Well today (Christmas Eve) we got back from our adventure in Beijing. It was a wonderful 4 day trip with our friends the Faillas. I had mentioned that we were going to take the overnight train (12 hours) and it turned out to be not too bad. To be honest it was kinda nostalgic to travel by train and I look forward to doing it more in the future. On our trip out however, Heather and I hardly slept, mainly because we were taking care of the girls through the night and early morning as well as our cabin being the hottest place on earth. Returning home last night was much more pleasant as we all slept pretty good.
With going to Beijing I think Heather and I looked forward most to eating out and enjoy some nice American pleasures we don’t get in Xian. And the food didn’t let us down one bit. We ate at; TGIF’s, Peter’s Tex-Mex, and finally Outback Steakhouse to celebrate our friend Chris’ birthday. I miss giant burgers that require two people to lift. And this trip allowed me to get a couple of those.
Also, Heather and I were able to get a couple small Christmas presents for the girls. We’re excited because we brought back a 5 foot tall white board/chalk board easel for the girls, as well as some art supplies and stuffed animals. Tomorrow we will have them open them and with all children, we’re looking forward to their reaction.
Outside of these highlights it was a blast to take Sydney swimming a few times at our hotel and to just get to enjoy being together as a family.
Thank you to all our family who helped make this Christmas present a reality. Without you we wouldn’t have been able to do it. We love you all!
The petersons
December 24, 2009
December 19, 2009
We're off to Beijing!
You read it right, we’re off to Beijing. About a month ago my wife and I decided that for her birthday and our Christmas present we should go to Beijing for a few days. Our good friends the Faillas also wanted to go to Beijing and so we talked about going together. I loved the idea and since she really didn’t get to celebrate her birthday (because I was really sick) I glad we’re doing it. She didn’t even get signs hung on her birthday and that’s a crime in our home!
So after saving Heather’s birthday money and putting aside our Christmas money we’re going to do it. And actually we’re leaving tonight… on a train. So tonight all of us (four adults and four kids) will ride the train for 12 hours through the night and arrive in Beijing the next day. Ummm, I’m nervous, but excited. We plan to swim in the hotel as much as we can, enjoy some food that we haven’t been able to for a while, shop at IKEA and even hit up some fun unique things. It’s a great way for us to get out of our city for a little bit to get recharged. We’ll keep all of you posted.
I will write about our time when we get back (the morning of December 24th).
Until then,
The Petersons
December 15, 2009
Arcade Action In Xian
We found a great little hang out place this week. It’s an arcade here in Xian and is flat… out… amazing. We nicknamed it “Chucky Cheese’s” and even shouted our traditional “This is the best day ever!” line as we entered. We went with a group of our friends as a little going away hang out time with our friend Lisa who is heading back to the States.
When we arrived Sydney was overwhelmed with all the lights and sounds (I’m not joking it could be the loudest indoor environment on record… I’ll check into it). She just walked around with this blank expression on her face taking it all in. I would try to talk to her, but each question/request was met with the same glazed look (like a deer in headlights).
Here are my two favorite things we got to do. First, we (the four of us adults and two kids) all played Mario Kart against one another and it was amazing, for the record I won once… but was terrible the rest of the time. Sydney was driving with Lisa and they too recorded a win also.
Secondly, we all played the bumper cars which were a blast and a half! Sydney and I rode around crashing into as many people as we could. Her seat belt didn’t work so I was advised to hold her with my arm. Super safe! (I’m giving two thumbs up)
The operator was a kindly gentleman who let us ride 3 times for the price of one ticket. Half way through the third time of getting whiplash and fearing for my teeth, Sydney told me that she wanted out. This was great because I had crushed my knee slamming into my buddy Chris only 3 minutes earlier and also wanted out.
After that we wondered around playing some random games and winning some tickets which we will exchange at some point for an electric rice cooker (we could be so lucky). Chucky Cheese we will see you again! Well that’s it for now hope that all of you are enjoying my new layout to the blog.
Make sure to click on the delicious button and Digg button if you enjoyed this article so that others to can find my blog and these posts (they are found on my blog just beneath every post).
Till next time,
The Petersons
http://petersonchina.blogspot.com
When we arrived Sydney was overwhelmed with all the lights and sounds (I’m not joking it could be the loudest indoor environment on record… I’ll check into it). She just walked around with this blank expression on her face taking it all in. I would try to talk to her, but each question/request was met with the same glazed look (like a deer in headlights).
Here are my two favorite things we got to do. First, we (the four of us adults and two kids) all played Mario Kart against one another and it was amazing, for the record I won once… but was terrible the rest of the time. Sydney was driving with Lisa and they too recorded a win also.
Secondly, we all played the bumper cars which were a blast and a half! Sydney and I rode around crashing into as many people as we could. Her seat belt didn’t work so I was advised to hold her with my arm. Super safe! (I’m giving two thumbs up)
The operator was a kindly gentleman who let us ride 3 times for the price of one ticket. Half way through the third time of getting whiplash and fearing for my teeth, Sydney told me that she wanted out. This was great because I had crushed my knee slamming into my buddy Chris only 3 minutes earlier and also wanted out.
After that we wondered around playing some random games and winning some tickets which we will exchange at some point for an electric rice cooker (we could be so lucky). Chucky Cheese we will see you again! Well that’s it for now hope that all of you are enjoying my new layout to the blog.
Make sure to click on the delicious button and Digg button if you enjoyed this article so that others to can find my blog and these posts (they are found on my blog just beneath every post).
Till next time,
The Petersons
http://petersonchina.blogspot.com
December 14, 2009
New Pictures! And The Blog Gets An Overhaul
It's been a couple months since our last picture update. So click here to see the new pictures of the family. Or click here and go to the blog.
Speaking of the blog, you will notice the blog has a new look! We added a lot of new content like; a search bar to search our website and a twitter feed that will follow my (Matt's) account. Also, we made it so more of our content is easy to find near the top of the page. Hope you enjoy the new look! So if you have a minute come and check it all out.
Have a good day!
The Petersons
Speaking of the blog, you will notice the blog has a new look! We added a lot of new content like; a search bar to search our website and a twitter feed that will follow my (Matt's) account. Also, we made it so more of our content is easy to find near the top of the page. Hope you enjoy the new look! So if you have a minute come and check it all out.
Have a good day!
The Petersons
December 10, 2009
5,000 Views! And A Panda Gets Punched In The Face
This week we hit 5,000 views! This means my mom has been to this site a lot more than I thought she had. It’s been super fun and engaging for us to have this site. It’s been a great way to get all of you involved with our lives and to give you a picture of what life looks like here in China. To be honest this blog continues to surprise me. I started it super late one night (on a whim) and now it’s become one of the greatest tools we use to communicate with all of you lovely people. Well I hope that someday I can write that we hit 500,000 views, but until that day, read on friend.
I wanted to add quite possibly the funniest story a Chinese person has ever told me. I heard it awhile ago and am afraid I already wrote it on here, if I did, pretend it’s the first time I told you and laugh to your heart’s content. (I must also prep you by saying that no one in this story got hurt, so don’t worry)
So back when I started to get into teaching, a teacher’s assistant was telling me how she used to work as a Zoo tour guide. In the Zoo that she worked at there was a panda area. One day she was leading a group of Zoo goers and walked up next to a panda and told the audience something like “Look, you can pet the panda” and she began to pet it. Well the panda mistook her arm as a piece of bamboo (according to her, because who knows the thoughts of pandas) and bit it (it, being her arm). This small little Chinese lady in a state of shock turned and in all her fiery punched the panda in the face and then ran away! (I wonder how the people witnessing this reacted, did they run like the Japanese did in Godzilla, or did they sit there calmly and say something like “She had that coming”) I’m glad that this girl was safe and lived to tell her tale. (Again, to emphasis that she was ok, she tried to show me where the panda bit her and there were no bite markings to be found) If I hear more wild stories I will make sure to pass them on.
Well here’s to the next 5,000!
The petersons
I wanted to add quite possibly the funniest story a Chinese person has ever told me. I heard it awhile ago and am afraid I already wrote it on here, if I did, pretend it’s the first time I told you and laugh to your heart’s content. (I must also prep you by saying that no one in this story got hurt, so don’t worry)
So back when I started to get into teaching, a teacher’s assistant was telling me how she used to work as a Zoo tour guide. In the Zoo that she worked at there was a panda area. One day she was leading a group of Zoo goers and walked up next to a panda and told the audience something like “Look, you can pet the panda” and she began to pet it. Well the panda mistook her arm as a piece of bamboo (according to her, because who knows the thoughts of pandas) and bit it (it, being her arm). This small little Chinese lady in a state of shock turned and in all her fiery punched the panda in the face and then ran away! (I wonder how the people witnessing this reacted, did they run like the Japanese did in Godzilla, or did they sit there calmly and say something like “She had that coming”) I’m glad that this girl was safe and lived to tell her tale. (Again, to emphasis that she was ok, she tried to show me where the panda bit her and there were no bite markings to be found) If I hear more wild stories I will make sure to pass them on.
Well here’s to the next 5,000!
The petersons
December 7, 2009
It's Baby Time! And A Health Update
WE’RE EXPECTING OUR THIRD BABY! We’ve known for a few weeks now, but today we went to the hospital and were told that there is a heartbeat! Yay! If you’re sitting there thinking “Matt and Heather aren’t you already overwhelmed with raising two kids in China? Won’t three be even more work? Why are you having a third?” well the answer is that a few months ago Heather and I decided to stop with two, but as we thought about it we felt something was missing. After more discussion we decided that three would be our special number (Heather’s words, not mine).
So the plan as of now is to go home in May (like we originally planned) to visit family and friends and now to also have a baby. The due date is July 18th and Heather is currently two months along. We plan to have this one in South Dakota… at Heather’s parents’ home… with a mid-wife. That’s right, a home birth! We’re kinda hippies like that (my wife must be crazy). In China you can’t find out the sex of your baby so we won’t know what we’re having till the day it comes. After we’ve had the baby we will still be visiting family for another couple months and then heading back to China!
In other health related news, the Chinese doctors here confirmed Heather and I’s self-diagnosis, I have pneumonia (quick side note, pneumonia has to be one of the most difficult words to spell, but in Chinese it’s called, fei yan, pretty easy huh?). They put me on one IV a day for the past three days (since they give you medicine through IV) and have me taking some pills. I’m starting to feel better, but hope that nothing returns. I was impressed with my hospital experience, but I did walk by a couple dead bodies which I was not expecting at all (and to be honest it was creepy). So I have no plans as of now to have to go back to the hospital, but again if anything sneaks back up I will have to head back in.
I need to say that I’m so blessed by all the love that was poured out over this ordeal. Tons of our friends here were calling me and bringing food/medicine by the house, it was truly a blessing to me. One example is that my new teacher (Ethan) when he heard I was sick came by with his wife and child and made me Pear soup (which was really good!). And with Heather taking care of the kids by herself there wasn’t much time for her to do dishes that day, but when Ethan’s wife saw them she took it on herself to clean them. This is just a small example of the incredible kindness we find here in our Chinese friends (and American friends).
Well that’s it for now I will hopefully be better enough now to keep the posts coming…
‘till next time,
Matt, Heather, Sydney, Aubrey and our special little number three
P.S. For Heather to get an ultrasound it cost $7.50, for me to get; an x-ray (which was just a guy who doodled what he thought the inside of my chest looked like… that’s a joke), two blood tests, medicine and three IV’s in cost less than $100… I love China.
So the plan as of now is to go home in May (like we originally planned) to visit family and friends and now to also have a baby. The due date is July 18th and Heather is currently two months along. We plan to have this one in South Dakota… at Heather’s parents’ home… with a mid-wife. That’s right, a home birth! We’re kinda hippies like that (my wife must be crazy). In China you can’t find out the sex of your baby so we won’t know what we’re having till the day it comes. After we’ve had the baby we will still be visiting family for another couple months and then heading back to China!
In other health related news, the Chinese doctors here confirmed Heather and I’s self-diagnosis, I have pneumonia (quick side note, pneumonia has to be one of the most difficult words to spell, but in Chinese it’s called, fei yan, pretty easy huh?). They put me on one IV a day for the past three days (since they give you medicine through IV) and have me taking some pills. I’m starting to feel better, but hope that nothing returns. I was impressed with my hospital experience, but I did walk by a couple dead bodies which I was not expecting at all (and to be honest it was creepy). So I have no plans as of now to have to go back to the hospital, but again if anything sneaks back up I will have to head back in.
I need to say that I’m so blessed by all the love that was poured out over this ordeal. Tons of our friends here were calling me and bringing food/medicine by the house, it was truly a blessing to me. One example is that my new teacher (Ethan) when he heard I was sick came by with his wife and child and made me Pear soup (which was really good!). And with Heather taking care of the kids by herself there wasn’t much time for her to do dishes that day, but when Ethan’s wife saw them she took it on herself to clean them. This is just a small example of the incredible kindness we find here in our Chinese friends (and American friends).
Well that’s it for now I will hopefully be better enough now to keep the posts coming…
‘till next time,
Matt, Heather, Sydney, Aubrey and our special little number three
P.S. For Heather to get an ultrasound it cost $7.50, for me to get; an x-ray (which was just a guy who doodled what he thought the inside of my chest looked like… that’s a joke), two blood tests, medicine and three IV’s in cost less than $100… I love China.
December 1, 2009
A Short Update About Matt's Health
Here’s a quick update on my (Matt’s) health. I, as you know, have been sick for the last little bit. It’s now been two weeks (and as of this morning I’ve lost 17 pounds). Some days I wake up and feel better and so I haven’t been worried, thinking I was getting better. Well yesterday was a tough day as I experienced a lot of pain when I coughed and my fever returned. So this morning I will be going to the hospital. I haven’t had to go since being in China and don’t know what to expect, but my wife has and had a good experience. After looking online last night it seems like I might have pneumonia. So we will keep you posted when we find out any info.
On another note my wife has been Superwomen these past two weeks. I haven’t been able to help her much with the girls or around the house and she has done an incredible job taking on everything. We even had a guest for about five days this past week (an old friend of ours came and stayed with us) and she hosted her the whole time. Seriously, my wife is amazing and everyone reading this needs to know that!
'till next time
On another note my wife has been Superwomen these past two weeks. I haven’t been able to help her much with the girls or around the house and she has done an incredible job taking on everything. We even had a guest for about five days this past week (an old friend of ours came and stayed with us) and she hosted her the whole time. Seriously, my wife is amazing and everyone reading this needs to know that!
'till next time
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