Chinese New Year, IN CHINA

Have you ever eaten a chicken foot?
Have you ever lived in a house with no heat?
Have you ever seen fireworks 360 degrees around you, near and far?
Have you ever met your inlaws, but couldn't speak their language?

Have you ever been to China?

My first trip to China was only a few weeks ago. Adeng, my husband, took me to visit his family and celebrate the Chinese New Year with them.  What an unforgettable trip.  I did eat a chicken foot, I did live in a house with no heat (in February), I did see fireworks near and far, all around.

But that isn't even the tip of the iceberg (oh sometimes it did feel like an iceberg!)

Adeng's parents warmly welcomed me into their home, knowing that we couldn't communicate at all.  They literally fed and clothed me, and treated me like family.

Nearly everything I experienced in China was unexpected. 

I didn't expect to see so many gigantic houses.  Even by American standards, these were 4 and 5 story masions!  I didn't expect to eat so much delicious food!  I didn't expect to hear so many fire crackers, night and day.  I didn't expect to attend a church, and find the teaching to be Biblical!  I didn't expect to be so cold!  I didn't expect to see so many people be living what looked like "middle class" lives.  I never imagined that such development in buildings and economy would be established, and yet so much of Old China remains strong.

The Chen Family, from left: Adeng's older brother, older sister, father, mother, brother in-law, me, & Adeng

Mom's gettin' ready to cook the goat,  I'm staring at...well... it.

Family dinner! Sometimes we all sat down at the same time.  Usually dad was still cooking the next dish while we started in on the first.  This eating style is typical, traditional Chinese; put all the food on the center turn-thing, and then twirl the thing back and forth while grabbing what you want with your chopsticks. A challenge for sure!

Making Chinese dumplings, a tradition at Chinese celebrations.

A taxi, but not officially- its much cheaper and much more fun because there's more rist involved!

(L) Ruins of a long-abandoned, but surely not forgotten home.

(R) Live crabs in the "Walmart-like" supercenter, called "Trust-Mart."

Fireworks seen from the rooftop of our home.

Preparing the traditional Chinese snack table for New Year's Day.  On this day people walk or drive around and visit friends and family, sharing snack and tea, and giving money.

A car ride to remember!

I can't explain so many of my experiences with mere words. Pictures and videos will help you to see what I saw, and possibly dispell (or confirm) any concepts of China that you may be holding.