Words Can't Explain It

It's weird, sometimes I try to use words to try and explain my experiences and the subsequent emotions, but I just end up rambling and then am left feeling like I didn't even approach what is going on in my head and heart. I went to the orphanage today. It left me in that type of state. I tried telling a friend about it in an email, but it ended as just that, under expressed with the meaning hiding somewhere between my ramblings and my thoughts still bouncing around in my head. All I know is that...a.) I am humbled. and b.) We live in a broken and ailing world. But His love is greater than our selfishness and the world's brokenness.

An Autumn Outing

9/22/07



It seemed like it would at least be a little fun, not to mention an amazing opportunity to spend more time with my students and get to know them a little better. But I really had no idea what an "autumn outing" was. All I knew is that we were leaving at 8:30 on Saturday morning, we were going to some kind of park, and we were going to play some Chinese games-yes, Chinese games. So of course, I'm game. I am going.



I met up with my class (my first year adult learners) and two other teachers in the morning and we made our way to the minibus they had rented to take us to our destination (our own personal minibus--I was impressed). We drove 20-30 minutes North of town and we were dropped off on the side of the road in some field. Not really what I was expecting, so I ask for a little translation. I soon find out we are going through the gate just down the road into the park, but we have to meet for a contact that will get us in for free. We enter the park and I don't really know what to think. Its sort of a river, sort of a run down swim area/carnival combo, small village, etc. But after dropping our stuff off and after having at least 40 pictures taken with me, all of which were awkward solo shots or shots with me standing in my standard Jake picture pose (you probably have one too, you just don't realize it) while peace signs fill the periphery. But I tell them my cheeks hurt from smiling and I get a little break and we continue to head up river until we can go no farther and then proceed to be shuttled one a speed boat up the river, which was now surrounded by a huge canyon with walls at least two hundred feet high in some points-not bad for a park.



The trek goes on past some man made waterfalls and we then hop into some metal boats that carry 10 people each. Where we are going, I have no idea, but I sort of like the suspense and the views of the river are amazing. And then we turn. And go in a cave. And not just any cave. This was a Chinese cave. It had funky colored lights gracing the walls and then…yup, there were colored Christmas lights too. Yeah, amazing. In America we would have had some white lights illuminating enough of the cave that it was showcased and not pitch black, yet you could still appreciated the mystery of it all. In Guizhou-just straight up colored lights. Most visible, many not functioning, but in plain view because of the other lights. But still, it was pretty cool. We exit the cave and head back to the beginning, but not before my "adult" students decide it is a good idea to splash their classmates in the other boat. Away goes the camera, out comes the umbrella, and I just hunker down. Later I am apologized to by some girls, but I insist it was a good time.



By this time, it's lunch time and I am starving and I am quite curious when these games are coming in because I thought we were only going to be here for "five to six hours." Lunch was simple because "dinner would be very nice." Wait, dinner? I already had dinner plans. Looks like I am a little kidnapped and I am calling to cancel my dinner plans. And about these Chinese games…amazing. Well, amazing to tell stories about, because the Karaoke wasn't amazing to hear. And the gambling majiang (phonetically spelled) was entertaining as well. Some other games we played was the Chinese variation of Honey If you love me will you please, please smile and then a random session of making people get up and entertain the class. Of course I was asked to get up and do whatever I wanted. Whatever I want? I am not Sideshow Bob here, what do you want? I can't think of any songs, well any that you all would know. "Tell a joke!" A joke? Ha, that's a good one. I don't think I could get it even close to over the language barrier. Well, when in doubt…dance? Yeah, so I danced for my students. One of them busted out a cell phone, I showed them my very basic hip-hop moves, got my round of applause, and a half hour later we were at dinner. Now this entry is already too long, so I will keep dinner section short. All I will say is that you know the little Mohawks that roosters have? What are those called again? Any way, I ate it. The first bite was on accident, the second was out of cultural obligation to not throw away "good meat." Yeah, who even cooks that thing anyway? And why would anyone think it has any nutritional value? At least it went down easy.



To wrap it up…at the start of the day, no one really talked to me. The few guys who did said everyone was really nervous to talk to me. They "couldn't express themselves, were very nervous, and didn't want to make mistakes." But by our arrival back to campus at 9:00 pm I had had many good conversations, talked with many of my students, and managed to get many of them confident in their speaking abilities. They are comfortable with me now, I mean, after seeing the crazy foreign English Teacher dance in a field to a cell phone, who wouldn't feel comfortable with you? It was a good day. A long day, but a good day. Oh, and the slightly tipsy students (they played a drinking game after dinner, I had some good conversations) hitting on me was a little awkward, but they tell everyone they are handsome, right? Let's hope so.



Well, He is faithful as always. Blessings.

Who I have Met...

9/20/07



I came to China and was really excited to meet my students and build relationships with them. But since arriving I have interacted regularly with…


-Like minded Expats

-University Workers-some a little easier to work with than others

-Foreign Language Department Teachers-great people

-Students that aren't mine-sometimes they make me wish I taught seniors

-Students not even at my university-just a good guy

-Korean Exchange Students-so funny

-Japanese Exchange Students-the kid loves to play the guitar and any one with the name Kazu has got to be legit

-An American studying abroad-something else. Language ability blows my mind.

-My crazy door guard that may smile at me or may yell at me when I walk through the gate (Mr. Mei or Mei Xiansheng)- we aren't quite friends, he doesn't speak English and I don't speak Guiyanghua or Mandarin, but hopefully someday we'll be friends. Either way, we are a part of each others lives.

-Kids that yell "HELLO!" to me when I walk by them in

-The lady I buy my fruit from (Satsumas for $.20 USD a pound, not bad)

-Oh yeah, my 550 students (the other 100 don't start until October), some of which I am already corresponding with regularly outside of class

-Other random neighbors and people



The crazy thing is I get to love on all of them. To be a part of all of there lives. It's exciting. It's…well, it makes me laugh and scratch my head at how I can be so narrow minded sometimes. I just Hope a little light can get to places that can seem so dark sometimes.

A Dinner Party

9/13/07


I had dinner with some of my students from my first-year adult English major class today. It actually was really random. I was at the meat and vegetable market and I happened to run into one of my students. After struggling through three minutes of awkward conversation, he asks me over to his apartment to have dinner. Not wanting to be rude and wanting to build relationships, I agreed. Jen, my colleague was invited to, but she isn't feeling well, so he insisted we walk her back to her apartment before we started shopping (the Chinese take colds very seriously).



So, we make our way back to the market and we stroll around for a little bit and he asks, do you like chicken (as we are approaching the live chickens). I mean who doesn't like chickens? So he proceeds to pick out a chicken. It was very interesting; it seemed that the quality of a chicken is judged by its feet. Or at least that is how it worked today. So the man took the chicken and disappeared. I could have gone with the butcher to watch, but I didn't want to come across as that much of an amateur.



We made our way up to his apartment, a studio, if you could all it that. It was one room, with a bed, two computers, and a bench/makeshift kitchen and some stools. Oh, and what I assume was a very small bathroom. And I am pretty sure three people lived there. A space the size of my bedroom and living room, but for the whole apartment AND three people. Pretty impressive. This whole time I have been a little anxious because his English isn't that good and we have already had numerous awkward…uh…moments, but then everything gets better when Oliver, the best speaker from the class walks through the door. Oliver…my saving grace. It was good to have a more confident speaker there (although he will have to shut up in class next week so other people can practice). But Oliver wasn't the end of the new arrivals. Slowly, just like class on Monday people start to trickle in. Word is out. Mr. Jake has come for dinner, get over here and hang out with the foreigner. By the time dinner had started there were seven students, three friends of my student (two of which lived with him), and one very precious 4 year old daughter of another student. Yeah…a party, and to think, I was just out to get some bananas.



But in my time here I have experienced a lot of conversational overkill. I have become overly encouraging. It is necessary and it doesn't bug me, but if you were here watching you would laugh. But my students are overly flattering and overly apologetic. The feel they are the luckiest students because they have a foreign teacher. And they would have never DREAMED that they would eat dinner with him. In fact, I am only the second foreigner Oliver has ever met or spent time with (it didn't fully cross the language barrier).



All in all it was a good time and I am glad I accepted the invitation. I think these will be some important relationships this year and I think He has a plan for them (how else can you explain tonight). Hopefully we can learn a lot from each other. Worst case scenario, they will get a lot of opportunities to practice their oral English.

First day of teaching

9/10/07



When I looked in the mirror today before I headed off to class I had to laugh a little bit. I was wearing a tie and my beard is nicely trimmed. I was going for the distinguished I am older than 22 look. It may have worked. Chinese people are actually somewhat surprised when they hear my age because one, I am six feet tall and any one that tall must be older, and two, I have a full beard (height and facial hair, two distinguishing things in Southern China). But all this to say, my response to my reflection was…



"Are you serious? You're a teacher? You haven't taught an organized/official class in your life. But the beard doesn't look to bad and you did a decent job with the Windsor knot, so I guess you can give it a go. Maybe you're students won't care that you are younger than all of them. Maybe they won't mind the fact that you feel like you are going to be up there winging it even though you have thought hours about your lesson plan and what exactly the first day will look like. Actually, maybe you should roll up the sleeves, you don't want to be too much of a poser, yeah, definitely roll up the sleeves."



It's funny how a glance in the mirror can send thoughts whirling. As I headed down the steps out of my apartment I realize that I know just enough to be dangerous. That I am equipped with some basic tools and that is good enough. It's because I only have the basics that maybe Father will be able to do something through me and I won't get in the way this time. That I can be used to teach people how to speak English a little better. I stop thinking so much of my abilities and give credit where credit is due.



My first class went great. In fact, it's National Teacher's Day in China. My class gave me a standing ovation…hmmm, on my first day. Maybe He will be able to use this bearded 22 year old.



…I typed this up after my first class. My second and third didn't go so hot. I think there is still some learning about teaching that needs to be done. It's just rough that it's hands on. Thanks for your Thoughts.

A trip to the Countryside

9/9/07



It's 8:20 am, I get a phone call. We aren't leaving till 9:00. Good, time to eat an actual breakfast. Well, an actual breakfast is just peanut butter and jelly on sweet rolls, but that was better than the cup of OJ which had been the only option seconds earlier.



You see, I am going to the countryside and we need to catch a bus. Only two go directly to our destination per day, we are gunning for the second one. The bus station brings bad news, the bus is broke, can't leave till 3. We opt for two buses over the one. Nothing special one the first leg of the trip, but the second leg is the type I was hoping for. I get on the bus and am greeted two chickens, which I'm not sure if they were dead or alive until one seems to wink at me. We aren't been driving more than two minutes before we stop and some guy is throwing 10 pieces of 20 ft long aluminum piping on the top of the bus. We head up windy roads that I wouldn't dare take any car I own on. It's rained the past few days and the dirt road isn't doing so hot. But the bus goes on, weaving past terraced rice fields that accent the side of ridiculously green mountains. We pass another bus, only this bus is stuck in the mud and all its passengers are out pushing it. The bus has only been half full, but a trip through a village in the middle of market day (once every five days), fills it to the brim and I am sandwiched between a couple of old Chinese dudes puffing on cheap cigarettes who we eventually drop off somewhere in the hills to head who knows where.



We arrive in Huangping, a city of sorts, and its already 4:30, but the trip went fast, it was an amazing ride that brought entertainment in a brand new way. Nothing too crazy tonight except for accompanying a basketball court full of Chinese senior citizens in their nightly dance aerobics. They seemed to appreciate my raving aerobics. The combo of new moves and being white will captivate most any people not living in a city of 5 million+ here.



Not knowing what to expect I am not let down as Friday brings a run in with a sip of some drink that makes even the Chinese guys faces grimace in pain, three trips to schools to hand out scholarships (one of which we walk to b/c rain took out the road) and spend time with some of the cutest kids ever, and a lot of people saying "No, you can't go, you must come eat with us."



A new day, thus a new place to stay. This time in a hotel which is built on the riverside, a beautiful setting really-nothing like sleeping along the river. Also nothing like waking up to the cock-a-doodle-doos of what seems to be every rooster in the province and 20 minutes straight of firecrackers (paving the way for someone's afterlife).



A hike up a mountain to a minority village of 100 people and another forced (but also welcomed-we skipped breakfast-and you know I don't do well if I don't eat) meal later I have forgotten of my bitterness towards the roosters and am again in awe of the beauty of the countryside and the simplicity of country living. Our hike brought us alongside a water buffalo that was out for a little breakfast, past fields of peppers, and through rice fields a week away from harvest.



Funny thing is, I started the weekend not really liking hot food, but I now think food isn't served any other way-actually I kind of missed it at my next meal back in Guiyang.

Cockroachs...

I am a competitive person. This is no secret. I try my best to only express it in moderation, and as I have matured I have definitely seen this happen. Although some friends like to stir up my competitive side, I usually contain it pretty well. But I love good spirited competition. I feel like it just makes everything more interesting, gives life a little more “pizzazz” if you will. Yes, it can easily backfire, especially if you get a group of strong personalities (my friends) together, separate into teams, and play a game like nouns in a bucket, but when it doesn’t get too intense and people have a loving, yet cutthroat spirit, it’s great. Being in China, I haven’t had many competitive moments or people who really bring that side out of me, so it has rested like a sleeping giant.


As I was getting ready for bed the other day I suppose you could say I had an epiphany of sorts. I was brushing my teeth and came face to face with a cockroach. This wasn’t my first encounter, actually it was my fourth. And as I killed it, I said to myself (I find I have been saying a lot of things to myself lately, I guess this is what happens when no one else understands the language you speak), man, I have to keep track of how many of these things I kill. And then, BAM! It hits me. A cockroach kill sheet. Not only does it allow me to express my competitive side by seeing how many I can kill, it gives me something to decorate my barren walls with-granted it’s only a six inch by ten inch paper that is now curled up b/c of the humidity, but it is quite decorative. I proceeded to put four tally marks on the sheet posted it and called it a night.


The next day was a let down…zero roaches (a let down, but also a relief. I like it when bad news is also good news. The same reason I didn’t put any Lions on my fantasy football team. If they do poorly I won’t have them on my fantasy team and if they do well, I am happy because they are the team I cheer for. And if they do poorly, it is someone else’s problem).



But the cockroach count doubled last night. It was a little crazy. I literally started brushing my teeth (again) and said to myself, hmm, no cockroaches tonight. I guess that is ok. Then I walked into my kitchen and there were four. Three were already dead (my roach killers got them-and yes, I am counting them still-they are MY roach killers). The fourth one though, let's just the only reason he was alive was because he didn't fit in the roach killers to get the poison. So I swiftly stomped him, resulting in some messy clean up, but if you aren’t swift they run and you wouldn't believe how fast these things are.


This series of events also gave me a hypothesis for why it is customary to wear slippers in houses and apartments in China. Not to keep the house from getting dirty, but to always have on hand (well really they are on your feet, things aren’t that backwards here) to kill bugs. So, yeah. The count rests at 8