Last weekend, while I still had my mom around to help me out with the kids, Kevin took off for the weekend to go to a city in one of the western most parts of China. He had gotten in contact through the internet with a young man who had started up a baseball league for minority kids. After talking baseball with this guy, Kevin found out that they were desperately low on equipment--something like only 25 gloves for all the kids in the entire league! Kevin wanted to help out, so he was able (with the help of a Stateside friend) to have a bunch of baseball gear donated that my mom brought over.
The youth baseball league just plays games every Saturday and Sunday for about a month, so Kevin wanted to get out there and see some of the action while it was still in process. Thus us quickly planned trip last weekend. It's a highly unstable area politically, so Kevin thought it wise to make the trip with a Chinese American friend (which of course, made it more fun for Kevin as well!).
The trip was fascinating for Kevin. It felt like he was out of China--at least the China that we know. I wish I could write more details, but think it is best to be a bit brief here. Ultimately, the youth were really excited to receive the equipment (the 50 lb. bag Kevin brought doubled what the league already had to use!), they were super thrilled to meet a former Major League player, and Kevin even got to step in to a quick pick-up game a pitch a few innings with some of the adults. He loved the food--which he says is really spicy and a lot of noodles, and he met a lot of interesting characters on the journey! I don't know that it will be a regular stopover place for him in the near future, but he was thrilled to get to make the trip, answer some of the questions he's had about the place, and be able to help out some young baseball fans all at the same time.
