E-mail from Marley

Dear Lady,
I had a great vacation with Belle and her daughter, Grace. Grace's dad gives me meat, so you know I am happy. I take Grace out for a walk every chance I get. She is enjoying being home from her first year at college. Well, because it is Chinese New Year's, Belle's family has been eating special food. Grace is shopping for new clothes to wear. All my things were packed into my bag, so I knew I was leaving again.
Belle took me to Michael and Tom's house. I remember them from Saturday night ENglish Corner. They always like to play with me. Michael has been busy preparing for his senior middle school entrance exams. He is so happy to have me to play with during the holidays. He speaks English to me but little Tom speaks Chinese to me. It doesn't matter to me, as long as they give me treats!
They found out on Chinese New Year how much I hate the fire crackers and fire works. They scare me. They are so loud. I run as far as I can. They had to hold tight to my leash! We got to visit Michael's grandparents for New Year's. That is the tradition. Next, we went to his mother's family's home, as is also the tradition. So much food! They were good to give me some. I must have my long noodles for long life! I know you don't believe that, Lady, but I just like the meat! Tom got money in red envelopes from all his relatives. Michael did, too. Tom bought games for his Game Boy. Michael bought an electronic gadget.
Michael lets me sleep with him, so I am happy, but I do miss my Lady and my own bed. I miss my neighborhood. So, what are you up to, Lady, while I am gone?
When Michael returns to school after the holiday, he will bring me home. Will you be waiting for me? After all, I am just a little dog, and I miss my own bed and my Lady.
Love,
Marley

Vacation

First, I couldn't find my Pooh Bear. Then I couldn't find my water dish that's usually in the bathroom. To top it all off, my Pooh blanket was missing. I finally found them all in a bag by the front door. Of, course, I unpacked the bag. I found my treats, my baby wipes for cleaning my feet, my chew toys, my dogfood, my sweater, and my coat. I pulled them all out on the floor so I could find what I wanted. Lady wasn't very happy with me, but she didn't scold me. She packed everything back up and picked me up. She just held me and talked to me. She told me how much she loved me, and something about being a good boy. I gave her face a good cleaning. She has a big bag, too. It's full of her stuff. Just as I was thinking of unpacking Lady's bag, someone buzzed the gate. I jumped out of Lady's arms and ran to the door to see who was coming to see me. Lady opened the door so they wouldn't ring our doorbell. It makes me crazy. Finally they arrived! It was Belle, her husband and her daughter, home from college! I met her last night. I really like her. Her name is Grace and she is tall, but not as tall as Lady. Belle picked up my bag. Now I get it. I am going for a sleep over again! I know Lady will miss me. Lots of humans are going places. It's that time of year, Chinese Lunar New Year, or Spring Festival as they call it. 2006 is the Year of the Dog!! I thought every year was the year of the dog! It is at my house. Who's going to take care of my Lady? Well, her bag is packed. Someone must be coming to pick her up, too. Most of our friends are going to their hometowns to be with their families. Chinese New Year's Eve is Saturday night. The humans will have a special meal. The kids will get red envelopes with money inside! They will also get a new set of clothes. Lady got me a new coat! I wonder if I will get any red envelopes?
My little friend Kaylee came over today to play with me. She brought her mom, Linda, and her friend, Kate. She threw my Piglet for me. While no one was paying attention to me, I pulled the music box and stuffing out of Piglet. Time for lunch! We went to one of my favorite places, but Linda didn't order any meat. I can usually count on her to give me meat, but they had vegetable hot pot! Well, after lunch we went into a neighborhood shop by our home. Lady needed batteries. While she did her shopping, I did mine. They had a big box of meat-stuffed buns conveniently located on the floor! Delicious. Linda paid for the bun. Lady tried to get the paper off the bun. Minor detail.
We walked past the beauty salon where the little white/dyed blonde puppy lives. SHe came out as usual chasing after me but Lady scooped me up and carried me. I don't mind. The puppy looks awful. All the fur is gone on her head and around her eyes. Lady talked kindly to her but wouldn't let her lick me. She has big pink sores on her. She looks worse every day. She finally gave up and went home. So, Lady put me down and I walked home. Kaylee stayed and played with me for a while longer. When she annoys me, I crawl under the tea table for a little peace.
Since the kids have been out of school, some have been practicing with fireworks. I hate the loud noises. It scares me. I hope Belle and Grace don't do fireworks! After all, I am just a little dog, with little ears.

Dinner and Massage

I don’t know what is meant by the expression, “it’s a dog’s life,” but I know my life is pretty wonderful. Tonight, our human friend, Joe, treated many of the adult Wednesday night English Corner crowd to dinner and a trip to the foot massage parlor. Both places are located in our neighborhood. The occasion? Joe, a high school English teacher, received a 32,400 yuan ($4,050) bonus because his students performed very well on their college entrance examinations last year. He invited us all out to dinner at a very nice, very famous restaurant in our neighborhood. It is three floors of private dining rooms and game rooms. Beautiful hostesses wearing red brocaded Chinese style dresses greeted us as we entered the restaurant and crossed the bridge over a tiny stream. Two of Joe’s former students, two of his colleagues, Claude, Jerry, Lady, and two other American teachers joined me at the dinner party. I was so hungry and anxious for meat that I left our dining room and went into other dining rooms. I got scolded because Lady said I was begging. I was simply visiting, waiting for them to drop meat on the floor, and looking adorable. I thought our dinner would never come. After the blessing, Lady gave me my own plate. I had breaded chicken cutlets, fried pork, ham and broad beans, potatoes, and sliced beef. When Lady stopped feeding me, I just went over to the other side of the table and looked up at Joe. I can always count on him to give me the good stuff! Lady ate spicy tofu, something like hash brown potatoes, little cabbages, egg and tomatoes, and other favorites. Last, we had meat-filled steamed buns, called bao zi’s. The humans did lots of toasting as is the custom. All of Lady’s Chinese friends were celebrating that we get to stay in China at least another year. Lady received her invitation to teach for the local university. We will also continue traveling to the countryside to different schools to train teachers and teach students. After Chinese New Year, we will begin going again. They also toasted Joe for hosting us. This is the last time we will see our friends for awhile because most are headed to their hometowns to be with family for the holidays.
After the delicious dinner, I took off before Lady could get my harness back on me. Just thought I’d check out the other dinner rooms, but Lady caught me eating out of the trash, and I got scolded again. I'm not worried. All I have to do is kiss her and she'll forget. I ate so much that Lady thought I would pop anyway, and I was still rooting through the leftovers. I got caught!
It was so chilly out that Lady and I rode the short distance to the foot massage parlor. I love going to the foot massage parlor. It is right near our gate. Whenever I walk Lady by the place, I climb the steps wanting to go in! They all know me and love me there, as we often chat with them when we walk by. Lady takes her visiting friends there, as well.
Only six of us went for a massage. I chose my big stuffed chair first, right by the heater! Lady made me get up for Jerry. Usually, I run around and play in the private room for awhile. But I was just too full. I was ready for my massage. The girls come in bringing steaming wooden tubs of herbal water. Lady sits on a bench with her feet in the hot water while Gwen, the masseuse, massages her head, neck, and back. I wait on the big chair. Then Lady swings around to sit in the big chair while Gwen massages her arms. I snuggle up beside Lady and nudge her hand to get started with my massage. I don’t like to get my feet wet, and I don’t like my paws rubbed. But oh how I love to be scratched just about everywhere! I get Lady to keep it up the whole time the girl is working on Lady’s feet. Sometimes we also watch TV, but mostly, Lady visits with her friends, and I just enjoy being scratched for more than an hour.
What a wonderful night! We said our thank-yous and good-byes before walking home. I need a little exercise after the huge dinner I ate! After all, I am just a little dog, so I can get a little bigger!

Changes

Lady and I often walk across the highway from our neighborhood and hike through a very poor and wooded area. The hills are dotted with more tombs like the ones I showed you yesterday. We used to talk with the people who lived there, many of who made their living going through trash cans to get recyclable materials. But all that has changed. Bulldozers have torn down the trees and buildings, making way for a fancy new housing development. We've been watching the progress for months. Only a few of the old buildings are left. We don't know where the people went. Workers have erected make-shift shacks to take their daily naps in, and to prepare meals. As we walk around, workers and bosses stare at us. Some laugh, and make comments about us. One of the bosses asked Lady how much she paid for me. She told him, "400 yuan," which is about $50 - a real bargain in her mind! The man wanted to buy me! Can you believe it? As if Lady would ever willingly part with me! Besides, his offer was much too low!
Everytime we walk through the area, a few more trees are gone, and more buildings in their place, but the old Buddhist temple remains. The huge, fat idol is plainted in gold leaf. Incense burns in front of it, along with offerings of fruit. As the new buildings go up, it is looking more and more like an oasis. I just water all the plants around it, and move on.
Our neighborhood is on the outskirts of the city, but it is expanding rapidly. It is an economic development zone. Across from our neighborhood is a car dealership! Many new condominiums are going up and replacing the countryside. Some of them are built by the factories for their workers. This is very common. Most humans live where they work, or in condominiums own by their company. So many changes in the last two years! I just enjoy taking the daily walks with Lady and exploring the area. After all, I am just a little dog, and I need my exercise.

Right beside the expensive, new development a new train track is also being built. It will be a super fast train going to the capital of the province. We used to walk through a lot of trees to get here, but now... 

The old Buddhist temple which looms over the new construction is still standing. The temple was located in the poorest area around, but now will be flanked by fancy, new dwellings. 

This morning, I took Lady across the highway to where we used to could walk among many old buildings such as this one. They are all being torn down and replaced with a housing development. I'll show you what it looks like now. 

The twins are in the big class in my kindergarten. They look alike, but don't act alike, except they both really like me! 

Almost all the students at my kindergarten love me. These are little humans in the da ban (big class); that means they are five and six years old. Robin, the Chinese English teacher, lets me stay with her family sometimes. Last August I stayed with her when Lady went to America, but I came home with water buffalo mange. I don't think Lady will let me stay with her for Spring Festival. It took months to clear me up! 

My kindergartens put on a two hour program Christmas Eve in the largest square in the city. These are some of my little human friends in their dance. 

This is NOT my girlfriend. Yesterday this puppy was all white. Today she is a blonde from a bottle. She lives at the hair salon near our gate. She's always trying to kiss me. Yuck! Lady doesn't like it either because she doubts this puppy has had any of her shots. I like the puppies, but they usually die because they don't get stuck by the White Coats. Yes, it hurts, but Lady says it will keep me from getting sick and dying. I've outlasted all the puppies who live at the hair salon and the yogurt store. 

We weren't the only ones headed home for lunch. These ladies have been selling their vegetables in the market. 

I get scolded when I dig through the trash. This old human is looking for recyclable materials to turn in for money. This why Lady always sorts her trash and puts it beside the big bins, instead of in them. Sometimes, though, I try to help, and scatter it. 

We live in Phase One of our residential area. This is Phase Three. Our fields and the old style buildings are disappearing.  

While exploring the area next to our neighborhood, we found these tombs. What will happen to them when they start building?

It's windy and sunny today so Lady made me wear my doggles. I still don't like them. 

Here I am in front of my tree with some of my Christmas gifts. Nice silk coat, huh? 

Photos!

Thanks to a friend's advice, Lady was able to post some photos for me. I've had many requests, so I will try to add more later. I told you about Lady's birthday party, so I posted two photos from that event. Lady had so much cake leftover, but she said I'd had enough!
I also included a photo from Christmas, showing my tree and some of my favorite gifts. Of course, I am wearing my handsome red silk coat. When I wear it, I get so many compliments! I am not allowed to wear it to the market, or if it is muddy out; I get very dirty.
I took Lady to the market this morning.She is making a salad to take to a friend's home tonight. Our friend is a teacher at the local university. I don't know why, but Lady said I am not invited. It is a beautiful, sunny but cold day! Lady dragged me past the meat section to find the vegetables she wanted. A fuzzy little yappy dog tried hard to get my attention. I was aloof. Lady really irritated me this morning. I kept trying to mark my territory, but Lady would yank on my leash so I'd lose my balance. What's a guy to do? I know I am not supposed to teetee on the merchandise, but sometimes I try to get away with it. Lady scolds me. On the way home, we ran into the little white dog that lives at the beauty parlor near us. We were so surprised to see that she is now a blonde! Only the area around her eyes is still white! I hope Lady doesn't get any ideas about dying my beautiful black coat another color. That little dog drives me crazy. She allows follows me and bites on my mouth! She used to be small enough to run under me, but now she is taller than I am! I had another little admirer that lived in the same shop, but she went the way of most puppies here. Their humans don't take them to the white coats and get them stuck. Yes, it hurts, and maybe I yell a bit, but it keeps me from getting sick and dying. We wonder how long this one will last.
My dear friend, Jennifer is coming over to see me before she takes Lady to the dinner party. Jenny comes over every week to chat and improve her English. Sometimes we go to the foot massage parlor on Mondays. I hope we go tonight. If we do, I will get Lady to post a photo. Jennifer is a police officer. She tries hard to keep me (and Lady) out of trouble. She is a good friend and we love her very much. She doesn't have a little dog, but she has a little boy who is a little younger than me. After Spring Festival, he will come to play with me. Spring Festival is right around the corner! The students are finishing up their end of term exams, and some are headed home. Many senior middle school students live in dormitories at the school and only go home on holidays. They may have six or eight students sharing one room. Even the ones who live in the city stay at school, because they have so many night classes. It will take some of them many hours by bus or train to get to their home. Daisy Mae and a couple of others said good bye to us at English Corner, because next Saturday, they will take the bus home. Do you wonder why all the Chinese have English names? They don't. Their English teachers give them a name, or sometimes they ask Lady to name them. She can't remember their Chinese names as well, so even if they don't speak English, she will refer to them with an English name. Another friend, Doris, already called and was headed home for the holidays. Many students call us and tell us good-bye before they go home for the holidays. Our friend Jade is a senior. She came over yesterday to visit with us. She has final exams this week, then will go home next Sunday. We don't expect many people at our Saturday English Corner. It will be our last until after Spring Festival. I'll be going to stay with my friends for my vacation. I don't know what Lady will do without me. After all, I am just a little dog, but my Lady needs me.

Okay, so not only the humans got icing on their face! 

Me eating Lady's birthday cake! Yum!