THE ENDING BLAST

Our friends kept asking when the school was going to have a party to end our time here. We kept saying no we would just end our time quietly. Then they would ask well will the Peace Corps have a big party for you. Well no actually when we leave the Peace Corps it will be just us two. So no BLAST to end our service. It turned out that we were wrong - the BLAST - just came from another source

We left for ChengDu on July 22. We arrived and began meeting with former students who came to see us to say goodby. Thanks to Natalie and Nancy, then thanks to Fisher and Wu Jun Wen, and then thanks to David and Roy. Ned and Lia arrived the next day and we had a day to recover and see a little of ChengDu. The highlight being dinner with our host family from two years ago. He JiMing and his wife, He RongRong, they met us with his mother and son and nephew and we shared a great dinner and some time together.

The next morning we were to meet Charlie and Nicole. Now you have heard about them several times. They were students way back in Model School in July of 2008. Then we saw them again several times. This last year they have been in the United States going to school. They were home for the summer and had originally agreed to take us into the mountains of SiChuan Province. But the elements did not allow as there were floods and mudslides just where we planned to travel. They were coming to take us to see the Pandas and to their hometown to meet their families.

The Panda reserve is very interesting. Somehow we got off the well travelled path and got to see some of the Pandas up close and personal. We had a good time wandering around the park and taking pictures. Ned and Lia were using this time getting to know Charlie and Nicole and vice versa. Instead of going to their home we went to a Buddlist Temple in XinDu. The temple is typical of the Buddhist temples we saw in China. I had told them I wanted Ned to get a chance to see one while he was in China. Then off to the hometown.

When we arrived we went to a business club where Charlie's father was waiting. Nicole's father we had met on the road and Charlie's mother was attached later to make a three car caravan to the dinner. It was a formal dinner around a huge table for the families and drivers and us. We had a grand time around the table talking. Among the highlights was the getting of an English name for Charlie's father. He now is known as "Chuck." A good time was being had by all when Chuck began to plan out time with his son. He wanted to go up the mountain with us so we needed to change the day and the mountain - but all that was fine with us. The four of us were then escorted to a great hotel where we spent a good night.

The next day we toured the sights of the town a park with memories of the Three Kingdoms and a market where they were catching Ducks. Then to Charlie's home where Nicole was studying and his mother and her cook had made us a great lunch. We had a Mah Jong lesson and a short rest and then off to the town's tower and park. We climbed the tower, rang the bells, and then walked through the woods and by the lake. Charlie spent some time on the phone all day. He and a classmate were in the process of establishing a car wash in the town, and they had business to do. One treat was we got to meet the business partner and good friend - we had hot pot together with bibs and all. Then back to the hotel and get ready for the mountain.

The next morning we were packed and ready to go. But plans had changed. Charlie's father had decided that we should go to E Mei Shan, one of the grand mountains of China. So we headed west to LeShan where we were to meet his father and then tour the Giant Buddha. We met up along the road - went to a boat on the Chang Jiang (Yangtze) - and had lunch with some business friends. They then escorted us to LeShan and the Buddha and to a private meeting room so we could meet the Abbott. Eventually our time ran out and off we went to E Mei with more escorts.

We arrived just in time to catch the last tram to the top, We walked around above the clouds, had dinner and got to bed early for an early morning sunrise at the top of the mountain.

The morning did come early. We and the other guests huddled in our coats and hurried to the top of the mountain hoping for a sunrise. The day was sunny but there were a lot of clouds. The sunrise was beautiful, but not the spectacle you get to see once in awhile. The sun did rise and cast its rays on the golden Buddhas at the top of the mountain. Quite an adventure for those still new to China and one most of our friends in YongChuan had never seen. We spent the afternoon hiking on the mountain up to a Taoist temple and through a bamboo forest. A great way to see the mountain. The mountain is famous for its notorious monkeys. We saw some of them but they paid no mind to us. After a late lunch we headed towards ChengDu, but there was to be another surprise.

On the way Charlie got another call from his father. He had arranged for us to meet his spiritual advisor, a monk who is 108 years old. He lives in a monastary on the outskirts of the city. When we arrived we were brought in and given an audience. I was able to use my limited Chinese to tell him about ourselves and ask about him. He then blessed each one of us who were given a prayer bracelet and a book commemorating his 100th birthday. Then off again to ChengDu where we stayed in the Royal International House Hotel. Five Stars all the way. We freshened up for dinner.

Dinner was held at an exclusive restaraunt where they serve only 12 meals a day. Charlie's father arrranged the meal for us with his classmates from his MBA school. The 12 of us had this amazing meal. I was at first scared that there would not be enough food becausethe first plates seemed to have little. I should know better. Each of the sixteen plates that came were masterpieces of food presentation. I am going to post here pictures of three of them so you can get a look. It was remarkable along with the toasting and the warmth of the friendship which had grown over the week with Charlie and his father. The Father is constructing the new campus of SiChuan Normal University. When it is ready he had me promise to come back and teach. I don't think I can turn him down.

The next day off to YongChuan to have our last good byes and to finish packing and closing up of our apartment. We arrived and had fish on the street with LIsa. The next morning we took pictures of and had our last meal of Du Jiang and You Tiao with Bao Zi. For lunch we went to my karate studio where we met Yang Lu and his family - showed off our Tai Chi and took pictures before having a lunch. It was one of the hardest goodbyes because with no English it is doubtful I will met them again. The evening was spent with our and Ned's good friends Teacher Liu and Jia Ping. Again they prepared for us and we exchanged gifts and songs and pleasant memories forever. The next morning we were up and everything ready to go. Ned and Lia were going to the airport on the 3 o'clock bus because of their early morning flight the next day. We had lunch with Becky and her family. As Ned said the restaraunt food is beautiful, but there is nothing better than home cooking. Another round of goodbyes and gifts and off to the bus station. Ned and Lia were off and we returned home for the last time.

Our last meal was with my good friend Wu Zhong Jun, the Horticulture teacher tennis player. He took us and a couple of our student friends for dinner. We had a great time around the table and in the food and in the walking home again. I am sad now as I write it, but at the time cveryone was upbeat The next morning we cleaned as best we could before students arrived at 10. Several of Renee's and then my students came to say goodbye and carry luggage for us. Mr. Liu the driver whi brought us to YongChuan was the one who took us away. At the airport two more friends arrived for a farewell - David our good friend and Renee's tutor and James the China Mobile Rep for our campus. Goodbye.

The flight home was long but uneventful. Chongqing to Beijing (where we ran to catch our plane), Beijing to LA (where we laid over after customs for 4 hours), LA to Phildelphia. Our dear friend and helper Theresa met us at the airport. Our luggage came quickly and we were home. Home enough to stop at Tom Jones for breakfast where we saw John Vairo. Then to 7 Cook Road a last picture and soon a nap. Home again.