Nanning

Well I have been in the US long enough so I am off to Nanning. I leave next week, The 13th of May at 10:18 AM to be exact, for the 22 plus hour trip back to beautiful Nanning China. My Sweet Bao Zhu will be waiting for me at the airport and after recovering from my flight I will meet with her son Zi Jun and his lovely wife Mi Li. (Mary)
For those of you who have not spoken to me since I came back in December I will explain about Nanning.

Nanning is a small city by Chinese standards. About the geographical size of Portland, Oregon but with, I am told, over six million people. Everyone of whom are smiling, friendly people who think of me as a giant. The Children at the Minzhu square English corner even call me that. It rests approximately 60 miles North of the Vietnam border on the 22nd paralell. This makes it sub tropical and has summer temperatures above 100 degrees (30 degrees Celcius) and a humidity hovering in the mid to high 80's. A might uncomfortable but has facilitated in my weight loss while I am there. Well that and a diet of noodles, fish, shrimp and other seafoods. Bao Zhu gets to eat all of the eyes.
Transportation in Nanning is curious. A taxi cab ride from where I live to pretty much any place in town is 7 Yuan or about a dollar US. However Bao Zhu being the thrifty lady that she is insists that we ride the bus for 1 Yuan 2 Mau. or about 17 cents US. If we wish to travel outside of Nanning we have the big bus or the train. The train is a very comfortable passenger train with many cars to accomodate the many travelers. The train does not have the expected clickety clack sound we in the US are used to due to the fact that the rails are all welded and then grinded at the junctions so there are no gaps in the rails anywhere. The ties are also different as the Chinese use exclusively cement ties so the road is very precice in its construction. So the car is comfortable, quiet, and does not sway much. The big bus is not really so big from my perspective but is designed for long distance travelers. It leaves in the evening and has beds instead of seats. You board the bus and claim a bed and go to sleep. When morning arrives you are at your destination rested and ready to meet the day in Guangxo, Guillin or where ever your trip has taken you. An alternate mode of transportation for me has been my friend John Romero an expatriated American who is able to drive in Nanning as a result of his training as a race car drive in his younger years. I hope that he still has room for me as he has recently re-married his wife's chosen American name is Apple.

While in Nanning this time I intend to occupy my time studying Mandarin and marketing my book. In case you don't know about my book you can see it at http://www.everettede.com/ I also intend to continue this blog as often as I have new or interesting things to say. I will also be happy to welcome any of you who wish to come for a visit. If you are concerned about the language I will introduce you to my translator, Lucy, who speaks excellent English and has very reasonable rates for translation. She is also a very beautiful and sweet 29 year old single Chinese lady for all of you young American men who might be interested.

That is all for now but you may reach me at everettede@msn.com or everett.ede@gmail.com.

Hope to hear from you

Tsi Jien.