Chris' entry

Ali's writing is so much more interesting to read than mine but I thought I should add some of my perspective and experience. It's not all about maidservants and chocolates...so this week I found a driver for me. Actually, we only have one vehicle and I don't have a drivers license yet so it is a necessity. Did I convince anyone?

My job has been crazy just like all new jobs are. My first three weeks were spent traveling to suppliers to conduct quality and program management systems audits. You can imagine how much fun that is for everyone. All the while I am trying to learn the stuff that I am trying to convince people that I am an expert of. So far so good. The learning curve is steep. All the while I am trying to do this in Chinese. I am also learning alot of language. This last week I was in the office because I was asked to prepare a presentation for our corporate heads/project sponsors.

Last week I went to have my health check for getting my drivers license. I have to go back this Thursday for the written test. They gave me a study guide with the answers. Some of the questions are hilarious.

Here is a sample:
55. Driving on the road covered with ice or snow, try your best not to turn the steering wheel lest the vehicle should:
a. Skid
b. Slide
C. Slip

(In case you were wondering the answer is 'a'.)

One more:

Before driving motor vehicles, drivers:
a. may drink a little alchoholic drinks.
b. must not drink alchoholic drinks.
c. are only allowed to drink beer.

(My first guess was 'c' but...)

I know Ali has included some classic Gabe moments, that many of you miss, so here is one I had yesterday.
We were getting out of a pool at a local expat. clubhouse (where Europeans are plentiful) and a man in a speedo walked out of the locker room with his son. This spectacle caught Gabe's eye especialy since they were no more than 8 or 9 feet from us. So in Gabe's loud voice he asks, "DAD, WHAT KIND OF SWIMSUIT IS THAT?!" . I answered him quickly in hushed tones, "Gabe, its called a speedo". Of course this is not an adequate answer for Gabe who is now pointing at the man's speedo, which is now 6 feet away and repeats his original question which he apparently felt I didn't hear because in a louder voice he repeated his question, "DAD, WHAT KIND OF SWIMSUIT IS THAT?" In desperation I tried to divert his attention or try to at least stop him from pointing and staring, but I was completely unsuccessful as the question was repeated a third time. Oh well, If the guy didn't want attention he shouldn't have been wearing a speedo.

It's been fun relearning Chinese and impressing everyone again. Since there are not a lot of foriegners that speak any Chinese or have any fluency they are always very complimentary of me and Ali. Both of us have been attending the respective Chinese Elders Quorum or Relief Society lesson.

When I was on my mission my companion and I would always fantasize about getting a phone call from the prophet in the middle of the night telling us that we were called to go and open China for proselyting. Well Ali and I have about the closest thing to that as you can get. Ali is a branch missionary and I was just called to be branch mission leader. We can only teach people that are foriegn passport holders or people that are married to foriegn passport holders. Shanghai is a very international city like NewYork or Hong Kong so we will be plenty busy.

Thanks for reading and we love to read your comments.