Care Packages!

We got a care package yesterday--you know, that happens a lot if you're a loved expatriate. It's almost like Christmas, getting a care package.

Uncle Charles came down to Lone Valley from Kunming, the provincial capital. Uncle Charles is sort of the guy in charge of our branch of the organization--he and Aunt Sara both. Anyway, he came down to check on us, and he brought us some Salerno butter cookies that had gotten forwarded to him--from a package that Grandma S. sent for Daddy's birthday--he loves Salerno butter cookies, and you can't get them in the Lagan nor in Lone Valley. They're sort of a Chicago thing. Anyway, he brought those and some cake mix and some spaghetti sauce, and it was like everybody's birthday! I mean, the spaghetti sauce and the cake mix cost us a little, 'cause they were just things we asked him to buy for us in Kunming that we can't get here in Lone Valley. But they were still such a treat!

Yesterday Grandma S. sent us a package--to our place this time--and it had jello and oatmeal and popcorn and macaroni 'n' cheese. Mmmm. You can't get jello here! Nor can you get flavored instant oatmeal--unless you want date-flavored oatmeal!!! You can get popcorn here, but it's not salty. It's sweet! Daddy and I douse it in salt and it tastes okay, but Mum and Susie can't stand it! So we got some plain popcorn you just pop in the stove in Kunming, and that's okay--no good butter, and it doesn't pop too well. And then we got lots of microwave stuff, which has flavors and is not sweet!

We were all so excited to get the package--really! It was really exciting--even though it said exactly what was in there because of customs and all that. Every time a box comes, I feel the same way. It's so exciting!

On Saturday it will be a week until we leave Lone Valley for Kunming. And then, sometime, we will leave China and go to Thailand. Can you tell how excited I am?

Saro