Back in Baokang
Sunday morning we rolled into the Xiangfan Train station, ready for another trip out to Baokang, Alison’s hometown. Summer is the rainy season out here, and it shows in the mountians; green on top of green. The pristine blue-green lakes, the green rice paddies, and furry looking green mountains. The bus ride was a beautiful as ever, passing through these mountains and up the hills. We took the new raod that isn’t finished yet, with a very long tunnel, but it didn’t seem to save any time.
As always being in Baokang is about being with family. This time, we have a new arrival in the shape of a 3 year old fireball. He Feiyang’s little brother (under the one child policy, first cousins become brothers and sisters) Yuanyuan is staying with his grandparents (actually, great-aunt, but who’s counting). The last time I saw him he was a little ball of flesh bundled up against the cold during 2003 spring festival. At that time he seemed very quiet, and very lazy, taking in the world around him at his leasure. Now, he is a dynamo running around on newfound legs and getting himself into anything he can. He is pretty well behaved though, and listens when we speak to him. He really only speaks dialect, so I don’t really understand anything he says, but we get along well. I’m teaching him english, but I don’t think he’ll remember.
It has been raining here, for 2 days non-stop. The main street flooded yesterday and now it is full of mud. The river in the center of town is huge and rushing. The town is much the same, with a few new stores selling more “fancy’ looking things. Everyone seems to be doing well, and is happy to see us, which is a good sign.