Thank you all for your kind words and advice. I will take and apply many of your suggestions. I have expanded my circle of Chinese friends and have started to learn more of the language. I work and live in a small town of 500 k people, so seeing foreigners is rare for me. I have accepted much of China. I just watch myself that I do not become like the Mandarins- more Chinese than the Chinese. Making Chinese friends is hard, but the very few I find that they are quite loyal. Good luck to all in the Middle Kingdom.