Holiday Happenings

Well my weekly blog has turned into a monthly one, but hopefully a little news is better than no news to those of you reading. This month has been one of ups and downs. The newness of the adventure has at times worn thin replaced by a lack of appreciation for certain parts of life here. Specifically the cold weather. I have given up on riding the bike and gone back to the crowded bus each morning. The other thing I don't enjoy is the very Chinese custom of spitting. It is unbelievable to me that two cultures could view this habit in such polar opposite ways. I am trying really hard to get over this one, but it's tough!

Anyway, moving on to more pleasant matters. The Christmas season has been interesting for me. Some things were just like home, others sooo different. I made the decision to stay in China over the holidays mostly to save 1,000 dollars. It has definitely been educational staying here. At school I planned to do many of the same types of things we did in the US leading up to Christmas. That bombed when I tried to do a writing assignment about a favorite family traditions. I discovered that less than half of my students even celebrate Christmas. Many of them even being from Christian families, don't actually celebrate in any of the ways that we Americans consider normal. This was a shocking revelation for me. It really made me appreciate so much more the special things about the holiday season that I have always enjoyed with my family. Even the secular things like decorating and gift giving, that have nothing to do with the real meaning of Christmas, are such a special part of the whole backdrop leading up to it. I did enjoy having the freedom for the first time in my teaching career to actually teach right from the Bible the Christmas story.

The pastor at church pointed out that here in China we are more likely to hear the words Merry Christmas than most cities in the US. It is a sad Irony that even though the words are known, the meaning is not. There are Christmas trees and lights and decorations everywhere. (Unfortunately large gaudy tinsel seems to be the decor of choice. The more colors the better seems to be the general decorating philosophy!)But, most people have no idea there is anything more than Santa Claus. At School we had a "Secret Santa" gift exchange among the teachers with a party for the big reveal. I was appointed to the decorating committee and spent quite a bit of time stressing over working with no budget and very limited resources to make the lunch room festive. A bunch of Poinsettias saved the day!

My class chose to have an international pot luck over a pizza party for our class Christmas party. That was a whole new adventure. Apparently the wonders of the cupcake have not yet arrived in China either. I had about 6 kids bring cakes to the party. We also had some Korean Sushi, some Korean Rice Cake and noodles, and some Chinese Dumplings. The only American food represented was pretzels and potato chips. I also had a Christmas party with the group of friends that I have become closest to over the past four months. We had a wonderful time exchanging gifts.

On top of all the Christmas festivities, grades had to be completed for second quarter report cards before we could leave for break. Procrastinator that I am, I had stacks of ungraded papers all over my desk. I could not help but think of my days at Armstrong when Harriet Baker and I were always the last ones to be finishing grades up. My fifth grade teammate across the hall and I were the only teachers left in the building at 7:00 in the evening on the last day of school frantically trying to get grades done. Somethings apparently never change, even if you move to the other side of the world. Well, I finally did get finished and even have plans mostly finished for when I go back to school in two weeks.

In the meantime, I am very excited about some travel within China to a much warmer climate in the southern part of the country. Maybe I will have more adventures to share when I return from that journey!

Thanksgiving

Well, I survived my first holiday away from all family. The days leading up to it were pretty emotional. I kept thinking about my mom's stuffing, and playing rook with the brothers after dinner. But when it came down to it, I was able to find the root of what Thanksgiving is all about, even on the other side of the world. Sri (from Indonesia) and I talked about doing a small dinner with our close friends. Several of the teachers were away at a conference in Hong Kong, so we thought it would be a small group. We thought maybe we would also invite a couple of the Chinese girls that work at school. I got to thinking that I am currently in a similar place to the pilgrims so long ago. NO, I am not near starvation. But I am in a foreign land. And I would not have survived had it not been for the gracious help of the Chinese speaking staff at the school. Just like the Pilgrims wanted to thank God for and with the Natives who had helped them so much, this was an opportunity for us foreigners to do the same.

But, when we approached Diane about this small dinner idea, things were immediately taken out of our hands and made much bigger. Before I knew what was happening, Diane had invited 25 people, ordered a turkey from a grocery store, and was planning decorations. I got Mom's apple pie recipe and her green jello salad and set about to make the meal feel a bit like home. I even managed to make a pretty yummy cranberry jello salad.

We actually had school on Thursday, but had Friday off to celebrate. So Friday evening we all gathered at Diane's. The meal was wonderful. It was mostly American with a few international side dishes such as Korean Kim bop and Chinese dumplings (both of which are delicious!) The only thing I missed was Mom's stuffing. After the meal there followed a rousing game of Catch Phrase. This was very interesting considering the limited English of many guests, as well as the very American culture of many of the words. However, everyone had a really fun time. I did not even have time to miss the traditional Rook games that we would have played at my own family meal.

In other areas of life, things are good. I have joined a small group that meets once a week. I have been greatly encouraged spirtually by this group. We are currently studying Collosians and I am so enjoying being involved in Bible Study again. I am also getting to know other people both on staff at school and outside of school. I have been practicing with the BICF Christmas choir and will be participating in the cantata in a couple weeks. That has been another fun way to meet people. School is typical. Lots of papers to grade, and a to do list that never gets finished. But I love my students and love the atmosphere. More than anything I love that I get to teach from the Bible everyday!

The weather is cold, and I am told it will get much worse before it gets better. In light of this information, and due to the fact that I am not Chinese sized, I have ordered a down coat from a taylor at a nearby market. I got to choose the fabric, the length, the zipper/button style, and pattern for about 50 American dollars. I get to pick it up in a couple days an look forward to being warm when I go out. For now, I am getting by with a jacket that was warm enough for South Carolina, but here... not so much.

Well, I guess that's all for now. In honor of American Thanksgiving, I will close with a list of things I am thankful for:

1. God showing me where I am to be and allowing me to have this GRAND adventure!

2. My mom, loving me and my students from the other side of the world. Showing me what a generous life truly looks like.

3. My Dad! How much he loves me. By putting up with mom's extravagant giving, by worrying about my flat bike tires and trying to find a solution all the way from SC.

4. Technology! I don't think I would have survived this experience nearly as well if I did not have Skype and Facebook to keep in touch with everyone.

5. My new friends in China. My life is so full now with the lovely people I have met and continue to meet here. It is such a blessing to see the community of Him on such a global scale and especially in this place!

6. All the family and friends at home that love me, pray for me, read my blog, comment on my pictures, and are living this adventure with me.

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!!!!

The Good, The Bad, And the China Way

Well, this weekend was definitely a low point in my China adventure. And still, it was an adventure. I will relate it here, not to complain, but to make this a true picture of my life in China.

This week at school has been very stressful. It started with me being responsible for speaking in Chapel Wednesday, which meant a lot of time planning in the beginning of the week. This was bad because the end of the 9 weeks was Friday, which meant that I needed a lot of time for grading. Of course by Thursday I was a little stressed out because many disruptions to my schedule had meant I was way behind. But, I was determined to make the most of my Friday, because Saturday I was finally going to make it to the Great Wall.

Well, I woke up Friday morning with a nasty stomach virus. I won't supply the gorey details, but suffice it to say It was not a pleasant day. I had to go to school though, because my students had a major project due in Social Studies. They were bringing models of the Nile River, the pyramids, and other Ancient Egyptian artifacts as part of an oral presentation..... so staying in bed was not an option. I ended up going home early losing all that time I was planning on grading papers etc. Of course it took 40 minutes for my bus to come.... but I finally made it home.

Fast forward to 4 hours later when I wake up from a long nap. It was about 8:00 in the evening and I decided to put in a movie. I was contently watching a movie when suddenly, all the power turned off. Yes, everything was pitch black. And no, I don't have a flashlight. Oh, except for a built in one on my cell phone. When I looked in the hallway and saw light, I knew the problem was mine and mine alone.

*** Let me just insert here a bit of info. about bill paying here in the metropolis of Beijing. Almost all bills are prepaid. The only paper bill I get is water, which is taped to my door. Everything else- phone, gas, electricity, etc. is all paid ahead of time. It took me quite some time and many explanations before I finally understood that whole concept, but I had taken my electricity card to the bank and bout 500RMB worth of units about a month ago. My friend Sri had told me that it would last several months, soooo I had not bothered to check it recently. That was a mistake.*****

OK, back to my story. At this point, my nasty virus had not left me. I had a smashing headache, and my stomach was still quite unsettled. I got on the phone and tried to call my neighbor and friend Sri who gets me out of the majority of trouble spots I land in here in China. Well she did not answer. I was near hysterics by the time she called me back. When I explained the situation, she said she thought there was a 24 hour machine you could use to add units.

Well, thankfully Sri was home and immediately came over to get me. Together we set out to find a machine. We visited several banks and ATM machines in the hopes that one was the kind we were looking for. Unfortunately, they were not. After we had walked several blocks (still with the smashing head and unhappy stomach) Sri called our Ayi and asked her if she knew where to go. Her daughter thought there was a place about half a mile down the road. So we set off for there. Thankfully, We did find it, it was open, and I put all the cash I had on me onto my electric card.

**** Side note. on the way back, Sri bought some Kettle Corn that a man was making off of his cart on the side of the street. It smelled so incredibly good. And even with my stomach the way it was I could not resist a few bites. It was PHENOMENAL! It makes all popcorn I have ever had pale in comparison. And I was even sick!****

We finally made it back and I put my card into the slot in my electric box. It read on the meter that I had 500 and some Units of Electricity.... and the electricity DID NOT WORK IN MY APARTMENT!!!!

At this point I was barely functioning. But I did find out that I have some lovely neighbors. In the course of the next hour, I think there were 7 neighbors, management, 2 dogs and finally an electrician who helped solve the problem. My next door neighbor, brought candles and a flashlight. Of course I could not understand anything anyone was saying, but they were really nice about it. Apparently there was a wire loose and that is why the power would not come back on. So they ended up calling an electrician, who came at 10:00 on a Friday night and charged 8RMB which is about $1.00. I could not help thinking what the cost would have been in the US.... So, that is my tale of the good, the bad, and the Chinese way. I was still sick on Saturday and missed my Great Wall trip. But as someone said, it's not going anywhere, so someday I will make it to the Wall. In the meantime, I really need to learn some more Chinese so I can try to thank my lovely neighbors.

Flat Tires, Language Learning, and Lots of People

Wow, I am so overdue in writing on here. Schedule wise things have been very busy. Not so much in an I'm so insanely busy I can't function. Rather it is a goo combination of working, building friendships, and seeing the sites. I can't tell it all so I will share some quick bits about my day to day life and then a couple longer notes.

Recent experiences...
My bike had a flat tire so Janet, a Chinese worker from school, took it to a bike repair man for me. She insisted on doing this so that I would not get the "foreigner" markup. After it was fixed we went to eat at a nearby restaurant. An hour later on leaving the restaurant the tire was flat again! By then it was so late that all the bike repair men had gone home. I had to walk it all the way to my apartment, about 2 miles!

My students are not perfect! I have had a boy in my class involved in 2 recent incidents where he hit a girl!!!! One time the girl was 6! So I have been learning about dealing with parents from very different cultures and learning how the whole discipline thing works here at my new school

On the plus side... Half of my class had gone to the library from music class. There was no teacher or adult in the library at the time. When I walked in unexpectedly, all 9 students were sitting at tables quietly researching their topics for a project I had assigned THE DAY BEFORE using the very limited number of research books in the room. It caused my jaw to drop open.

Learning Chinese is DIFFICULT! For me, learning very simple phrases and remembering them is quite challenging. We have started a class at school with one of the Chinese teachers. She is meeting with 3 of us once a week. Last week we learned numbers and I have been practicing diligently. My friend Diane and I went to an art store together. Anytime I go someplace with Diane is an adventure of epic proportions, but I don't have time to share all the details at this time. Suffice it to say that there WAS some confusion in finding the correct store, and we spent quite some time in a little hole in the wall shop trying to figure out where all the supplies were, before discovering the correct shop just down the street:) When we finally got to the right store we had a great time trying to use a combination of our bad and limited Chinese words and hand motions to describe clay. Finally a girl figured out what we were looking for and led us to it. I took a package to the front to find out how much it cost. I was SO excited to use my new knowledge of numbers in Chinese to listen for the price and figure it out in English. I pointed to the package. The clerk said something that sounded like "A" (a long a sound) I carefully counted from one to ten in Chinese in my head. None of the numbers sound anything like A. I looked questioningly at him and he repeated "A" again several times. I still could not figure it out. Finally he got out his calculator and typed in 8!!!!! He was just as excited to practice his ENGLISH numbers as I was to try out my Chinese! When I said OHHHHH "BA" he realized why I did not understand. We both stood there laughing hysterically. By the time Diane and I left, I am pretty sure we had the full attention of EVERYONE in the store!

Getting in touch with nature.

Today I was excited to visit a park called Fragrant Hills. I had heard that it was very beautiful and I looked forward to getting out in nature and enjoying some peace away from the city. I think I forgot for a bit how many MILLIONS of people live in China. I have never experienced hiking in quite this way. The path we were on was to the peak of the hill/mountain we were near. My friends were not sure they wanted to climb to the top, but I said of course we have to! We can't come this far and not climb to the top! So they went along with me. Shawna with very little enthusiasm! Well, as we climbed higher, several things happened. One, the pathway got narrower, two the pathway got steeper, and three more and more people seemed to join us the higher we got. By the time we were near the top, we were surrounded by a mass of people. Some going up, some going down, but everyone moving. It was amazing to me. I was far from the city, and still packed in a mass of people. When I hike Table Rock Mt. in SC, on a busy day you might see 50 people. Usually it is more like 10. When you get to the top, you enjoy peace and quiet as you enjoy the view. At the top of this mt. THERE WERE PEOPLE EVERYWHERE! Draped on every rock, they spread newspaper on the ground to sit on, they were lining every railing and stair step. It was amazing. The people were taking full advantage of this beautiful place.

One of the fun things about this site, is that it is not one of the regular tourist stops for foreigners. It is very much a Chinese spot. Several times throughout the day a Chinese person would look at us and say with much surprise HELLO! They were so excited to see us there. Even though the day did not include a lot of peace solitude and serenity, it was definitely a fun opportunity to see and enjoy the culture of these people. I am amazed at how graciously welcoming they are to me wherever I go. Well, I guess that's all for this time. I hope it is not too choppy or discombobulated! I hope I can give you a taste of the life here that I am so completely enjoying even with a few inconvenient moments along the way!

International Family Day

Yesterday and today we celebrated the different nationalities represented at our school. Friday students were allowed to come to school dressed in either traditional dress or patriotic clothing to represent their country. I did not come to China prepared for this, so I wore my Pittsburgh Steelers t-shirt. What could possibly be more American than football? (Well, I always have to call it American football here as most of my students call soccer football.) It was sooo much fun seeing all the students dressed up and having pride in their countries as well as an appreciation for other nationalities. We had a parade around the Hotel grounds and ended on the Basketball court to take pictures.

This morning we went to the high school campus for the International family day. I did not know what to expect, but it turned out to be so much fun. Each country represented by our school staff and students was represented. I ate food from at least 10 different countries. I was a little disappointed in the American room for as many people we have at the school. We had a little craft the kids could make, a jeopardy game, a voting booth, and a bake sale. The Canada room was awesome. They every conceivable activity related to Canada. I definitely have ideas for improving the American room for next year. My friend Diane and I were brainstorming all day about what we can do next year. But for this year, I really enjoyed learning about the cultures of so many countries. It struck me that all of us from so many countries have a single bond in HIM! It is so cool that He can link so many people together in such an amazing way. I continue to be incredibly grateful that I have the opportunity to be in this place, teaching at this school.

Busy Weekend

This weekend was full of fun and adventure for this traveling girl. I finally feel settled in my apartment and into the swing of things at school. Miracle of miracle's I am even at this point caught up on my grading. So, last Friday I was looking forward to a long weekend of fun. Saturday I had an opportunity to visit two well known tourist attractions in Beijing. The Temple of Heaven and The Pearl Market.

I can't help comparing this culture to my own way of life. About half the time, I am left scratching my head at what seems to me so very strange, and half the time, I am left wishing that things in the US wer a little more like they are here. As we entered the park around the Temple of Heaven, there were Chinese people all over the place enjoying the outdoors. There were people playing games, exercising (the Chinese way) and lots of performers everwhere. My natural reaction was to assume that these performers (singers, dancers, and musicians) were trying to make a little money for their labors (August Rush is fresh in my mind.) However, these people were jsut singing, dancing, and playing for the sheer joy of performing and entertaining those around them. The Temple of Heaven was beautiful. The detail to the buildings was amazing. Most of it was built before the Western Hemisphere had been discovered by Columbus, so the history of it was amazing.

After visiting the Temple, we went to eat at famous Beijing restaurant. Can't remember the name, but it very much put me in mind of the Beacon in Spartanburg, SC. There was not as much grease in the food, but the yelling between staff members and noise level were about the same. I moved up to a new level in the world of chopsticks by attempting noodles. It was messy to say the least.

Next came the Pearl Market. Girls, you can't imagine this place without actually seeing it. The piles of pearls were indescribable. Thankfully Sri was with us and pointed us in the direction of a reliable salesperson, otherwise I would not have had a clue what I was doing. But with his guidance, I was able to purchase several things to send home in Christmas packages:) The Pearl Market is definitely going to be on my list of favorite things!

Monday, today, was a Chinese holiday, so I was able to enjoy some Paraolympic games. I am sad that the games are not getting more coverage around the world than they are. I was amazed by the strenght and determination of the athletes I watched today. It seems to me that they should be even more recognized than our amazing Olympic athletes. I watched blind men long jump, People without legs race in wheelchairs, and men and women with all types of disabilities overcome tremendous difficulties to go for the gold. I was so impressed with their incredible perseverence through hardship. I felt honored to get to be a part of it.

Well, that's all for now. Back to work tomorrow, but I am definitely looking forward to more adventures in the near future.

Contemplating a Peaceful Heart

I just love my life in China. I can't remember the last time that I felt this much joy, peace, and confident knowledge that I am where I am supposed to be. The pessimist in me is afraid to say say this. There is a little something in me that is terrified that if I say out loud how content I am, that all my present joy and peace will fly out the window. I have been whispering to myself how much fun I am having, how much I am loving my students, my coworkers, my new friends, the whole life. I love that there is always a group of friends ready to go here or there. Someone is always up for seeing a sight, visiting a different market, or just hanging out at another teacher's apartment. How much I love walking out to the bus station each morning, love being the one odd American in a sea of Asian faces, love trying new restaurants- foods from every place imaginable, love the intelligence and eager desire to learn that my Korean students bring to my classroom. Love joining hundreds of voices singing praises each Sunday in THIS PLACE! But I have been a bit afraid to say it out loud. Sure that to say it, would be to end it. That it would be the beginning of all the hard times I had imagined and prepared myself for.

I was reading my favorite Psalm this evening, when out fell a fortune cookie paper from College! Yes, years ago at Practical, I put a couple funny fortunes in my B of all places and one fell out in the middle of Ps 139. It said " An adventure awaits you that will change your life." At first I thought it was humorous that I had not read that in years, and it suddenly fell out. Then I thought about the irony of reading it on my first truly great adventure in quite sometime.

And then I was blown away by my own pitiful lack of faith. He brought me to this place! I was so nervous about coming, I asked everyone to remember me- especially the first few weeks after my arrival. I was so scared of trying to get settled with no knowledge of the city, the language, or the people. So terrified of coming alone. Not having a single person to call on for help.

For weeks I have been astonished at how easy it has been for me. I keep thinking, it should have been harder. Why am I not lonlier? Why have I made friends and formed relationships so quickly? Why have I had such an incredible support system of Chinese speaking friends to help me find the right places and spend the right amount....

So tonight, the blinders finally came off. What an amazing Father I have. How sweet to have been held in such loving arms throughout a potentially stressful and difficult time. I am on an adventure that is already transforming my life. But more importantly, I am confident that He is in the center of this adventure.

I am a realist enough to know that there will still be difficult and stressful times ahead, but what a beautiful marker to look back on and remember the incredible care I have recieved during this time. Thanks so much to all of you who have remembered me!

Unexpected Blessings

One of the most overwhelming parts of moving to Beijing has been setting up my apartment. It had the basic furniture, but I have to get everything else. On the surface that does not sound so bad, but in reality it is much different from setting up house in the US. Always to be considered How much can I carry by myself? Am I taking a bus home or a taxi? Can I explain to a taxi driver how to get to my apartment?(Not if I don't have a Chinese speaking friend with me!) Do I have bags to carry stuff in, or do I need to buy bags? And most difficult, where do I find what I need?

Little by little I have been purchasing and moving in. But many of the big expensive things I have not bought, mostly due to the inconvenience of getting them to my apartment and because of the cost. One item I need is an air purifier, but they are very expensive. Several times recently I have looked at mattress pads for on top of the very hard Chinese bed I am sleeping on, but for some reason I kept waiting....

Today after school my 5th grade teammate and I decided to go to Peters TexMex for dinner. I think we were both longing for a little comfort food from the states. As we walked in the door, two of the teachers from the high school waved and invited us to join them. As we were chatting someone asked where I was from. As I said "South Carolina," I noticed the man at the table next to me sit up and take notice. He asked where in SC, and I said Greenville. "We are from Pickens he said" pointing at himself and his wife. We chatted a moment, then I went back to my burger and fries and the school folks I was talking to.

Later on in the meal the man began talking to me again, asking how long I had been here, what I was doing, etc. Well, it turns out that he and his wife are returning to the states after being here for three years. They have purchased an air purifier, a mattress cover, lots of kitchen materials, sheets, etc. that they would like to give me! I was a bit flabbergasted as they offered me all these items. What a humbling experience! What a sweet blessing! It feels so good to know and understand that I am being taken care of in such a special way. Near the end of the conversation, after exchanging phone numbers, he said, "I believe some meetings are Divine encounters." I have to wholeheartedly agree!

Teaching and Living

A lot has happened since I last wrote. I went through several days of inservice meetings followed by the beginning of school on Wednesday. Not having really been settled in my apartment, and with very limited amounts of time to work in my classroom I felt very frazzled and unprepared for the first day. However, I did manage to go over all the rules and procedures Wednesday and teach Thursday and Friday. I am definitely hoping I will feel more prepared next week. My students for the most part are respectful and well behaved. I have students from several countries and the cultural mix is fun. Very different learning environment from what I am used to in the states. I was a little shocked at the chaos of the schedule- the kids are constantly going here and there to special classes and Chinese class etc. Also different is the amount I am supposed to cover every day. An average of 90 minutes of homework a night is acceptable! My students in the US would have had a fit. My students here seemed to take it in stride when I gave twice the homework I normally would have on the second day of school. Most of my kids seem eager to learn. I could not believe how many students asked if they could take home the books that I have in my classroom to read over the weekend. I wish I had more. I have two small shelves, but they are so excited about what is there. Books in English are hard to find and very expensive here, so they were thrilled to have some to read. For the most part the ignored the smaller books and went for the thickest ones I had. Yet another difference from what I am used to.

Outside of school I am doing pretty good. I am slowly gathering things for my apartment. I almost have enough items to fix food in my kitchen. Between transportation, not knowing how to get places, not knowing what I can find in what stores, and limited time, settling into my apartment has been a little more different than I expected it would be. I have been on a quest to find an alarm clock almost since my arrival. I finally spent a ridiculous amoount of money on a plastic Hello Kitty clock which broke as soon as I attempted to set the alarm the first time. SO, a friend is taking me out tomorrow to find that and some other electronic items. My biggest frustration at this point is not knowing the langugage and wanting to learn, but having school responsibilities taking the majority of my time. One of the things I am enjoying the most is the community of friendships that I am developing here. We all live so close to school and to each other that it is easy to find someone to go eat with or go shopping with. Last Sat. and this Sat. I have been invited with other teachers to someones home. I am very grateful for the support of the other staff who have been in Beijing longer. Well that's all for now. I hope this satisfies Holeigh, who called me a slacker for not updating often enough.

Concession Stand food... Chinese style!

Can’t go to sleep without recording my latest China adventures. I have been chastised for not keeping up with my blog frequently enough. If I had time, (and internet in my apartment) I could certainly write pages about my experiences. In a nutshell, I had a few days of calm before the insanity of the storm began. Saturday Sri took me to look at more apartments and I settled on one in a complex with three other staff from the school including Sri. The apartment was basically empty except for a TV and stand. The agent assured me that the landlord would buy all new furniture for the apartment. (It is not new!) Sunday I came back, walked through checking everything to make sure everything was in good order and finding out what needed repaired. I then signed the lease. Monday evening I moved in with my 5 suitcases and two bags of supplies from IKEA. My food supply was a loaf of bread, a jar of peanut butter, and a jar of jam. Since then I have been running like a chicken with its head cut off. I have had a few problems with the apartment and have had to find a Chinese staff to call the agent, who calls the landlord. IT has been an interesting process. It seems like everything is so different, and so much more complicated than necessary. The most frustrating thing of all is the language barrier. Long conversations take place in Chinese and every once in awhile the English speaker throws in a bit of explanation. I want to know it ALL! This is such an incredibly humbling experience. The best analogy I can think of for how I feel is like a student with a learning disability. Everyone else seems to perfectly understand what is going on and what needs to be done, meanwhile, I have to ask for instructions over and over, still (Even in English) I just don’t get it! I know the Chinese people must think I’m not very bright, but I am trying soo hard to figure everything out. OK, enough blabbing. I have had a couple more little adventures. I am sure that I can’t relate the hilarity or emotions that were felt at the time, but I will try.


Concession Food…. Chinese Style
A coworker who had volunteered at the Olympics had free tickets to tour the Olympic Green and I was offered one. We left directly from work around 5 and took a bus ride to the general area. We were not sure which gate to enter and ended up walking another half mile or so to an entrance swarming with people. Interesting sight along the way- A sign saying absolutely no scalping tickets surrounded by people scalping tickets with police officers just feet away J
So by the time we got through the mob, waited in line and went through the security check it was close to 7:00 and I was very hungry! Not far into the park I found a food area where many people seemed to be eating a Chinese type meal in a box. I somehow, even in China half expected to see Elephant ears, cotton candy, and hot Sausage sandwiches on the menu. Sadly, it was typical Chinese fare- a mixture of random foods including yogurt, chips, and cold sausages in plastic wrappers. The only thing that seemed like food was the “box meal.” So I bravely ordered said meal expecting to be handed a steaming box of rice with Chicken in it. When the girl handed me the box, she mentioned that the instructions were translated in English on the paper attached to the top.
I opened it to discover cold rice and several packets of things including a packet of sauce with pieces of chicken in. I was baffled as to what to do with everything. I asked Sri if she knew what to do. After she puzzled for a moment, she asked a nearby Chinese man for help. After a lengthy conversation that I did not understand, she explained what to do. I had to open the pack of sauce and poor on the rice. Next I needed to put the top back on and then pull a string out of the bottom. The man kept saying it would be very hot, not to hold it. I did not get it, because nothing felt hot. But, finally Sri pulled the string out and the box immediately filled with heat and steam started coming out the top. Then I discovered that I had to wait 8-13 minutes to eat the thing! Yes it’s true. In China you have to cook your own concession stand food. The saddest part of the experience was that the food really tasted bad, was full of pieces of bone, and THERE WAS A MCDONALDS JUST A LITTLE BIT FARTHER INTO THE PARK!!!!! Oh well, at least now I have had the experience and know what to avoid in future experiences!
Bus Routes and shopping Deals!
I finally had time to go shopping after school on Friday. I made arrangements to meet Diane at her apartment and the two of us would take the bus to CarreFour (a Wal-Mart type store with a bit of everything) I had never been to this store, but everyone said it was great for finding the things I needed to get my apartment set up.I nervously set out for her apartment, got on the right bus, and off at the right stop. When it came to getting on the next bus Diane had been told one bus to take and had been told another. We got the one Diane thought was right and began chatting away about school. After a bit, Diane said, it is pretty close, we should see it soon….. of course we did not see it and after several miles she was certain we had missed it. Sooo we got off the bus in a rather sketchy looking area of town. Diane confidently hailed a taxi and handed him our handy dandy taxi book turned to the CarrFour page. OF COURSE HE SAID HE DID NOT KNOW WHERE IT WAS!!!!! The second driver did take us, but I am pretty sure he went in a huge circle around several blocks to make the ride more expensive. We finally made it to the store where I found some essentials while Diane went crazy in the School supply section. She had piles of items in the cart. I sorted my items out and got in a different line and checked out with no problem. I went around and Diane’s hundreds of items were still being checked. Then, her cashier stopped checking and began pressing a button for help. We all stood around for awhile waiting for help to come. The cashier did not speak English, so cold not expain what the problem was. After awhile another worker came up and they had a discussion. Then, they started taking items that had been checked and taking them off the ticket. We were both completely baffled. The second girl (probably a manager) said “I’m Sorry” several times. I tried to ask what was wrong but she said “I’m sorry, very little English.” So we kept standing there. They were canceling one item at a time over and over. I have never seen anything like it. Finally another cashier tried to explain in limited English what was going on. Apparently there was a sale on certain school items that if you bought 10 you saved a certain amount of money. But each group had to be rung up separately. Soooooo, Diane had so many of the sale items, that they ended up completely canceling her order and starting over. She ended up having to swipe her debit card and pay 6 separate TIMES! It took forever. I kept thinking how bizarre the whole thing was. We did not even know about the sale. They could have charged full price for all of it and we never would have known. But the cashier was so concerned that they took at least 20 minutes making the mistake right. I never will understand exactly what was going on. I was exhausted and longing to be home, but at the same time I was amazed at the circumstances. I have heard often since my arrival, “That’s China!” I guess that can be a good thing at times and not so good at times. But I am learning that the only explanation for many many things here is “That’s China!”

Hope this is not too long and drawn out. I will try to keep up with things a little more often. I am Loving the experience of the people and the culture. I am completely overwhelmed with school compared to what I am used to, but I will just ask for your prayers in that area as I learn a new curriculum, new ways of doing things, and especially figure out how to teach in the midst of very difficult scheduling.

Apartment Hunting via Police Escort!

Friday after lunch Hannah, a Chinese receptionist at IAB, had made arrangements to take me hunting for apartments. We crossed the street and she began attempting to hail a cab. I am pretty sure that most of the time since my arrival I have been walking around like a lost little girl. The Chinese language is a constant flow around me, and I never have any idea what anyone is talking about. I now recognize 3 words in Chinese.

Suddenly a van load of police officers drove up to where we were standing. I got a little nervous when I realized one very official looking man was walking directly toward me and talking to me! He asked if he could help me in English. I dumbly pointed at Hannah who immediately started jabbering away to him where we were trying to go. He spoke to her for a moment and then walked several feet away to where the other officers were going.

Finally a cab drove up and Hannah, myself, and another new teacher all got inside. Hannah explained where we wanted to go, and the driver said he had no idea where that was. Sooooo, we all got out of the cab. After more waiting another driver pulled up. We all got in the cab, Hannah gave instructions, HE said he did not know where that was. A THIRD cab pulled up and Hannah explained through the window where we wanted to go. HE said he did not know where that was either. (We are talking about a large well know apartment complex not far away. Apparently taxi drivers sometimes play dumb because they know the fare will be quite small compared to a longer drive.)

Anyway, after the third taxi pulled away, the friendly Police officer spoke to Hannah. I did not understand the words, but Hannah laughed and spoke some more. Finally she said that the police officer had offered to take us in his police van. Soooo, that is the story of how I went for a ride with the police on my 3rd day in China. The adventures just continue.

Arrival and then some...

After a particularly difficult faculty meeting one day last October, I decided it was time for a change. Who would have thought that little brainstorm would bring me all the way to Beijing, China.



Well, I made it. I woke up at 3:00 in the morning on Tuesday and arrived at the airport with four 50 pound suitcases and two carry ons in tow. I never would have made it without my mother. After a great struggle to get all my bags checked, my flight left out of Greenville at 6:15. I had a couple hours of free time in Newark, New Jersey before boarding the plane bound for Beijing. My memories of that are numbness in my limbs after hours of sitting. I did not know that the flight would take me over the Arctic Ocean and Siberia before landing in China.



I was met by the Elementary School principal, Shawna, and brought directly to the school (at this point it was about 2:30 pm here, am US time and I had very little sleep on the flight) I met Tim McDonald, the Headmaster, had a tour of the school, sat and chatted in his office and finally came to Sri's apartment. Sri is the business manager for the high school part of the school and has taken me in until I find an apartment. I was a Sri's for a short time before leaving to have dinner with several other teachers from the school. Where did we go? The Sizzler! My first meal in China was at an American Steakhouse. It was still interesting. Water was served in coffee mugs and what was labeled as French dressing was a white creamy dressing of some sort. I was in a complete zombie state by the time we finally made it back to Sri's around 8:00 in the evening.

First impressions- at first glance Beijing is a lot like any major city in the US- lots of people, buses, cars, tall buildings, shops and restaurants. It was not until the next day that everything began to seem sooooooo different.