The Odd Family

We get lots of strange looks here in Xi'an. Maybe part of it is that we look quite out of place. I think most of it is the new makeup of our family. People will glance at Abigail, then at us, then back at Abigail again, sizing up this rather unconventional family. They are probably wondering why she is not in school and why she is being accompanied by these very obviously un-Chinese parents and un-Chinese siblings.

In the Muslim Quarter yesterday, someone's curiosity got the better of them. We learned what went on in this conversation later when Jane asked Abigail about it. A woman in the tea shop where Deb was buying tea started an animated conversation with Abigail. I caught the words "mama" and "baba", so I knew she was talking about us. The conversation went something like this:

Woman: "Are you Chinese?"

Abigail: "Yes." [I still think that fact is pretty obvious]

Woman, looking at us: "Is this your mom and dad?"

Abigail: "Yes, they are."

I don't think Abigail thinks it's strange at all.