An Eventful Saturday

Saturdays here aren't much different from in the States: more relaxing but more people out.

We started our Saturday morning with a trip to a "spa."  Some of us wanted our nails done, some hair cuts, and some massages.   The place where we went didn't do all of those things.  Instead Amber got a head and shoulders massage that was REALLY good! 

Katie got her hairwashed and a head/shoulders massage.  Juanita got her haircut, and Jori waited patiently until she and Juanita could go get their nails done.  After our events at the hairplace, one of the stylists told our interpreter that he'd like to style my (Katie) hair... for free!  I said sure.  After all, it's only hair and I need a cut when I get home anyway.  How badly can he mess it up, right?  I'm not sure if he was interested in me, my blond hair, or the fact that I'm an American... but I let him go for it.  Since I don't speak Chinese, I couldn't tell him that my hair doesn't hold curl.  Well, what did he decide to do?  Curl my hair... It was huge and poofy when he was done but had decreased to only a wave by lunch and just a mess of hairspray by dinner time.  Juanita, Jori, and Heather (our amazing hostess/ interpreter) left us at the hair salon, and Amber and I are proud to announce we hailed our own taxi, told him to take us to the hotel, and successfully told him where the hotel was when he got lost.  We're really proud of ourselves.

After lunch we went back to the tailor shop for our fitting.  Some of our clothes are done and look amazing.  Other articles need a bit of retouching.  Namely... my clothes... You'd think with the size of Chinese people that they'd be used to people my size... apparently not.  My pants are a bit looser here than they are at home, so I wanted to make sure the clothes will fit at home, too.  I don't know the Chinese word for engordar (to get fatter) but I now recognize it... it starts with a "p".  Even though the tailor only speaks Chinese and we only speak English, communication was achieved!  And it wasn't all a game of charades either.

We had a little bit of time to go to a market nearby.  We've both been to Central American markets and were kind of expecting something like that but maybe without the bright colors... yeah, it was nothing like that.  The layout was similar (minus the peddlars everywhere!) but all of the items for sale looked like they were purchased at the dollar store.  We are definitely not in a tourist area... they sold screw drivers, notebooks, lightbulbs, power strips, everyday clothes... no soccer jerseys, cute spoons, handmade anything... Although we did buy a few souvineers.

One of our students treated us to an authentic Chinese meal.  The best fake Chinese food I've (Katie) ever had was in Nicaragua... This was the best REAL Chinese food we've ever had.  In China it is normal to order one dish per person plus one and everyone shares.  Our hostess couldn't decide and ordered five dishes for the three of us... I might have to go back to the tailor and get my clothes resized again... We ate:

1. Chicken.  Delicious!  But it did have the head still on it (which Amber didn't see and Katie didn't bother to tell her about!)

2. Green beans and eggplant: AMAZING!  (Katie's favorite)

3. A plate of veggies: celery, mushroom, walnuts, peppers.

4. Meatballs (Yes, Momma Ax, I ate them).

5. Shreaded "pie"... basically real lo mein. (Amber's favorite)

On our walk home we saw an American in a Korean restaurant.  This is the first American we've seen since we've been here (besides the nine through our organization, of course).  Like good Chinese people when you see foreigners, we both stopped and stared at him.  He was staring back at us... so Katie waved.  His face lit up and he waved back.  We foreigners have to stick together!

We walked through the main square of this city.  China comes to life at night!  There were people everywhere!  Roller blading, dancing, playing Chinese hacky sack, selling things, talking, walking dogs, etc.  We even saw some Deaf people Amber wasn't brave enough to talk to. (Amber interjects.....KATIE didn't try either! Plus after the fail in the bus station trying to communicate, I wasn't up for trying at the moment...but if it makes Katie happy..the next Deaf person we see, I will attempt communication.)

There were two little girls playing a traditional Chinese game where one girl holds the strings and the other jumps over and/or on the strings... We didn't really get it... but Katie tried it.  The girls were shy and I'm sure laughing inside at this dumb American trying to play a game she doesn't understand.  I gave those two girls bracelets and then more kids came... I think I gave out ten bracelets.

A little while later we saw a little girl playing Skip-It.  Now THAT I understand.  So I tried it.  The girl was just in awe of this American using her toy.  Her father was laughing at the American whose foot was so big she had to take her shoe off to get the Skip-It off... I gave her a bracelet, too.  I figure if she shares her toy I can share a bracelet.

Back at the hotel we saw some really drunk men... We hid in the stairwell while they took the elevator up to their room.

Just a normal Saturday here in China...

Love,

Katie and Amber

A Cultural Experience

Sometimes the cultural and language barriers make for interesting stories. I (Amber) have a good one to share. A few days ago in class, the teacher I am working with (Juanita) brought an article to class about how death is considered bad luck in China and rarely discussed. As we were discussing the issue, a few of our students became emotional due to a recent loss. One of them opened up and discussed her feelings with the class; however, the other one needed a bit more one-on-one attention. The two of us walked outside the classroom to give her some space and for me to see what was up. From the conversation, I found out that she lost her grandmother and is pregnant. She apologized several times and tried to just blame the pregnancy. To lighten the mood, I decided to ask her when she is due. Her answer? 4 months ago. I immediately realized there had been a misunderstanding and reworded my question to, "When is the baby coming?" Then she responded with a more appropriate answer of December. When I told Jori (one of our teammates) about what happened, she offered an explaination as to why the student answered 4 months ago. Her explaination? The student thought I asked, "When did you do it?" We rolled. And that's my story! hahaha!

In class Jori and I (Katie) were discussing food, and our students confused us regarding the differences between noodles, pancakes, and pie.  In China they are very different from in the US, so we were trying to understand... Jori asked the class, "What is the difference between noodles and pancakes?" Instantly, this one student who had been very quiet all week (we weren't even sure if he was following us) leapt out of his seat and announced, "Pancakes are just like noodles but not noodles!"  He went on to explain, but Jori and I were too busy laughing to hear any further explanation.

The other afternoon five or so of our Chinese students took Amber and Katie out on the town including a journey to a Buddhist temple.  It was under construction so it was hard to see but I think God did that to protect our hearts from being broken in seeing the people worshipping an idol.  The girls didn't know the word for fortune teller, so we called them "special men."  This temple is from the Ming Dynansty and is made entirely out of wood.  It was a fun time of bonding and trying not "to get damaged" aka hit by a car... Chinese drivers make Central American drivers look VERY safe.  In riding in taxis, we have turned directly into oncoming traffic and squeezed ourselves between two oncoming cars, each in their respective "lane."  The ones who beep refuse to stop.

With love,

Us 

Life in China

Pizza

Last night we ventured out from the hotel to a place that serves pizza.  Well, they called it pizza but it had no tomato sauce.  There were eight of us and we ordered four pizza: Ham and pineapple, steak, seafood, and Italian.  Hawaiian: spam (called ham), pineapple, carrot, cheese, and... sprinkles.  Yes, it looked like a birthday cake.  Steak: some kind of brown meat, corn, carrot, red and green peppers, onions, cheese.  Seafood: cheese, peppers, shrimp, crab, starfish maybe, and other seafood Amber's not sure about.  (Our rule is: don't ask; just eat).  Italian: cheese, one piece of broccoli, peppers, corn, myraid of meats, and the crust was pigs in a blanket (weanie wraps).  It had a kick to it... The restaurant itself was beautiful, and we were warmly welcomed.

Italian Pizza

Tailor

We (Amber, Jori, and Katie) wanted authentic Chinese outfits, so Ann and Heather (our host) took us to a tailor shop where we picked out the fabric and the design we wanted. The decisions were overwhelming!  Being measured was awkward in general.  To make it worse they were laughing at Katie's falling down pants and Amber's rear.  Heather didn't interpret that... but we understood.  Amber is having a purple shirt made, and Katie is having red shirt and skirt made.  We get to go back for a fitting on Saturday.

Water

Even the Chinese people do not drink the water in China.  Instead we use a teapot to heat and boil the water.  It gets HOT.  Once it's boiled it's safe to drink, use to brush your teeth, etc.  Plus the hotel lobby has a 5 gallon jug we can use to fill up our bottles (if the jug isn't empty).  The school also gives us water every day.  However, everything is hot.  Even the water in the jug.  We miss ice.  The Chinese word for ice is: bing because that's the sound it makes when you drop it into the glass.  Since the Chinese don't drink the water, there is no concern in the restaurants, and even though water is precious (the signs by the sink say that) there is no concern about running out.

Laundry

It's annoying.  That's all.

We do it in the sink, and it takes clothes two days to dry.  There's not enough drying space, so our hotel room looks a bit like a store that sells wet clothing...

Christianity

Being in the schools in China is like being in a public school in the US: it has been made very clear "you are NOT to teach religion!" However, if the student asks something and we can work Christ into the answer, that is permitted but we may only talk about our own beliefs, not ask the students what they believe.  We are considered guests of the government and are in China in a position of authority which means we need to be extra careful about what we say and when.  Foreigners also cannot teach in the church in China in any capacity. Ever.  On Sunday we got to worship with the Chinese Christians but nothing was translated, and we sat in the very back.  There is also currently a youth ralley happening here and we are not permitted to attend (both at the demand of the government and the request of the church).

Is there anything you want to know about life in China?

Destination!

It's official: I am never sitting down again.  In fact, I'm even standing to type this blog.  We left my house at 8am on Wednesday, July 20 and finally arrived at our hotel in Beijing at 1am on Friday, July 22 (all times local).  At 7:30am we left to board a 9am bus to Changzhi where we arrived at 6pm.  We were in bed by 9pm that night.

Apparently at the bus station in Beijing Amber and I were signing.  A little boy approached us with a laminated card all in Chinese.  We didn't understand it but we did understand the sign DEAF and point at Amber that accompanied it.  Communication was a game of charades but it was more successful than playing with the hearing Chinese people.  We wish we would have had more than a few seconds to talk with him.

Saturday we got to see our school and classrooms.  I think it's one of the nicer, cleaner international schools I've seen but the desks could use some Pledge wipes.  We spent the morning arranging and rearranging our classroom, putting up posters, and getting accustomed to our surroundings.  Amber got roped into helping to draw and paint a watercolor poster that will go with the movie (Beyond the Blackboard) that we're watching next week.  After lunch, Jori and I worked on lesson plans while Amber read and the rest of our team napped.

The Chinese take a three-hour break every afternoon for nap time, so after that our school contact Heather (that's her English name, obviously... I don't know her Chinese name) took us to the underground market.  Think Wal-mart but literally underground.  We found some weighed, huge circles.  After some debate we learned they are indeed hula hoops which meant, of course, that I had to try it out. 

Yes, I got in trouble... but not for hula hooping in the market.  Instead, for having Jori photograph this moment.

After dinner, Amber, Vernon (the other college student), and I walked around Changzhi.  Basically this meant we got stared at.  One woman called her gradeschool son out of the building and made him watch the Americans walk down the street.  Another woman with a very young son stopped us and chatted with her son (in Chinese) while trying to get him to wave at us.  He wouldn't, but I did take their picture.

Another boy, maybe three or four, was jumping and dancing through the hotel, so I copied him.  Embarrassed, he stopped, but I kept jumping and dancing.  His family loved it.  They still laugh when they see me around the hotel.

Hippo's pouting because he saw a bear 1,000 times bigger than he is.  But we are celebrating the fact that he has learned how to successfully use a squatty potty.

This afternoon we're headed to a baptismal service at a local church.  We'd love for you to pray for the believers and seekers there.

Your comments encourage us, and we'd love to hear from you.  (Just make sure to leave your name... Melissa...).  Is there anything in particular you want to know?  (Besides photographs...we're working on that.)

Love,

Katie, Amber, and Nameless Hippo

WE MADE IT

Finally, on July 22, 2011, our team is at our final location for the next 2 weeks.

 

We will update more soon.

 

Love to all

 

-Amber and Katie

HIPPO!

It is my pleasure to introduce you to a very vital member of our team.

This is... dun dun dun... HIPPO!

Hippo will be traveling with us throughout China in Flat-Stanley style taking photos at all of the amazing locations Hippo gets to visit!

However, this is the challenge: Hippo needs a name!  The Chinese word for "hippo" is "hema" which... will not be his name.  her name?  We have not yet figured out if Hippo is male or female.  This will be quite a question.

Today Hippo went swimming in a giant bracelet pool!

Can I (Katie) please tell you how amazing my middle schoolers are?  Well, they're rising freshmen now, but they rock!  Over the last few weeks they've been bracelet-making machines!  Not only have these girls been working they've gotten their parents, cousins, brothers, sisters, friends, strangers off the street making bracelets for us to take to hand out all across China.  They also LOADED us with candies to give out!  Over the next three-ish weeks they've committed to showering Amber and me (not Hippo) with prayers!  It's been so remarkable to see the Holy Spirit move through these girls and I regularly thank God for them!

<>< Katie, Amber, and Hippo!

PS: Amber and I are reunited finally and getting nervous-excited about our journey!

Prayer

Freshman year the night before spring break we started a tradition.  Five of us gathered in our RA's dorm room and prayed over two of our friends traveling to Russia on a mission trip.  Every year since then, Amber and I have taken turns praying over each other the night before mission trips.

In March, as we sat on the stairs in our school's chapel, Amber prayed over me and my trip to Nicaragua.  Then she playfully hit me in the leg, "Next time," she said, "We'll both be going!  Who's going to pray?"

Will you join us on this journey by supporting us in prayer?

Both now and while we're in China?

Definitely pray as God leads you to pray, but here are some of our suggestions and concerns:

• Thank the Lord on our behalf.  In March, just four months ago, we threw caution into the wind, obeyed the tugging of the Holy Spirit, and applied to go to China.  We had no idea how we were going to raise $6,000.  God provided and our trip is paid for!  We can't take credit for that.  Donors, We thank you for your obedience to the Lord.
• Team Unity: Mike, Juanita, Jori, Curt, Vernon, Amber, Katie, and Ann.  Pray that we work together as a team even though we've never met. May we serve and encourage each other while being willing to be used by God even when it's uncomfortable. 
• Students.  Pray that the Holy Spirit opens the hearts of our students (primarily middle school teachers) to hear the gospel (and learn English, of course).
• Focus.  There's a lot of pressure to look at life after China.  For me that means the job hunt.  For Amber, student teaching.  May the Lord teach us to put aside these concerns and allow us to focus on the serving Him in China.
• Trials.  May any and all trials we face in regards to this trip be used to grows us closer to Him, to reveal His power and faithfulness.
• Safety.  It's last for a reason.  Of course, we want to be safe to and from China as well as while we're there.  We're not going to be reckless and drink the water or anything.  Having seen foreign hospitals I don't ever want to be a patient in one.  But safety is not our priority: being obedient to the Lord is.

Thank you!  Knowing you all are reading this blog and lifting us up in prayer is incredibly encouraging!  Know also that we're praying and thanking God for you all.

I'll leave you with this well-known scripture that I've leaned on many times:
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understand, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7

Ping An,

<>< Katie
("Ping An" means "peace" and it's how Chinese Christians greet one another)