system
Context: My doorbell rings. On the step, I find the elderly Chinese lady, small and slight, holding the hand of a little boy. In her other hand, she holds a paper carrier bag. 

I know this lady. It is not her first visit. She is the boy's grandmother, and her daughter bought the house next door last October. 

Her daughter, Nicole, speaks fluent English. But she is now in Shanghai, and her parents are here with the little boy. Nicole has obviously told her mother that I am having heart surgery soon, so her mother has decided I need more nutrients. 

I know what is inside the bag--a thermos with hot soup and a stainless-steel container with rice, vegetables and either chicken, meat or shrimp, sometimes with a kind of pancake. This has become an almost-daily practice. 

Communication between us is somewhat affected by the fact that she doesn't speak English and all I can say in Chinese is hello. Once, she brought an iPad as well as the food. She pointed to the screen, which displayed a message from her daughter telling me that her mother wanted to know if the food was all right and whether it was too salty. I am not used to iPads, so she indicated I should go with her to her house. Then, she handed the iPad to her husband and almost immediately I found myself looking at Nicole in Shanghai and discussing her mother's cooking and salt intake. Instantly, tears welled in my eyes. 

"Your mother just can't be bringing me meals like this all the time," I insisted. "I can hardly do dishes in return." 

"Oh, no, Lucy." Nicole said. "Mum doesn't like western food. Don't worry about it; she has to cook for the three of them anyway, and she wants to do it." 

The doorbell keeps ringing and there is the familiar brown paper carrier bag, handed smilingly to me. 

I am now working on some more Chinese words--it's the least I can do after such display of kindness. 

"Thank you" is, of course, the first one. Somehow, it seems inadequate.
human
Who is at the door?
gpt
An elderly Chinese lady and a little boy
human
Is she carrying something?
gpt
Yes
human
What?
gpt
a paper carrier bag
human
Do I know her?
gpt
Yes
human
Who is her daughter?
gpt
Nicole
human
Where does Nicole live?
gpt
Shanghai
human
How is she related to the boy?
gpt
mother
human
What is in the bag?
gpt
food
human
Has she done this before?
gpt
Yes
human
Why?
gpt
I am having heart surgery soon, so her mother has decided I need more nutrients
human
What has helped us communicate?
gpt
an iPad
human
What kind of dishes does she bring?
gpt
hot soup and a container with rice, vegetables and either chicken, meat or shrimp, sometimes with a kind of pancake
human
What do I do to help communicate with her?
gpt
I am now working on some more Chinese words
human
Do she continue bringing the bag?
gpt
Yes
human
What is the first phrase I learn?
gpt
"Thank you"