July 24, 2009
I have been taking video clips of my friends this week, so I haven't taken many pictures during my travels. These videos are just for personal enjoyment, to capture the personalities of my friends here, who I will miss very much. But here are a few pictures I have taken over the past couple days.

This past Sunday was my last time to gather with my friends at McDonalds. Lisa joined us, and she contributed some great thoughts, which was a joy. Lucy brought her son, and we all ate lunch together after our study time. Here is Lucy and her son at lunch.
   

I went out to the countryside on Monday and Tuesday, and my city friend Amy came with me. We had a great time traveling together, and it was special for me to show her the small town that has been my second home here in Asia. We met up with Lisa and spent most of our time with her. She had to work in the afternoon when we arrived, so Amy and climbed the local mountain in the midday heat. It was totally worth it and we really enjoyed the view.
   
   
   
     

That night we went out to eat with Lisa and BinBin's family. We had a great time at one of the nice restaurants in town. I loved having my friends with me who could help translate all the cute little things BinBin and her brother DiDi were saying. Normally I can only communicate in simple ways with BinBin's family, so I love having english-speaking friends to help me out. The next afternoon we took BinBin shopping for a new dress. BinBin loves to wear pretty dresses and feel fashionable. It was such a treat to let her pick out a new outfit all by herself, and be able to buy it for her. It didn't cost much money for me, but it is something that BinBin rarely gets to experience. She only has about 3 outfits, and it was so fun to get her something new. She put it on and twirled around in circles, totally excited and feeling beautiful.
         

I went on a road trip to the capital city on Wednesday, had lunch and played Settlers with some great friends, and took a bus back home that same night. Thursday I traveled back out to the countryside for my last visit in my favorite small town, and to say goodbye to BinBin's family and to Lisa. I brought a few items from my apartment that I thought they might enjoy, including a watch for BinBin, because she's always asking to play with mine. Lisa came with me to their house where we all made dumplings together (kind of like Asian ravioli) and enjoyed a great meal. After dinner we had cake and Lisa brought her nephew over to eat with us. It is DiDi's 3rd birthday next week, so we celebrated his birthday and the kids were jumping up and down with excitement to eat the cake. The videos I took of this are hilarious.
   
   
   

Once we started eating the cake things got really messy and it was so much fun. At the end of the night all my friends walked me back to my hotel and we said goodbye. It was a great sendoff and I will miss these people so very, very much. But I have their address and phone numbers, and I'm looking forward to sending them little gifts and giving them calls in the future. I hope to return to this special small town someday. Who knows what the future holds.... but I am so grateful for the time I've had to spend here with such loving friends.

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