Friday, June 19, 2009

You have our word....

Back when we were touring the Yunnan province with Elaine and Emily we stopped in the town of Jianshui and spent a little time wandering around. At one point we stumbled upon this old temple that was in the process of being torn down, and as we circled around it an older couple started watching us and Tina started up a conversation with them. We asked about the temple, how old it was, and other general stuffs - there was more mis-communication then communication, but we got most of it all figured out. When we were leaving we asked if we could take a photo of them and they wanted us to get a photo of us with them.

Sure, no problem. Then we got into another confusing conversation that we finally figured out was they wanted a copy of the photo. Of course, just give us your address and we will mail you a copy. Tina explained that we lived in Xiamen and that it would be a few weeks before we could send out a copy, but that we would sent it to them.
With that they were excited and the old man wrote down his address in my little notebook. Today at work I asked someone to take what he had written and put it into a text file so that I could look up the postal code and then print it on an envelope.

Seems easy, but what the man had written pretty much translates as:
You took our photo today, we would like a copy. We are in the house to the left of the main hospital.

Yeah, now we feel bad - we're not sure it that will get there if just put old man near hospital, Jianshui, China.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Our Sales people sometimes do just as well with their directions. Remember? Sent it to the maintenance deptartment at the hospital. They will recognise him.

Dad W

heather said...

I'd send it. I bet it gets to him... But that's pretty funny

Mom W said...

I agree with Heather. . . try sending it; they might just get it!

Mark said...

That was our thought, that it's a small enough town and somebody will be able to get it to them. I was just going to print the photo as a post card or put a photo of him on the back of the envelope...