much like egg nog in the United States during Thanksgiving and Christmas time.  In a few weeks, the moon cakes will have run their course at dinner tables in China.

For yours truly, the Mid Autumn Festivals of 2010 and 2011 had one similarity: Friends from the Zhejiang Province, and Shanghai.

This year, my friends from these two places came to my neck of the woods: Shaoxing.

The highlight of day one, Saturday, was our meal at the Hunan Restaurant. This was a Chairman Mao themed restaurant. There is artwork on the walls from past and present times. We (20+) sat on benches at two tables joined together. Before the food came, we had to give a small speech. As I was the oldest, I went first. I learned more about my friends that I did not know before. Later, those of us who were musically inclined (not me) began signing, “Wagon Wheel” by Old Crow Medicine Show.

The highlights of day two were going out for BBQ and playing Ultimate Frisbee. I’m grateful that the weather held out for this event. This event was not played by all the people; 10 of us played (including yours truly). This event is similar to American Football, except a Frisbee is used; and a lot of running. My contribution was to wait near the end zone. If my team was successful, then I did my part to catch the disc in the end zone. My team mates and I did our best but came up short. Later we all went out to dinner and KTV. In China, BBQ is bits of meat, vegetables on little sticks. Similar to Shish Kabobs, but the portions are smaller and so are the sticks. Also, the food can be very hot. This was done at our relocated favorite BBQ place (more on that at a later time on my blog).

The last main event, after dinner, was going to Karaoke Television (KTV). Since only two of our Chinese friends came along, we sung nearly all English songs. I had my chance to sing Africa (by Toto). This after dinner get together was highlighted by a birthday cake for Renaissance Man (he plays music, loves math, and is very athletic, and is a very good friend).  However, even KTV has close and our time together would end the next day.

I am grateful for my American and Chinese friends in this neck of the woods. As I spend more time with them (i.e. Halloween), I’ll tell you about it!

Thanks for reading,

R. Draeger Jr.    Hao Yun  好运

-Follow me in my travels during January and February at bitburger79.wordpress.com!-