My new friend, Linda, whose mom runs a small shop in Beijing, really made my trip special in a personal way.

My mom met Linda while on a walk by herself in a hutong (residential area) in Beijing. Linda’s mom looked out the door of her shop and noticed my mom having difficulty with a band-aid. Linda’s mom quickly guided my mom to a seat in her shop where she provided and installed a new band-aid.

About that time, Linda woke from her nap and came out into the shop from the adjacent living quarters, she conversed with my mom in English, guessed that somehow mom was there because of the Olympics, and, soon, they were friends.

Mom brought me back the next day, and the four of us went on a shopping tour of their Beijing. In no time at all, Linda had won me over too. What a smart and pretty little girl!
If I asked her a question that required a thoughtful answer, she would stroke her chin with her fingers and say, “I am thinking.” It was just too cute!