A Chinese-American Story of Love (Part IX, section 2 of 2)

By Douglas Wagganer

About a week before the Chinese New Year, our family was invited to the home of Francis and Mae Yueh for evening of dinner, and a chance to visit. What we encountered at that dinner party was truly wonderful. We shared the night with the Yueh Family and two other wonderful Ladies from the Chinese Community. Both of the women were Teaching Professionals at local Educational Institutions in the St. Louis Area. Both taught in the field of Chinese Studies, and each was from China. We talked in-depth about our recent trip to China and talked about our impressions of that Country. The beauty and ancient history of China had always fascinated me, so I enjoyed the discussions and gained a better insight about the things we had witnessed.

Francis Yueh showed me much that night. He offered open hospitality to both my family and me. He shared his wisdom and concern towards questions we had. But, most of all he opened his heart and extended his friendship to a new friend. The Chinese New Year began on a positive note because of that dinner party. Chinese Traditions and Customs were started for Maribeth, and will be observed with honor in the future. Because the Yueh's have been so gracious to step forward and help in the teaching of the Chinese Culture to my daughter, I now know that my daughter will have a guiding hand in bringing her closer to her Chinese heritage. Role Models and Heroes are important for young children, so I want to say "Thank you to Francis and Mae Yueh for making the choice of being Maribeth's."

Now I would not being giving you a totally accurate picture of the Yueh's Dinner Party, if I did not commit on the meal itself. Mae Yueh did not just make a dinner. She made the most wonderful fest I have ever had. I ate, and ate, and ate, and then still ate more. Now you the readers have seen my picture, so you know I am a big man and obviously like to eat. On that night I could not stop eating all the great food, which was cooked for us. 

All the Wagganer family, plus several of our close friends gathered together to witness Maribeth's Christening in February. God and Church are important to Jane and I, so we had our daughter baptized. We made our promises to bring her up in the Church. It was God who brought us all together, so we felt it was a necessary element needed in our daughter's upbringing. Just like so many other factors in her life, when she is an adult she can make her own choices, until then I want her to experience the best of all things possible.

Well, I am up to March 2002 with this update. This appears to be a good point to end this portion of my story, and a good starting point for our next edition. I have found China to be a world unlike what the American Government tries to describe it as being to the American Public. It is a land that is indeed different from America, but then again very similar in many ways. Only in the sharing of our two cultures can we hope to gain a clearer understanding of one another. In an attempt to build a better bridge between our worlds, I invite you to please write to this Newspaper with your comments and advice on how to best embrace Maribeth in both her Chinese and American Cultures. There are still many things we want her to know about China. I can teach her book facts and tell what information I know. I will leave it up to you the readers to help me tell her about the real Heart, Soul and Spirit that is China. Until next time take care.