I did a little research about Hainan Island after the girls went there yesterday and was surprised to learn that it is a province unto itself in China.  Historically it was part of Guangdong Province and at one time part of Guangxi Province as well.  It has an interesting history about a rebellion against the government by the non-Han Chinese people who lived on the Island many years ago.  The government sent in another group of people to quell the rebellion and the original inhabitants were pushed to one end of the Island.  Many of the newcomers also settled on the Island.  The two groups spoke different languages.  Han Chinese also started moving to the Island, bringing their home town dialects with them.  There is a lot more to the story than this, but you can get the picture from what I have written here.

We are down into the single digits now but things are so busy at the office that I have little time to think about the passing days.  I just know that every day when I arrive at the office we are one day closer to being together.  I am already booked for the weekend, so the weekend will fly past as well.  There will be laughter and Chinese language in our home once again.  I have a supply of cherries on hand that might last until the girls get here but I will buy more tomorrow if they are still available.  I know the girls' mouths are watering in anticipation.

It has been a long summer.