Julene meets Yuling

A few weeks ago I flew back to KC from California.  On the flight from Denver to Kansas City I happened to sit next to a woman from Shanghai.  Her name is Yuling.  Her name couldn't be much closer to mine, could it?  She had a look of exhaustion mixed with excitement. This was her first trip to the USA and first trip abroad.  When I met her she was on the final leg of a VERY long day. How exciting and scary!  I can relate.  I learned that she plans to be in KC for a year working with one of the University's.  As we talked on the plane I had hopes of staying in contact with her.  After all I know what it feels like to be a foreigner, totally alien to my surroundings and in need of people to help me broker my new life's ins and outs.  I never expected that Yuling would contact me once she got herself situated.  But she did and today we met....for the second time.  I was SO excited.

We both don't have a cell phone and we both don't have a car.  We both took the Max(KC's fastest bus) but from opposite ends of the city and we met on the Plaza.  It was FREEZING today.  She brought her friend-roommate-coworker with her who is also from Shanghai.   It was Yuling's first time on KC's public transportation and she found me at the Barnes and Noble Cafe.  This was no small task! I'm impressed.   

The three of us talked for nearly 3 hours.  I love that I can be in the middle of the USA and begin a relationship with people from China!  I love that I can hear their predicament, their challenges, their frustrations with culture and "get it".  I also love that they've found Americans to be friendly and helpful.  

Yuling and her roommate don't have furniture in their apartment.   If anyone reading this from KC has some pieces of furniture you are hoping to get rid of, I might just have the home!  It sounds like there may be a need for some winter clothes too.