The Only Other Country in the World

Whenever the boys want to know what is going on in another part of the world, they ask about China. And only China. If one were to listen to them and not know any better, one would think that China was the only other country in the world.

They want to know what time it is in China when they are getting ready for bed. They want to know what time it is in China when they are on their way to school. They want to know how long it takes to fly to China. They want to know if you could dig through the Earth and reach China.

Why so curious about China? I have no clue. But I do know that I better bone up on my China knowledge so that I can answer their questions correctly. Because right now, they think China is some kind of medieval type third-world with no modern amenities.

When Luke asked last night at bedtime what time it was in China, I said it was time for the boys and girls to go to school. He said, "No it's not. They don't have schools in China." Then when he asked the next morning on the way to school what time it was in China, I told him the boys and girls were in bed reading books and going to sleep. He said, "No they're not. They don't even have books in China."

"Yes they do," I said. "They have books and they go to school and they pretty much have everything and do everything that we have and do." An oversimplified explanation, I know, but the only thing I could muster at 8:30 am on the 5 minute drive to school.

"Oh yeah," said Luke. "Because all the toys we get say Made in China. Even the ones in Happy Meals."

"Those China people are great toy makers," said Jack.

I was just waiting for a follow-up question related to Santa and China, but it never came.