Our Chinese Family

The other day, the eight of us girls were eating at a noodle shop that had opened up below our apartment building.  We were really excited about the shop opening because they made stretchy noodles!  We were such a big group that the owner had to bring a table outside.  We were eating outside in the middle of the walkway.  Everyone was watching, because not only were we in the middle of the way, but we were all American.  A very nice dressed woman pulled up in her car, got out and began to stare at us.  She walked to the building next door but continued to look in our direction.  We proceeded to watch as this woman didn't go into the store and began to walk back towards us.  Eventually, she made her way to our table.  She looked at us and began to speak Chinese.  We tried our best to explain to her that we only spoke English.  She understood and responded back to us, partially in Chinese and partially in English.  Long story short, we arranged a schedule where we are going to teach her and her 14 year old son English.  She wanted to pay us, but we aren't allowed to accept cash through our program.  She was so confused with this information and we explained to her that we would have to do an exchange.  So in exchange for English lessons, her family is going to teach us how to cook.  No one in her family speaks any English and so we were anxious to get started!  Last night was our first night having dinner with her family.  Her parents cooked for us and we were told that they were excellent cooks.  And oh boy, they weren't just excellent cooks, they were MIGHTY cooks.  It was the best meal that I have had here in China so far.  The food was fresh and it tasted delicious.  We were so grateful for the meal that they had prepared for us.  After we had finished eating dinner, her mother pulled out a bag of Doritos chips.  You should have seen the faces of all the American girls.  It was a dessert that I will never forget.  We gave her family American names so that we would be able to call them by something that we can actually pronounce.  Her Chinese name translates to Sharon in English, and then we gave her son the name Tyler.  We also gave her parents' nick names and they were so happy about this.  We call her father, Poppy and her mother, Nanny.  Every time we would use their nick names, they would put the biggest smile on their faces.  It was a great night as we ate, tried to teach them words in English and we showed them where we live on a map.  I am grateful for the relationships I am making in China and I am glad that we now have family to call our own.