Adventure to Jilin

Late Sunday evening, John Nasett (Uncle) and I boarded a train at the main Beijing Train Station headed for Jilin. To get there required an all-night train trip, so we travelled "hard-sleeper", which was actually pretty nice. We arrived at 8:00 the following morning after a remarkably good night of sleep.

The purpose of our trip was one of exploration. Both of us had heard something about the project Hyles Anderson College has been doing there in North China by helping to start a school, and we wanted to see it for ourselves and learn what we could. Since Uncle and I both don't teach classes on Mondays or Tuesdays, we had just enough time for the adventure. Our plan to get home was to take the night train back on Tuesday evening arriving in Beijing around six in the morning and going directly to teach our classes.

I was reluctant to go in the first place because I was afraid we wouldn't be able to get train tickets to go back home. In the end, we decided to just go for it. Upon arriving in Jilin, we immediately went to buy tickets. Sure enough there were only "hard-seat" tickets available for Tuesday's train. We couldn't miss our classes, so it looked like we'd be sitting all night in a crowded train car on little, squished seats. Bro. Nasett suggested that we should at least check plane ticket prices.

On the way to the travel agency, the taxi driver tried to cheat us by not using his meter and then asking for 20 yuan. That was an outrageous price! We gave him 5 yuan, which he didn't argue about. I wonder how many other foreigners are likewise cheated and never know it?

In the travel agency, we were informed that the cheapest ticket to Beijing on Tuesday evening would be 1,100 yuan. (The train "hard-sleeper" would have been about 260.) That was too much for me! We checked at a second agency but were told the same price. Though I was ready to track down an internet cafe and find something cheaper, Uncle went ahead and purchased both our tickets to leave at 7:00 the next evening. What a blessing!

Now we were faced with another problem. We were informed that the airport was an hour and twenty minutes away from the city! Our choices were to take a very expensive taxi ride or use a free bus service provided by the agency. The choice was obvious until we learned that the bus to airport left at 2:00 in the afternoon. That meant we would have to sit for four hours at the airport. Having just paid so much for our tickets, we were compelled to chose the free bus service.

Our next challenge was finding the school, which we knew to be somewhere in the countryside near Jilin. Fortunately, I had noticed on the school's website something about being on bus #9's route. On a wim, I scanned my map of Jilin and found that very bus line! (What grace!) We found a bus #9, verified with the ticket lady that that bus actually did stop at the school, and settled in for a forty minute ride.

In the winter, Jilin is miserably cold. However, we found that in early September it was beautiful, and the weather was comfortably cool. As we made our way out to the school, Jilin's modern highrises gradually turned into rolling hills and farm fields. Before long, we arrived at our destination. The ticket lady let us know it was time to get off.

The bus pulled off as we stared at the main gate. I had tried to call the school the week before to ask about coming, but couldn't get through. Uncle had sent an email to the address on the website, but apparently it had gotten buried in a pile of spam resulting in no reply. As a result, we stood there knowing we were probably very unexpected. We weren't quite sure how we would be received. We walked through the main gate toward what looked like the main entrance.

We need not have worried. Entering the building, we were warmly received by everyone we met. We found the whole property very bright, clean, and modern. Everyone we met including the students was dressed sharp: the men were in ties and the ladies were beautifully modest. The entire time we were with them, we saw the whole team display a wonderful, good-natured attitude that made their work and lives look fun and purposeful.

After they allowed us to participate in a foreign teachers' Chinese class, Dr. Conner, who we'd just met, brought us into his office. He spent quite a bit of time filling us in on the school's situation and allowing us to ask questions.

An hour later, we made our way to the kitchen area for a simple yet delicious lunch. That was where we really got to know Tim Sober. After lunch, Mr. Sober graciously took us by bus to a nearby little town where he lived. We checked into an inexpensive hotel (220 yuan per night. Not too bad!), which turned out to be far better than either of us expected. After dropping off our stuff, we were shown a little around the town of Feng Man. We then walked to Tim's home where we met his wife and two daughters. The Sobers live in a normal Chinese appartment, which they've been able to furnish and decorate very nicely. The whole time we were with the Sobers, we got to talk about their purpose and philosophy in China as well as there life and experiences so far. I don't think they had one complaint about their life in China.

That evening Mr. Sober and Mr. Williams had an appointment, and they had invited Uncle and I to go along to watch and help translate. Early in the evening, a taxi van arrived to take us to the appointment. On our way, we stopped at the school to pick up Mr. Williams. That was were I got the opportunity to meet Mr. Yan, an integral part of the school and of all they are doing there. Being in a hurry to get to the appoinment, our meeting was short, but he had one strange piece of advice: go to the Brazilian barbecue restaurant.

In Jilin, we waited for quite awhile for the appointment to arrived, but alas he cancelled on us. So there was nothing left to do but to heed Mr. Yan's advice. The four of us obeyed and went to the Brazilian barbecue. Amen!

What a place! Housed in a five star hotel was this all-the-meat-you-can-eat restaurant for 49 yuan ($6) per person. Wow! Steak, chicken, steak, pork, bacon, and more steak, it was all good. Plus, the side dishes were excellent too. Mr. William's put us other three to shame by somehow shoveling down around what must have been four or five pounds of beef and other meats. I think he felt he was pretty close to Heaven. Along with the food, I greatly enjoyed our conversation, and it helped to clarify for me exactly what they are doing there. We left an hour and a half latter full and happy. Mr. Yan's advice had been very good.

At the hotel that evening, we had some stimulating talks, refreshing showers, and a good time of prayer. The beds were a little hard, but mine suited me just fine. I was asleep in a second.

Tuesday morning I awoke early to a beautiful day. After reading my Bible, getting ready, and listening for awhile to the mumble of Uncle's praying, we checked out of our hotel and headed to school. There we enjoyed sitting in on a staff meeting and observing a little of the teaching. During the staff meeting, I realized I had left my cell phone at the hotel and wasted an hour retrieving it. By grace, I got it back and still had time to listen in on a class.

As we were beginning to think about leaving, someone mentioned that Mr. Yan was planning on going into town, so maybe we could go along. Arriving at his office to inquire, we were invited by him to sit down and we began talking. After awhile, he suggested that we take a little bit of time and see the local reservior, which is huge. So we drove with him to the reservior and took a little boat trip out on the water. We then went hurriedly to pass out some fliers promoting the school in Fang Man before heading to Jilin City.

Mr. Sober, who had joined us after we'd passed out the fliers, suggested a Chinese restuarant for lunch. He chose well. The food was good, plentiful, and pretty. By the time we had to leave, I was pleasantly full in body and in heart. We had used our time with Mr. Yan to more fully understand him, his heart, and his ideas. I enjoyed hearing Uncle and him talk even though I may have butted in once too often with my own two cents of 'wisdom.'

At the travel agency, we said goodbye to our new friends and boarded our bus to the airport. On the way, I enjoyed a little of the scenery followed by a good nap. I was awakened by Uncle tapping me on the shoulder letting me know we had arrived.

The airport was brand new and people were scarce. Fortunately, we were able to get a flight that left a half hour earlier. We got our boarding passes, went through security, and settled in for the long wait. I had expected to study a little Chinese during the wait, but I never got around to it. Uncle and I spent the whole afternoon discussing what we had seen and what we had learned as well as many, many other topics. Time went by very quickly.

Before I knew it, it was time to board the plane for a quick flight back to Beijing and my beloved wife and children. The trip was short, refreshing, and productive. But by far, the best part of the trip was walking through my front door to enjoy the hugs and look into the eyes of my smiling family.