Yesterday we left Skype on all day hoping that Meg would call us. Finally at midnight we got to talk to her. She looked good, she had showered and gotten some sleep. Because they don't heat the inside of their buildings we could see Meg's breath as she spoke to us!!!! She said it is very cold. She was wearing two jackets and her gloves, she said that she wished she had brought more warm clothing especially socks. She said that it seemed warmer outside then in the building. There are 17 adults in Meg's group so odd number Meg got her own room. She said the beds are hard but that she got to make hers a little softer because she used the pad from the other bed and comforter. Megs BIG complaint is that she "thought" that the teachers would have an "American" bathroom- but NOPE!! Poor Meg has to use a squatter there are no toilet seats to sit on and NO toilet paper!! Good for the thigh muscles -lol. She showed us pictures from her camera (how fun is that?!!) of the building, the city, the pollution (said it smells like car exhaust fumes and you can't see the blue sky or the mountains) she tried to email them to us but it wasn't working so hopefully soon will have some pictures to show you. She told and showed us all the things that they had been fed. She tried bamboo shoots but said they are gross. Nothing on the plate looked good - poor girl. She did eat the rice, she said that she is going to come back skinny:) They went to a store to get some supplies had fun trying to figure out what the items were. She said that people stared, pointed and followed them around. Some Chinese people had their pictures taken with the girls. Two blonds and a fair skinned brunette:) She said on the plane ride over they watched lots of movies. When they got to Shanghai they took a four hour bus ride to Changhzou. They will start teaching on Monday. They have had meetings and one of the head teachers won't call Megan - Megan. She says her name is Maggie. Megan tried to correct her a couple of times but gave up:) She said she doesn't know what they will do this weekend. They will try to go to church but it is far away. She hopes that she can find a place that sells hot chocolate and oatmeal:) They do have a microwave and washing machines (yeah). She also said that it was cute when they went out of the teacher building the kids would call "Hi teacher, hi teacher" This weekend kids get to go home and visit their families so she was greeted also by parents who said "hi" in Chinese (so she now knows how to say "hi":) It was wonderful to talk to her. She seemed happy. she did do alot of comparing America/China - but hey, there's alot of new stuff to get used to, especially the toilet - or lack of!!! For those of you that know Megan she can't do outhouses. She will hold her pee for days if she can. So we had a great time teasing her last night. She showed us a picture and told us it could be worse. Very proud of her:) Don't know when we will get to talk to her next but now I can finally eat - the knot in my stomach is a little smaller:) Won't be completely gone til she gets home. I am sooo proud of her, so excited for her adventure and all the things she is learning. All the new friends that she will make, and the children that she will teach and grow to love. To see places that most of us just see on tv. (yes, I'm crying:) I shall miss her tons but am very excited to hear of her adventures.
Love, Ricki
P.S. Appraiser came out last night to look at van. Now it goes to the shop! Rental car here I come - hope I don't like you, hee, hee:) I hadn't noticed that the trailer hitch is bent!! I'm taking it to the same place that fixed it last time - they did a great job. Hit twice in less then TWO years!!!
In case you are keeping score: Megan 4 accidents. Ricki 2 accidents. (in 2 1/2 years!!!) LOL LOL LOL LOL