Updated on August 4, 2011
Goodies from afar
“Like cold water to a weary soul is good news [and goodies] from a distant land.” ~ Proverbs 25:25
I remember back in my college days thinking that never again would getting mail be so exciting. That was before I decided to move thousands of miles across the world to the “land of no chocolate chips” (among other things). When we get packages over here, we dance and squeal like little children. After four years of sending packages, my dad has gotten quite skilled in not only his content choices, but also his ability to effectively use space.
It’s wonderful to know that America supports me.
Layer #1: Can you see how every crevice was effectively used? I see chocolate chips! Oh boy!
Layer #2: This is looking promising…
VERY promising indeed.
Spices & seasoning replenishment. A dead giveaway to my recent obsession with pumpkin. Some amazing recipes to come very soon. (Are you enjoying this yet? I realize those of you sitting approximately 1.3 miles away from a grocery store packed full of cinnamon might find this post a bit dull. But I thought I’d share my excitement with you. And trust me, this is an exciting moment in China.)
JACKPOT! The storage containers are great, don’t get me wrong. But I was referring to the Ziploc bags. Ziploc bags are worth their weight in gold…no, that doesn’t work, they don’t weigh enough. Ziploc bags are worth more than their weight in gold over here. They are no where to be found in small town China, which means we wash and reuse our Ziploc bags over and over again. I’ve got some sad looking Ziplocs, let me tell you. Proof of their pricelessness (I know that’s not a word, but it should be): whenwe were dividing up the booty from our recent guests, some of the loudest and eager-est reactions were when the Ziploc bags that the booty was brought over to China in were put up for grabs. I love that my dad always throws a stash in with every package. That means I get to throw away a few of my most worn out bags.
I was amused by the packaging on these containers. Why say 4-pack + 1 bonus? Why not just say 5-pack? A really good deal for a 5-pack? Sometimes advertising makes me laugh.
Another thing that makes me laugh? Bits of evidence of the extreme litigiousness of the United States. “Decorative items not included”. I can just see the person suing…”My storage containers didn’t have the bananas and strawberries!”
I hope you’ve enjoyed this edition of the small things that bring joy to my day. I promise more interesting news will be coming shortly. I’ve got updates on halloween, an incredible soup, hospitality…and I’m getting a hair cut today, which usually provides a story or two.
Updated on August 4, 2011
Christmas gift ideas…and a call for help
I know, I know. We’ve barely crossed the threshold into November. Pumpkins are still lingering on porches. It seems a bit early to be considering Christmas. However, before you start hunting for gifts, I wanted to plant some ideas in your head!
This past summer while I was in D.C., I got to visit the opening of a special store with my ever so talented friend Zoe. She was writing an article about the opening for World magazine, and I was lucky enough to take pictures for her. The store is Amani, not to be confused with Armani. The name comes from the phrase Amani ya juu in Swahili, meaning higher peace. The following is a brief description of the project from their website.
The project serves a two-fold purpose. First, Amani gives African women the opportunity to improve their sewing and marketing skills. The women gain experience in purchasing, bookkeeping, skill training, quality control, management and design. Second, Amani aims to sow seeds of peace in the hearts of the women as they grow in community and in their faith together. As part of the daily activities at the center, the Amani women participate in singing, praying, Word study and visiting one another in their homes. Relationships, built upon the Father’s peace, transform even the most troubled lives. Amani is committed to fair trade, providing a just pay and holistic development, which contrasts dramatically with the unjust conditions these women are confronted with outside of Amani. Amani implements holistic development by meeting the physical, spiritual, emotional and social needs of those who participate. As the women learn practical skills to improve their quality of life, they also experience the Father’s healing, moving them beyond their traumatic and difficult pasts.
When we visited the store opening, I also discovered that it was being run by three Wheaton grads, some who graduated the same year as me. It was great to see the eternal investments these girls were making!
While I was there mainly to take pictures, I couldn’t help picking up a few items when I was at the store. They have some awesome bags and jewelry. However, my favorite items are their aprons (the girls are modeling one style in the picture above). I picked up a few as gifts and one for myself. Rarely a day goes by when I don’t wear it! It’s green, it’s got a ruffle, and I think it’s absolutely darling (find it here). 
Shopping at Amani, you will not only get wonderfully unique gifts, but you’ll also support an amazing ministry. Check out the store here!
One other opportunity for support involves the club feet kids I wrote about a few months ago. They’re both down south getting treatment. The organization that runs the treatment center is looking for sponsors for the kids. One of the kids from our orphanage still needs a sponsor. You will see her on Stefanie’s blog, in the November 3 entry “Little Ones”. Her English name is Lexi. Thanks for continuing to lift these little guys up as they go through this life-changing treatment!
Updated on August 4, 2011
Out to lunch with the team
Every Friday, our team of foreign teachers heads out to lunch together. Sometimes we splurge on one of the few “Western” restaurants in town, but more frequently we head to some of our favorite local restaurants. We tend to order the same dishes over and over again, largely because of our inability to read the menu. We’re a tad wary of the random point and order method, for such strategies could easily result in a plate of pig’s blood or chicken necks. We play it safe and stick with what we know. Here are a few of our favorites, most of which are specialities of the northeast region.
Cong bao rou: Pork, carrots, and green onion.
Zi ran rou pian: This spicy combination of pork, carrots, onion and cumin is normally served with a boatload of cilantro mixed in. Cilantro is a major contention among the team. I never had a strong aversion to cilantro before moving to China; however, it tends to overpower the flavor in a lot of dishes. I have grown a rather fierce dislike of it, as have a lot of the team. Right now, those of us who think cilantro tastes like dirty dish water outnumber those who delight in the taste. Consequently, we win in the argument of whether to order this dish with or without the cilantro. Nevertheless, we tend to argue about cilantro every time we go out to eat.
Di san xian: The three treasures…potato, eggplant, and green pepper. If you’ve never found an appreciation for eggplant, this dish will convert you. Only found in the northeast, this dish is reason enough to move to the region. Really, it’s that good. I tried to have a student teach me how to make it, and I quickly decided it’s way too much work. Good thing I can order it in a restaurant whenever I want it.
Gan bian mo gu: battered fried mushrooms with red peppers. A tad bit spicy, but quite delicious. This dish helped me get over my dislike of fungus. We also order green beans prepared in the same fashion. I was too busy eating those to get a picture…that is my other favorite dish. I eat those beans like they were candy.
At this meal, we actually did try a new dish. The Wu’s had tried it while out to dinner with students. This battered and fried corn had a slightly sweet flavor with a light crunch on the outside. It will surely be added to the frequently ordered items at team meals.
Almost as predictable as the dishes we order is the conversations we have over lunch. While ordering, we fight about cilantro. While eating, we talk about food in America we can’t get. We talk about restaurant chains and how they go by different names in different regions of the country. Mark recalls memories of those chains opening up for the first time. We argue over the best fast food restaurants. We talk about the grocery stores in our respective area of the country. Wu expresses his desire to have a Piggly Wiggly t-shirt. Every week. What can I say? We’re creatures of habit.
Updated on August 4, 2011
Halloween “Boom”fire
This past Saturday, despite the light covering of snow on the ground, the team headed out to a nearby farm for our second annual Halloween bonfire. This tradition began last year when Sonny decided to surprise the team with a taste of home. He arranged a place to go, the vehicle to take us there, and the food to eat (hot dogs & s’mores). When asked if we were interested in repeating the outing, we were all up for it. Who would turn down the irresistible combination of good food, friends, and fire?
We were at a new location this year, which was even more picturesque than the previous year’s. I immediately was drawn to the lightly dusted fields and fall weeds, which were looking quite picturesque in the dusk lighting.
I returned just as the fire was getting started. We didn’t start the fire (please tell me you’re singing right now), nor choose its location…an important bit of information for later on.
We were a year older and a year wiser than the last time, and made great strides on our fire cooking techniques. Mark made himself a fire shield.
And the rest of us gathered around a fire pit made from the hot coals. This set-up was a vast improvement on trying to stay crouched close enough to the large fire to cook your hot dog, but not so close that you burn your eyebrows off. I must say, there are some brilliant minds on this team.
After cooking and consuming our fill of dogs & s’mores, the team settled in around the fire. It was a chilly night, which made us move in all the closer. A few songs, many from such classics as the Lion King and Little Mermaid, were sung. It was a serene setting with stars up above, and open country around us.
That is, it was serene until we were jolted into speedy reflexive action at the sound of a huge BOOM and the sight of the fire sky-rocketing into the night sky. I’ve never seen our team move so fast. Stools clattered to the ground as we all jumped back at least ten feet. After a few moments of stunned silence came the chorus of “Is everyone ok?”. We soon discovered Mark had been hit in the head by a flying log, but he was no worse for wear. Jennifer had gotten hit in the back of her neck by an ember, but didn’t seem too bothered (this is the lady that hiked long distances after severely breaking her arm falling off an elephant). Everyone else was unharmed, so we moved on to figuring out what on earth had happened. One of the “uncles” who had been helping with the fire came to examine the damage, and explained that the concrete had exploded. Something about cold air and a hot fire and things expanding…something beyond my understanding. But sure enough, there was a gaping hole in the concrete, and there were large pieces of concrete scattered around.
With the reassurance that it couldn’t happen again (something about pressure being released), we moved back in closer to the fire to chase away the chills. We were thankful to be injury free, and already chuckling about the new story just added to the team lore. There are more pictures up on flickr.
Updated on August 4, 2011
Fortune tellers
This past week in my writing class, I asked students to write on the topic of fortune tellers in their journal. I had several reasons for choosing this topic. First, while I frequently notice fortune tellers sitting on the sidewalk when I’m out and about, I don’t know that much about them. Second, I was curious how much interaction my students and their families have with fortune tellers. Third, the question would help me with one of my graduate assignments. I was surprised by how quickly and feverishly students began to write when I announced the topic. Most days, half of the students sit thinking and conjuring up ideas for a few minutes before beginning to write. However, I had quite obviously hit on an opinionated topic here. Students’ journal entries were the most verbose I had received this year. Almost all wrote about how common fortune tellers are in China. A lot of students doubt the veracity of fortune tellers’ knowledge and advice, yet they see fortune tellers as an important part of society for giving people encouragement and confidence. A few students view fortune tellers in a negative light as people scamming the innocent. Then there were the few students who admit that though reason and education call for skepticism, they nonetheless have faith in the words of fortune tellers. For these students, personal experiences weigh heavier in their minds than scientific theories. There is the student who was perpetually ill as a child. Doctors could give no explanation for her frequent illnesses. Out of desperation the family visited a fortune teller, and upon following his advice to move to a new location, the student was instantly healed. Even more riveting is the following account from another student.
Not all Chinese people believe in fortune tellers, but I am one of them who believes in them without a doubt. When I was young, my father and I were riding a motorcycle on the road. A strong wind blew, and my hat fell off my head. Suddenly, a car came by and drove over the hat. After that, we picked the hat up and I put it back on. That night, I had a serious fever. I took some pills but they didn’t work at all. The next day, I still didn’t get any better. Some family members heard and said it maybe was because of the hat, so a family member took my parents and I to see a fortune teller. He was a middle-aged man, and he said something that we didn’t understand to a picture, then burned a paper on which some strange words were written. Then he mixed the burned paper with some water and asked me to drink it. He said the car which drove onto the hat had once killed a person, so it was wrong for me to put the hat on again. Then I went home, I felt sleepy and after about one hour’s sleep I woke up and the fever was totally gone. Maybe I wouldn’t believe it if this thing was told by another person, but it happened to me, so after that I believe in these kind of things.
Such experiences show a part of Chinese culture that is not widely discussed, but thrives as an answer to the uncertainties of life.
Updated on August 4, 2011
Confession
This was my breakfast today. I have fairly strong self-control. I was always the kid who still had halloween candy leftover by the time Easter rolled around. I enjoy sweets, but for the most part can resist eating them in large quantity. If I make cookies or cakes around here, it’s always for a large gathering of people. I get a cookie or two, or a piece or two of cake, and that’s enough for me. If I have too many leftovers, I have trouble finishing them before they go bad. But not with carrot cake. Carrot cake immediately initiates selfish hording instincts. There’s something about the soft, not overly sweet cake paired with homemade cream cheese frosting that completely melts all of my willpower. And that’s when I cut myself a big piece for breakfast. The recipe is now up on “From the kitchen”. Bake at your own risk. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.
Updated on August 4, 2011
Look at the weird foreigner
Some of you may have seen this picture posted on my “photo of the week” page, but I wanted to share with you the story behind it. First of all, I’ll go ahead and admit to you, the way my mind works is a little strange. I walk out my door and what I see around me are pictures. I see snapshots. I see the way the light is hitting a leaf here, and how the shade of the flower there pops out against the wall. That’s why it’s dangerous for me to take my camera with me whenever I’m on any kind of schedule. I know I’ll get distracted and side-tracked from whatever mission I’m on. However, there are some days in which I allow myself to get “swept up” in capturing the world around me. Days when I have no obligations for a few hours. I usually end up taking hundreds of shots. If I’m lucky, one or two of those will really grab me.
The above picture was taken about two weeks ago. I had an afternoon free and it was a glorious fall day. The leaves were changing color, but the air was still warm enough to only require a light sweater. Over the October holiday, I had discovered we have a pond on campus (yes, I’ve lived here for four years…but it’s a large campus…and I think they just built the pond last year…), so I decided to head out that way with my camera and some grad reading. Apparently, I wasn’t the only person swept up in the day–there was a class of art students out at the pond sketching pictures.
I snapped many pictures and slowly made my way to a reading nook away from the coming and going of students. I had brought a cushion to sit on, and sat down with my back resting against a tree. Chinese people don’t sit on the ground. It’s something they just don’t do. But as my adviser once said, there are actions foreigners do that are offensive and then there are actions that are just weird. I think me sitting on the ground falls in the weird category. Anyways, I sat for awhile reading, pausing frequently to snap pictures when the light hit just so.
As the sun started to slide toward the horizon, I packed up my things to head home. I was making dinner for a teammate, so was walking back at a brisk pace…when I was halted dead in my tracks. It was just one of those moments. The sun was shining through a dreamy patch of willowy undergrowth. I knew I had to stop. So, despite the fact that the patch was right next to a main road through campus, I dropped my stuff and laid flat on my belly to get the shot I wanted. All the stars aligned with the lighting…and just as I was shooting, some women passed by pushing bikes, adding interesting bokeh to the background. I can only imagine what people passing by thought of the weird foreigner lying flat in the weedy undergrowth next to the road. Actually, I don’t have to imagine the thoughts of all of them. One passerby stopped and asked if he could take a picture. No, not a picture of the beautiful scene I was trying to capture–but a picture of the weird foreigner taking a picture. But this time, the surprised stares were worth the result, as this shot is one my favorites I’ve captured recently.
Updated on August 4, 2011
Priceless
Last week, a large group of Americans came through town to catch the vision of the work happening here in our city. They got to meet school officials, hang out with students, and observe some of our team life. We’ve had groups come through in the past, but this trip was by far the largest with 22 people. In order to make their stay here more comfortable, that meant a lot of baking and preparations. You could label some of the “costs” as:
- 4 pumpkins, cut, roasted and pureed (who needs canned pumpkin? my sister says there’s a shortage in the states…my answer: make your own!)
- 5 loaves of pumpkin bread baked
- 60 banana muffins baked
- 10 pots of coffee
- Many loads of dishes washed
But the result? Seeing your company’s president chilling on the floor with the kids at the orphanage? That’s what I call priceless.
It was incredibly encouraging to share stories and a little bit of our life. We’re still basking in the glow of encouraging words…and multiple boxes of cereal…that the guests brought. For more pictures, head on over to my flickr site!
Updated on August 4, 2011
Food for thought
Something is wrong. When we live with our spirits, we become more like them. They dance. We dance. They steal and rape women. We steal and rape women. They fight and kill. We fight and kill. But these white men don’t do what they say their spirit does. They say he’s generous. But they’re not. They say he’s kind. But they’re not.
The above quote is taken from Spirit of the Rainforest, by Mark Andrew Ritchie. The person speaking is a Yanomamo from the Amazon reflecting on his experiences with white foreigners. You can find out more about the book under “On my book table” at the top of this page.
Updated on August 4, 2011
Would you be my neighbor?
Back in the day, when I lived in the big city, going grocery shopping involved a forty-five minute crowded bus ride into town. One of the things I loved most about moving to my current city was the fact that I could buy almost everything I needed in my neighborhood. I love the fact that I have my egg lady and my fruit sellers. My egg lady, with her infectious laugh and grin is guaranteed to brighten my day. Her love for me has grown as I bring new teachers to her each year to buy eggs from her. When the packaging was changed on the salt bags, and I didn’t know what to buy, she was the one who took the time to explain the change to me. Anytime I walk past her, she always gives me a big grin and a friendly greeting. However, I discovered the other day that she’s not a big fan of having her picture taken.
First, she just laughed at me. 
Then she gave me the evil eye.
And then she waved her hands at me. And I finally gave up…content that I had already captured her spunk and personality.
The other people in my neighborhood that I adore are my fruit sellers. They’re a husband and wife who I’ve nicknamed my Chinese mom & dad. They are constantly concerned with me wearing enough clothes and getting enough rest. They also never fail to round down the price or throw in a few extra pieces of fruit. Whenever I walk past, they always engage me in conversation…even though my ability to have conversation is quite limited.
Here’s my “Chinese mama”…doesn’t kindness just ooze out of her eyes?
And her husband, who wasn’t too keen on looking at the camera, but still gave me a smile.
In case you’re wondering what’s in the rusty garbage can, those are roasted sweet potatoes cooked over hot coals. It’s a favorite fall and winter treat here in the northeast.
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