In the spring I met a very precious new friend that works down the hall from my office and she’s from China and working on her PhD at Virginia Tech. She misses her family in China (husband, father and mother) very much and has her daughter with her. I love learning about her country and lifestyle and she mine. I recently invited Janet, her daughter and some of her close friends over to the farm. It was such a treat to share our life with them and be able to actually show her things we do on the farm. The following is a picture album of our day.
We showed them how we bring in and process our own firewood.
The little girls got to sit in a big tractor.
They met all the animals on the farm including the coon dogs and found out why we have them as working dogs.
Gathering eggs was such a treat and something we take for granted.
The young ones got to feed Prissy & George.
We took them for a pickup truck ride on different parts of the farm.
They took pictures of themselves to commemorate the day while I gave the little girls cooking lessons in an American farm kitchen.
They took numerous rides in the paddle boat.
Janet and her daughter plan to come back with their friends to a weekend campout at the pond one more time before they all return to China in late July and August.
I am so blessed to have friends all over the world. I’m hoping they enjoyed the trip as much as we did.
They also brought us a charm of peace which I will keep at my home’s entrance as long as it lasts. 
Thank you all so much for your charm, lessons of life and friendship!! I’ll never forget you!
Rita and Janet, forever friends
Teaching the girls how to make a daisy chain for their hair. Janet’s daughter, Michelle and her friend, Boffy, they’re such wonderful kids and very adventurous!!
Janet
Sassy enjoyed our new friends too and the little girls couldn’t get enough of her.
What an awesome adventure!!!
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We had a wonderful time but it looks like the camping trip is not going to happen and they all have to head back to China by the end of the month because of their Visa’s.
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That is a wonderful experience for you and Eddie to host.
There were two girls from Shanghai boarding across the road
from me about 5 years ago. They were here on a study exchange
programme. They were real characters – one was a real disciple
of good old Mao. She in great pomp and ceremony presented me
with a key chain with an imagine of a grinning Mao and also – this
will surprise you – a red door chain EXACTLY the same as you
have shown – I have it hanging on the inside door knob about
5 feet away from this desk!! Small world really, isn’t it?
Cheers
Your Aussie mate with an identical red charm piece!
Colin
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