On My Own!

We enjoyed our last lazy susan meal together today at lunch. The way a lzay susan works is that the dishes are put on there and then you just turn to the dish you want. Of course, the susan is filled with many dishes, vegiies meats, soups, rice, fruits, etc. It's pretty slick. Today I tasted the dragonfly fruit. It's sliced like a watermelon, but it is white with small black seeds in it. I don't know what the rind looks like. It's really good!

Anyway, we said our goodby's as a group. I leave first thing in the morning for Xiamen. Jeff is heading off by train to Vietnam and then to a rickshaw race in India. Clare met up with her husband and brother today, they are traveling around China for a couple more weeks. Nicole is heading back home tomorrow and the rest of the group is going on to Hong Kong. Oh, Ming is leaving for Beijing and home tomorrow.

I am glad to know that everyone is fine at home and my cats and dogs are doing OK without me. My countdown has begun now, 9 more days (that's including two Tuesdays, the day I fly back home. I bought a birth year protection jade necklace today at the Shanghai City Buddist Temple. Prof. Rick (born the same year) says that as it is our 'year of the Pig' this year, we need extra protection from unpleasant (or worse) events. This piece of red jad (agate) has my yearly protector (a general of some sort), so I will be able to travel even more safely now : )

So, a few of us are heading out for a nice dinner somewhere for our last night. I can tell you it will NOT be Chinese food! Maybe a soup and sandwich place, pizza or an Irish pub...not sure. I will write from Xiamen.

Steph

Thanks Matt for taking care of the house and the yard this weekend...write to me!! Mom