My husband and I took a trip to Chengdu China to visit and meet the parents of the Chinese exchange student we hosted in our home in 2010. We call her our Chinese daughter and our relationship really is precious!
We had the opportunity to meet her parents, grandparents, aunties and uncles, fathers work associates, and friends. We ate and shared through most days. Each night we had special banquets. We were hosted to fabulous museums, cultural centers, the downtown areas of Chengdu and Chongqing, the Panda reserve and so much more. 
Hanging out and laying around in their simulated native environment! Both are pandas.
We had visited China in 1986. What we found in these to metropolitan areas in 2012 was amazing. China has moved into the 21st Century. The skyscrapers, cars of every sort, trains and highway systems were extensive. I do fear that the growth has been so rapid and the poor are being left behind. If the people do not bring greater equity in this area they could experience unrest.
The food was scrumptious! The special pepper corns that they spice their food with literally explode in your mouth with flavor that is like a flower while also giving you a type of numbing sensation. If you eat something hot in temperature it becomes even stronger.
Their hot and spicy Sechwan food was delicious. I think the noodle dishes were some of my favorite. While I had grown up with many different type of foods and always expected to eat them whether I like them or not, I did add some things to my list: Alligator, snake, eel, frog legs, intestinal material that is different from tripe. I also ate of course: beef, chicken, pork, duck and rabbit to name a few.
Their speciality was the hot pot. It is a giant fondue experience heated by a live fire. Koreans and Chinese both have this type of food.
We found the family unit is small in terms of blood relatives but the Chinese have expanded their family units to include aunties and uncles that may be work associates of your parents, long term friends, or neighbors. These people influence and support each other for the greater good.
We had lots of fun and experiences together!
Another thing I loved were the way the ladies dressed. Like us they were in all sorts of clothing, jeans, shorts, dressy dresses, simple house cloths. But the colors are bright and gay. There was not one event or gathering where the ladies did not appear quaffed. When I had been to China in 1986 the colors were kept to the hats or hair ribbons. Most of the cloths was drab. What a dramatic change.
Sandy picked up a little culture and stood with the wisest of them!
I had the opportunity to learn Mahjong. Cherry's family and friends love to play this game. I did quite well, but would call it beginners luck!
