12-27-04
Dear Parents,
Merry Christmas! It is already Christmas Day afternoon here in
Shanghai; children are still nestled all snug in the beds there in
North America. We have throughly enjoyed our Christmas together. As I
told the students last night just before we did our church
service/Christmas pageant, this is the first time I have ever had a
Christmas service with St. Olaf students. Every other year they all go
home and leave the campus empty. I have liked being with these students
this year. Yes, we have missed you; but Christmas has been good. We
sang carols together last night as "shepherds" wearing towels and belts
on their heads were scared by "angels" wearing tinsely halos told them
that Jesus had been born in the city of David. We sang more carols as
the Magi from the east said, "ne hao" to the baby Jesus. And after
prayers, we held hands in a circle and sang all of Silent Night from
memory.
Then we had a hilarious time with the baby pictures you sent. Nobody
guessed which picture was baby Whitney or baby Sarah Swenson. All
others were guessed by a least a couple people, and some by many. There
are certain looks, you know, that are wonderfully characteristic of some
people. We played "pin the mustache on Santa Claus", hooted and
hollered over the uproarious "Christmas song talent show", and laughed
till we hurt exchanging White Elephant gifts. Before bed I recited
"Twas the Night Before Christmas", and after that I don't know what they
did. I do know they were all up this morning for 9:00am Secret Santa
gift exchange and finding their shoes with fruit, candy cane, and a
souvenir tree ornament. (Our Christmas Committee did a great job)
Before our Christmas dinner of turkey, green beans, friend rice and bok
choy, Carol and I read all the letters you sent. It was a touching
time together, full of family love even though family was far away.
Thank you so much for your perfect contribution to our Christmas Day
celebration.
I would tell you about our class-related field trips to continue our
learning about Chinese art -- and the excursions have been memorable,
educational, and fun even in a cold drizzly rain. The umbrellas we
bought for just one dollar in Suzhou turned out to be worth just about
what we paid for them: not very much. The worst one showed up as a
white elephant last night -- OK back to the subject; I said I would
tell you about our encounters with Chinese art, but I suspect that
right now you, like all of us, have Christmas on your minds ahead of
class. Let it suffice to say that several of you just might get
requests to turn your back yards into Chinese Gardens! Know that a
whole lot of love for you has been felt and expressed here in the past
few days. Merry Christmas to all of you.
Bruce and Carol
