Letter from Lucretia Meece in China
November 2007
Greetings Friends,
November seemed to be trip month. Following the Nanjing Amity regional conference weekend, the Jiangxi Normal University “foreign teacher” four-day trip took place, to Hainan Island. I never dreamed I’d get the opportunity to go there. It is the island off the coast of south China, in the South China Sea. It is compared to Hawaii in latitude and atmosphere, with coconuts everywhere, in every form (candy, coffee, powder, cookies, pancakes, tea), palm trees, scrub growth, sand, and lots of tourists. There were dozens and dozens of tour buses. There were many five-star hotels at the resorts, and lots of Russian visitors in Sanya, so many that signs were in Chinese and Russian and sometimes English. I got to dust off my meager Ukrainian.
We did a lot of sightseeing, as is the manner with a package tour in China. Would you believe 12 stops in three days? From bird rainforest exhibit to tours of a coffee factory, crystal factory, pearl bio-institute, Li minority village, one not so beautiful beach,” a “water sport opportunity,” the site of the Asian Forum in February 2007 in Boao, “drafting” on a river, etc., with “opportunity” to shop as jam-packed exit-paths wound through every aisle of the shops.
One especially noteworthy stop was the hot springs with “fish that bite you.” That was the description given to us. Indeed, they did, little ones one or two inches long and others a little longer. They feed on dead skin, so they love feet, legs, and calluses. It felt like your feet and legs had fallen asleep and you had pins and needles, only these pins and needles didn’t stop. The fish actually nibble and that is the sensation. I took a while to relax, as I don’t normally hold still while something bites me. When I moved or flexed my legs, they scattered, then came back en mass. It looked like I had socks on, there were so many. When I looked closely at my legs and feet the next morning, they actually were smooth. The legs had no dead skin below the water line, but still did above. It was actually noticeable.
It seems there are only two places in the world where these fish naturally occur: Turkey and Hainan Island, China. They have since been imported to other resorts and spas, I’m told. I was not as brave as some who actually laid out flat in the eight inches of water. I stuck my legs out from the edge of the pool with water above my knees for about 45 minutes. How did I know that these fish wouldn’t call in the reserve troops, sharks, crocodiles, or something?
The next day we rather rebelled and got some stops shortened (some became token visits to meet the itinerary requirement set by the government for package tours) and got to spend more time at a “beautiful beach” in Sanya. Some of us begged off the “End of the Earth” trip.
I dumped my stuff in the hotel room and walked and walked on the beach. I went back again after dinner, and also got up early to watch the sun rise over the South China Sea with another teacher. The bay was postcard-perfect, with the half moon shape, mountains spilling to the sea, and resorts nestled in every nook and cranny. We got our “mountain climbing with a two hour wait for the cable car” trip cancelled on the last morning in order to spend more time at the beach. It was great. Splashing in the surf and drinking from a coconut under the palm trees. We had contributed to the cost of the trip since it was out of the province and it was money well spent.
In Nanchang there is a group of foreigners (often 30 or 40) who have a worship service together each Sunday. We will celebrate Thanksgiving with a lunch and dinner, fellowship, singing, etc. on the 24th. As it will be in my building, I don’t have far to go with my food contribution of veggie tray and baked potatoes.
Christmas will be celebrated here in Nanchang, I guess. We get two days off (Amity contract), and the dean said I could take them December 24, 25 to get the four-day weekend. I hoped to get in a Yangtze cruise, but have been told that cruises don’t run between December and February. Bummer. I also want to travel in the 10 days before our winter conference in January. I’ll look for a destination with an English-speaking travel agent. I want to use my remaining time wisely.
I may invite the students to help decorate my tree, and perhaps sing, etc. I have to be careful that all students get equal opportunity to participate, so I don’t have a favoritism cloud above my head. I have the ornaments I cross-stitched last year, plus my Chinese ornaments and lights. Christmas cards hung and a wreath on the door and some traditional Christmas music will be other touches. We will have a lesson on Christmas traditions, so the students will be familiar with most of this, I think. They just may not have actually participated. If you want to contribute to the decoration, Christmas cards (we love interesting stamps) will be most welcome!
Please know that I value your prayers and thoughts. This experience is so much more than I dreamed, and the love and support that I receive has contributed mightily to that.
May Christ’s blessings be abundant in your life at this season of love and expectation.
Much love to you all,
Lucretia
The 2007 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 244
