Christmas Details

So after Christmas I did not post about our Christmas adventures in China. So now I am trying to get caught up and let everyone know what we did for Christmas. I had posted pictures of our Christmas decorations clear back on December 1, 2014. It is now 2015.

Gary and I celebrated Christmas in each of our classes this year. We both did the present game. For our family members you know what this is. For those who don't, it is a white elephant game. Each student brought one wrapped gift to exchange. At home we normally use dice to decide when someone gets a present. I actually used dice to do it in China, too. They loved that they had to get a yi or a liu (that's one or six in English) in order to choose a present. I was not going to do it that way, but we were talking about the traditions in the Wilson household and so I did it our traditional way. I talked about lights, Christmas trees, sitting on Santa's lap, stockings, opening presents, Christmas concerts and Christmas movies.

It was a wonderful week, but honestly by the time I was through on Friday afternoon I was ready for Christmas to be over. I don't think I have done so much Christmas all at once before. In the US, parties are spread out through the whole month. Below are pictures of the presents in some of my classes. It was fun to see it through the eyes of those who have never celebrated Christmas before.

We were invited to a Christmas Concert on the Sunday before Christmas. Our friend and one of my students, Li Zhixing took us to the Great Hall of People to see it. It was a wonderful experience. There are some Christians in China and the orchestra and choir sang many of the traditional Christmas songs: Joy to the World, God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, Hark, the Herald Angels Sing, Carol of the Bells, What Child is This?, Away in a Manger, Oh, Holy Night, The Hallelujah Chorus, and Silent Night. We were all asked to sing the words to Silent Night. It was amazing to hear the entire audience sing. There were only a few singing it in English. Most, of course, were singing it in Chinese. Gary was singing in German. What a wonderful song and the Spirit was there.

They played Amazing Grace, Nearer My God to Thee and How Great Thou Art, too. They even performed a Nativity. We were so grateful to Li Zhixing for taking us. What a fabulous way to start our Christmas week.

This picture is of Gary and I at the art museum before the concert. They were showing amazing watercolor art.

Li Zhixing is the tall young man in this picture. He and his debate team won first prize in the post-graduate debate contest. I was so proud of them. They are going to come over and cook Gary and I dinner in a week or so to say thanks for helping them in the debate.

On Christmas Eve, Gary and I watched our traditional movie, The Nativity. We had watched White Christmas on Thanksgiving Day night to start the holiday season. We actually carried these DVD's all the way from Utah just to make sure we would be able to carry on these traditions.

On Christmas Day, I got to teach two classes about Christmas. Gary did not have to teach, so he stayed home to get the house ready for Christmas dinner. We had invited some friends over to have dinner with us. 

Anyway, after classes were over, we decided to go to one of the post offices on campus to see if we could find the package that Lizzie and Luke sent us. They had sent it in the earlier part of December. The man who worked there did not speak English, so we thought we would be leaving without a package, that the package had gotten lost in the mail. However, while Gary was talking to this man, I happened to look to my right where a bunch of packages were piled up. I don't know what made me look, but I turned and looked. There was a box with the markings of the USPS Priority Mail box. I tried to glance at the name on the package, but all I could see was the word Henderson. I thought, Henderson NV. I did not think that there was any other US teacher here with a family member in Henderson. I said to Gary that I think I found our package. Sure enough, when I got it out of the pile, I saw Lizzie's name and then our names. What a wonderful Christmas miracle and joy it was to find our package. It had been sitting there for over a week. We forgot to have Lizzie put our Chinese phone number on the package. We were so excited about it and felt very lucky it arrived. Many times packages don't come or are never found. We still have one from the Paskett family that we are looking for.

So if you would like to send us a package (no obligation because it is expensive), please send it to the following address:

Gary and Suzette Wilson

International Teachers Program

Qingdao University               

No. 308 Ningxia Road

Qingdao, Shandong

P.R.China, 266071     

Phone: 150 9208 9417 

After we found the package, we rushed back to our apartment and opened our presents. We both had stockings that we had filled and had presents under our little tree. We opened our presents. We were so excited to see all of the things in the package from Lizzie, Luke and Sara. Milk duds, swedish fish, hair color, makeup, gravy, taco seasoning, spaghetti sauce, and many other wonderful things. 

Gary got me a popcorn popper. I was so excited. It is just like the one I had at home. We were able to get popcorn on Taobao. It's like Amazon. So now I can have popcorn whenever I want. I got him a white dress shirt, a sweater, and a bag to carry stuff in when we go around the city. He got Mike and Ikes and many other things in the package, too.

 These last two pictures are of Christmas dinner with our Chinese friends. From left to right, Leanne, Annie, Bonnie, Gary, Lisa, Alice, Jason and Li Zhixing. Fan Chenglei was supposed to be here, but he had to go to his friends wedding. It was a fun night! We had pork roast, potatoes, gravy, deviled eggs (which most of the kids loved), punch that Lizzie sent us and mini-pumpkin pies for dessert.

The only thing that would have made Christmas better was to be with our family, but we were able to talk to all of our kids except David and to our parents. What a wonderful day it turned out to be!