=)

The New Year brought us down with horrible colds/flu/congested lungs — it truly was brutal, and you’re lucky you weren’t here because everyone had this strain of whatever it was.

So how is your experience so far? How are your Pinyin lessons coming along? I really do wish I had the time to learn Japanese again, but it is such a difficult language I really don’t feel I would have the time to devote serious study to it.

Baseball season is upon us, so the boys are at bat again. Also, theu have truly found music — Andres is quite the guitar player ( he has already performed in two recitals) and Diego is starting with drums. They both have a wonderful music teacher and you can imagine what their goal is — to form a band called “DREGO.” DREGO is the name that their cousin Sulliovan came up with, a combo of Andres and Diego. So, the band is forming. They need lead vocals — Heidi, maybe you can sing in Pinyin!! Now THAT would be unusual…..

Love you much. my travels don’t take me anywhere near China/Taiwan. Closest I will come to the East is the Middle East, Israel, where I will visit during the end of March. Israel is truly a spiritual place, last time I was there was in 1993. So I’m looking forward to a return visit.

As always, I wish you the fullest experience possible — good and bad. I remember when I lived in Europe that at times I would feel lonely, especially after my friends left and I was all alone. But there was something strengthening and empowering about being alone in a foreign country that just gave me the fortitude to go on and appreciate the opportunity of living abroad. It’s a once in a lifetime chance. So ENJOY !!

Love you much, Aunt Martha and DREGO