14 years ago

This week, 14 years ago, was our first date. It lasted ten days.

On the way to the hotel from the Beijing airport. Bobby's first taxi ride.

The train ride to Yinchuan, Ningxia where I taught. We took the "express train".  It took 23 hours instead of 26. :)

Outside the apartment where Bobby, his sister Susan, and brother-in-law David stayed (it belonged to a teacher on home leave). Here we were having a picnic lunch outside in the courtyard (so we didn't have to haul him up 2 flights of stairs for just an hour) that three of my students helped prepare.

And having a yogurt snack at Wu Bo's side street yogurt stand. WB was one of my students and friends. Beside me is his nephew.

Later we would talk and discover we were both a little worried that he would arrive and we wouldn't get along or really like each other in person. (We had been e-mailing for 8 months.)  Instead, it was as if we had known each other all our lives, and it was REALLY hard to say goodbye. It almost seems like a lifetime ago.