A new family from Malaysia, enrolled in our school late last fall. We have become good friends, sharing life as foreigners in China. Although this family looks Asian, their language is different. They speak Malay and Cantonese, which is much different than Mandarin Chinese. I think it is often more difficult for these Asian foreigners because local people expect them to know how to speak their language. Whereas white faces like ours don’t usually speak fluent Mandarin.

Last Sunday night our friends treated us to traditional Malaysian food. Here’s a picture of our girls with their new friend, Poh Ann, enjoying dinner, and Sean and me with our new friends.

As we get familiar with our new apartment complex, we noticed many efforts to make the grounds nice. One way is to plant new trees in the spring. Here is an typical Chinese three-wheeled farm truck. When the engine is turned on, you can hear loud rumbles from the exhaust pipes that sound similar to a Harley Davidson motorcycle.

In the last month we celebrated 3 birthdays. Megan turned 6, Maddie turned 14 and Jessie celebrated sweet 16! In the midst of moving life has been upside down. My sweet Malaysian friend remembered the girls birthdays and presented them with this delicious fruit-topped birthday cake. We are so blessed by special friendships here.

Megan and her friend, Keli, pictured below as we ate a meal together at the White Market, near our old apartment. Lot of memories at this market, buying vegetables, meat, street food and odd & ends.

A glimpse of the small kitchen and passersby.

I accompanied 10th and 12th graders on a service project in our district. We were asked to help plant trees at a tree farm outside our city. Next year when the trees are more mature, they will be replanted to add more green to Tianjin.