Oh the question box...

I started the 5th grade question/comment/suggestion/whatever box this week.  Here are a few of the highlights thus far:
 - Do you have a car?
 - Can we get a class pet?
 - Can we have fun tomorrow?
 - Can we get 20 extra minutes of math?
 - Do you have a boyfriend?
 - How many languages do you speak?
 - I know it's not polite, but how old are you?
 - How tall are you?
 - When did you get your first kiss?
 - Why are zebra's black and white instead of purple and blue?
 - Why don't you marry?

Oh man, this could be an interesting year of questions...

Location: Chengdu, China

Local Time (CST -- GMT+8): 3:51 p.m. (11/2/2012)

Auburn Time (PST -- GMT-7): 12:51 a.m. (11/2/2012)

I feel your pain...

Sometimes I forget how much pain and loss is associated with being a TCK, and that pain is often found in the least expected places.  Just this morning, I was thinking about what people have played pivotal roles in my life, and I was reminded of many faces that are very dear to me.  One that popped into my head was our house-helper when I was a little girl in Rwanda.  She truly loved me, and I loved her.  There is a picture (that I have lost and wish I could hold and gaze at just now) of her holding me on her back when I was 3 or 4, wrapped in a blanket and holding her close.  She would take me to her house some days and let me just enjoy being a little white Rwandan girl.  I still can remember sitting on a plastic stool eating candy and just laughing with her.  Such good memories.

I just happened upon one of the middle school girls that I’ve gotten to know here, sitting by herself and looking rather sad at lunch time.  I took a seat and asked her what is up…and it turns out that her helper is moving away.  (When I say helper here, I'm referring to the person that works in a person's house, often in the capacity of a cook or cleaner.) She is heartbroken, and all of a sudden I’m a little girl again, feeling that same immense sense of loss.  It’s a problem I would never be able to identify with if I didn’t have the same experiences in my life.  She’s just a person who works in her house, right?  Wrong.  She is a member of their family.

I’m so thankful for memories and experiences, although looking back on them can be painful and heartbreaking.  ‘Tis better to have loved and lost, right?  Maybe true, but it doesn't always feel that way...

Location: Chengdu, China

Local Time (CST -- GMT+8): 12:24 p.m. (11/1/2012)

Auburn Time (PST -- GMT-7): 9:24 a.m. (10/31/2012)

Seasons

Some day, I would like to live in a place long enough to understand the weather.  As I adjust to my first year in Chengdu, I am experiencing new seasons in a new place with new signs that the next wave of weather is coming.  It has been getting colder lately, so I was beginning to think that it was time to put away the warm-weather attire and break out the scarves and hats.  As soon as I do that, of course, it’s warm again and I’m boiling in my comfy clothes.  The name of the game really is layers, isn’t it?

As I was thinking about understanding the weather of a location, all the while riding my scooter home from school, I realized that I have never known a place well enough or long enough to feel and predict the weather change consistently.  My parents, who have now been living in Ethiopia for over a decade, know the signs.  Sure, there might be years that are a bit quirky and semi-unpredictable, but at the end of the day you know what season you are in.

All I know is that summer is over.  It’s no longer sticky hot (thank the Lord!) and I am comfortable outside in more than shorts and a T-shirt.  But it isn’t fall…not really.  I don’t need boots and a sweater to be okay. . .most days.  But then there are those days where it might be winter.  *sigh*  Oh well, might as well enjoy whatever season this is :)

Oh the joys of being a global nomad.

Location: Chengdu, China

Local Time (CST -- GMT+8): 4:43 p.m. (10/30/2012)

Auburn Time (PST -- GMT-7): 1:43 a.m. (10/30/2012)

I'm not dead, I promise!

When I moved to Chengdu, I really did have good intentions about blogging...I promise.  However, it seems that it falls quickly down the totem pole of importance as the days and month go on.  It's been a good month, filled with vacations, grading, eating lots and lots of rice and noodles, and getting to know my city more and more.  First quarter is now done at school, so it's nice to be at that point of knowing my students that we can be comfortable and truly enjoy the learning process.

Once again, rather than talking about what has gone on since the last time I wrote, I shall give you a picture journey :)

 The building that will be our school next year.

 I am a huge fan of how Starbucks looks in some parts of Chengdu

 The plastic to help the grass grow looks a little like snow :)

It's scooter riding time!

 Lanterns at an abandoned building.

 

Time for some traditional Chengdu hot pot.

  

Pig brain time!

  

Cow stomach? Don't mind if we do!

The typical pose for my roommate and I

Chestnuts roasting in an open wok...

 

 My scooter died on the way home one night, so I rode with it in the back of a moto-cab.

Dancing Pandas

They may or may not freak me out just a bit! :)

Location: Chengdu, China

Local Time (CST -- GMT+8): 8:21 p.m. (10/23/2012)

Auburn Time (PST -- GMT-7): 5:21 a.m. (10/23/2012)

Vacation :)

We've been on a break from school this week for the Mid-Autumn Festival, so life has been full of sleeping in, mooncakes, and exploring Chengdu.  I'll write more and post some pictures a little later.  I did just send out my September newsletter, though, so if you'd like to receive that, just comment on this post with your email address.

Happy October!

Location: Chengdu, China

Local Time (CST -- GMT+8): 2:39 p.m. (10/6/2012)

Auburn Time (PST -- GMT-7): 11:39 p.m. (10/5/2012)

Another Great Week

It's been another good week in Chengdu.  Not really inspired to write a whole lot, so a few pictures will just have to do.  Hope you are well, whoever and wherever you are.

 

Sichuan Food.  So spicy!

 Any meal is better with a bit of Starbucks :)

 Oh, Chengdu scooter traffic.

Our fish :)

Teacher appreciation day was fun...the kids show that they love you through stickers :)

 Tibetan food!

 One of the Tibetan streets in Chengdu.

Location: Chengdu, China

Local Time (CST -- GMT+8): 8:08 p.m. (9/22/2012)

Auburn Time (PST -- GMT-7): 5:08 a.m. (9/22/2012)

Yay Duck Moment

I had a yay duck moment looking out from my classroom today...drumroll please....I live in China :)  Exciting, I know.

Location: Chengdu, China

Local Time (CST -- GMT+8): 8:54 p.m. (9/18/2012)

Auburn Time (PST -- GMT-7): 5:54 a.m. (9/18/2012)

'Home'sick?

When I talk to people back in the US of A, I often get asked if I'm homesick, but as a card-carrying TCK (well, I would be if they had membership cards for such a thing...maybe I need to make one!) asking me if I'm homesick implies that I have a singular home to be 'sick' for.

When you ask me if I'm homesick, do you mean that I miss Auburn?  Or Spring Arbor?  Or Kijabe?  Or Addis?  Or Yakima? Or Kibogora?

Are you talking about the house on 244th street?  Or the one where my parents live? Or the one in which I last lived in the States?  Or the one in Rwanda where I first remember going through a closet looking for treasures? 

Are your referring to a single building?  A city as a whole?  A country/state?  A group of people?  A job?

Asking me if I'm 'homesick' is apparently just as confusing as asking me where I'm from.  Both questions will have varying answers depending on how I feel, the weather, my level of fatigue, or the conversations I've already had that day.  Both questions are loaded with emotions.  Ugh.

I'm not homesick right now, because I am at home.  This is my 'home' now.  I love it.  I enjoy exploring it.  It is where I'm supposed to be.  Yes, I'm frustrated by the language and my lack of skill in it.  Yes, I miss certain foods/restaurants/drinks/places.  Yes, I'm still a stranger here to 10+ million people.  Yes, I get sad.  But I don't have one 'home' to be 'sick' for, and so being 'homesick' isn't quite right.

Maybe I should start saying that I'm 'peoplesick'.  Not sick of people, but homesick for people.  What I wouldn't give to go drink chai with the Fab-5, or to watch a sunset with Mattie, or go to Kaldi's with Sano, or sit in the living room enjoying the fire with my parents, or go to the Space Needle with Alli, or scour the redboxes in town with Sarah, or sit around a bonfire with the guys.  I'm missing all of those things, but they all happen in different settings with different people near a different place that I call home.

And so, as I sit here, I hope that you are well and not to peoplesick/homesick, whoever you are and whatever our interactions have been over the years.  Thank you for the memories, and let's make some more the next time we're in the same zip code/time zone.

Location: Chengdu, China

Local Time (CST -- GMT+8): 9:48 p.m. (9/15/2012)

Auburn Time (PST -- GMT-7): 6:48 a.m. (9/15/2012)

Define Dirty

After an incredible Saturday spent wandering around a new part of Chengdu (at least new to me), I posted another batch of pictures on Facebook and changed my profile picture to reflect my look of the day (even though the picture was from last weekend).

Dirty feet have always been a problem for me.  I love wearing flip flops, love walking around, and love to just be me.  Me wears flip flops.  Me doesn't like suffocating my feet.  (Yes, I realize I should have used "I" there. It's a weekend...let me be!)  As a result, I get dirty.  It happens.

Facebook being Facebook causes ads on the side to be catered to the customer, and so as soon as my picture changed, my adds changed, once again.  Sadly, this is what was there:

 I was appalled by the picture.  But then again, I suppose I was supposed to be.  This had to be a joke, right?  How could anyone think these beautiful children were dirty?  How could anyone consider places that I love unclean?  So I clicked the link...a little scared and frustrated.

I can't imagine voting on something like this, but I guess I can assume who most people would vote for/against.  As you think about the world around you, about what you say and what you do today, I want to encourage you to think about how other people might view it.  Think about what you do or say that may be the most normal action to you, but could offend or damage someone else.  More than that, though, think about your perspective...and theirs.  Walk a mile in someone else's shoes.

And remember...dirty isn't just about dirt.  And dirty isn't always a bad thing.

Location: Chengdu, China

Local Time (CST -- GMT+8): 8:37 a.m. (9/9/2012)

Auburn Time (PST -- GMT-7): 5:37 p.m. (9/8/2012)

Has it been a month already?!?!

As of yesterday I have been gone from Auburn for a month and as of tomorrow I will have been in Chengdu for a month.  Today is the month anniversary of that day that I lost whilst in the air.

I thought I’d write a quick list of the things I’ve learned since coming to Chengdu, so here you go:

1 – Food in China is incredible…but, if you’re ordering Western food, don’t expect a steak to be a steak that you’d get in the States or a burger to taste just like Red Robin.  This morning at McDonald’s, I order the egg biscuit and got an egg burger.  Then I got the egg biscuit and had ketchup and mayo on it.  Yipes!

2 – Always plan on things taking a little longer than they would back home.  If you think it’ll take you five minutes to get to school, plan twenty.  “Why?” you might be wondering.  Well, you might have a flat tire, or run into someone you want to talk to, or forget your computer at home.  All of these are things that will elongate your commute and cause unnecessary tardiness.

3 – Homesickness comes in waves.  I haven’t really missed home all that much, until I realized I hadn’t been there for a month and I won’t be there for another two years.  It’s the little things that remind me of the life that I lived back in Auburn: from someone looking like a Chinese-version of an American-friend, or the smell in a store, or a picture of Facebook, or another million little things.  I had it really good back there, and I have it really good here.  *sigh*  Oh the life of a TCK…

4 – I have been blessed to work at and attend incredible schools.  Every one is different, but each brings a unique twist on a familiar tune.  I am learning something new every day, and teaching something new every day.

5 – Tones are so much more than something you hear in music.  Mandarin Chinese is hard, and when I say hard, I mean H-A-R-D!  I knew it would be, but I’m overwhelmed by the complexity of it at times.  Most languages I can pick up at least the accent quickly.  This? Not so much.  If/when I have children, they will be learning Chinese a.s.a.p.  If they can learn that, they can learn anything!

6 – The sun still rises and sets every day.  It might not be the sunsets that I am used to in Kenya, Auburn, Ethiopia, or Spring Arbor, but it is a beautiful painting by a wonderful Creator all the same.

 

The sunset last night (Tuesday)

Hope you are well, wherever you are.  Happy one-month, China.  Here’s to many more…

Location: Chengdu, China

Local Time (CST -- GMT+8): 2:27 p.m. (9/5/2012)

Auburn Time (PST -- GMT-7): 11:27 p.m. (9/4/2012)