For the People

One of our guides said that it is safe for westerners to travel in China because the people will not do anything to us in fear that the government will come down severely on them.  Sometimes we hear the word "Laowei" from the Chinese around us, this can be translated 'Barbarian'.  Unlike the American melting pot, for many years the Chinese have been a closed society and trained to look at all non-Chinese as outsiders.  This sentiment still holds with many but, as far as I can tell, cannot be isolated to any particular age group.  I think we are more often than not seen as a curiosity.  This is evidenced in the many dozens of picture requests for the girls and the sheer excitement that seems to overcome some people when they see our kiddos.  Patti and I have had our days in the sun as well with a few solo requests, but only when the kids are not around.

Another real ice-breaker is when we speak in Chinese.  It can be phrases as simple as Thank You and Goodbye that bring a smile and a brightness to their eye.  Those that can do so say enthusiastically "Ahh Chinese" with big smiles on their faces.  We met on 80ish year old man in an auto stop and he was very excited to talk to in his new found tongue, English.  He asked Tara what her favorite thing about China was, she said the people.  When asked what she disliked the most, she said that disgusting toilets, he agreed.

We are unsure of how Riley will handle being a former child star.  At times she was really hamming it up, and seeking out the cameras by looking and smiling at everyone she could.  She told mom that she does not think that people like her because of her blond hair, but because she is cute.  I overheard Riley goading Tara by saying "You have to have at least one embarrassing moment in your life, why not now?"  The unprepared victims of her smiling and saying hello in Chinese would always respond in kind.

The girls have been great travel companions on this trip not only for us but for the rest of the folks in the group.  The clan would vary in size as people dropped in and out but all of them really seemed to take delight in the kids and were very complimentary about there behavior and their ability to manage themselves in the group.  The guides really took the biggest liking as these are the first kids on the tour and they really liked the change of pace and spirit it leant to the group.