What are the chances?

Shenyang is a city of 8 million. 8 million people!!!! That is always so hard for me to fathom in my “small town on the east coast of Canada” mind.

But I LOVE it! I love the busy-ness, and adventure of this city. As we were landing a week ago, I said to my husband it feels like we are coming home. He shakes his head and thinks I am crazy. But somehow, in this HUGE city I can function, I know how to live here. I will truly miss it when we leave tomorrow.

So, in a city of 8 million, what are the chances that you will accidentally bump in to one of your sweetest and dearest little Chinese friends. My friend Xaioxu is the same age 24 as my youngest son. When I lived here I got to know her and her family. Her parents speak very little English. Xaioxu and I would get together so she could practice her English. We enjoyed dinners together and I even spent a Saturday afternoon playing badminton with her parents. Great and wonderful memories.

Xaioxu and I stay in touch with an app called WeChat. We message and send pics back and forth. That is actually how I stay in touch with all my Chinese friends. Xaioxu knew I was coming to China, she didn’t know I was actually coming to Shenyang. I don’t always tell my Chinese friends a lot before I travel here because it is just so hard to see everyone.

So…here’s what happened. I was in the mall close to the hotel going to find a restaurant for dinner with David and the networking team. I was ready to go up an escalator and I heard “Anna”, “Anna is that you?” I turned around in utter surprise because ” who is calling my name here?”  and there with extreme excitement was my sweet little xaioxu. WoW!!!!! I was so excited and she was too!

She wasn’t even in the part of town where she lives and imagine meeting her? Lots of hugs and smiles and a very quick catch up, with a few pics, she told me to have a wonderful few days in Shenyang and that we would chat soon.

What are the chances? I feel so BLESSED!