Updated on August 4, 2011
Never Again
After the catastrophe of the SARs epidemic, and the face that was lost, China was determined never to let a similar epidemic happen again. Criticism swirled around early cases that were hidden and precautions that were avoided. This time around, with the much less deadly H1N1 disease, the nation is ensuring that no criticism about protective measures will be able to be aired.
Nowhere is this more evident than on college campuses. Some who have discovered a case of H1N1 have canceled all classes, and shut all students in their dormitories, to stymie the spread of the flu. Measures on our campus are not quite as drastic, but then again we haven’t had any cases of H1N1 yet.
Something unique about college campuses in China is the fact that the majority of them are completely walled in. Some of the walls are not very high or menacing, but nonetheless there is a possibility of “locking down” the campus. This is the current measure being employed on our campus. Students are no longer allowed to leave the confines of the campus. Holes and weak sections of the wall have been patched up. Low areas of the wall have had barbed wire placed on top. Students are threatened that they won’t be able to graduate if they are caught jumping the wall. All of the gates to the campus are staffed by a few security guards, armed with thermometers. Teachers and foreign faces are allowed to freely come and go, but students are stopped from exiting unless they have a special paper from the head of their department. Temperature checks happen frequently, and those with a fever are quarantined. Teachers have been told to be lenient with absences, since the least sign of infection (even though most are no more than a slight cold) means students are banned from class. Restaurants, internet bars, fruit and vegetable stalls, and shops tantalizingly visible from behind the wall and formerly heavily frequented by students are now off limits. I can only imagine the hit these businesses are taking.
The challenge for our team of teachers is that our building is technically off campus (although it’s in the neighborhood of teacher apartment buildings directly outside the wall). Consequently, all of the student activities we host in our homes have been halted. When the regulations first began, we were able to simply meet students at the gate and the guards would let them pass. But the rules are getting stricter, and now to enter our building students must have a specific note of approval. The lock down, which originally was going to be for 10 days, has been extended indefinitely. You can imagine how great the grumbling of students would be if it’s extended for the entirety of flu season.
Updated on August 4, 2011
I’m back!
Congratulations! You’ve found me, which I must admit is a quite an impressive feat. If you were still faithfully checking back with my blogspot site, I thank you for your hopeful expectation for news from China! This site will hopefully be my permanent site from now on. As it is my own web address, instead of being hosted on a blog site, it hopefully will get past the great firewall. Right now, it doesn’t look very pretty, but hopefully it will start to look like home as I learn more about using WordPress. In the meantime, pull up a chair and grab a cup of coffee! I’ve got lots of stories to share after a few months away from blogging.
Updated on August 4, 2011
Sneaky, Sneaky
As you may have guessed, blogspot is currently blocked in China. For the moment I’ve found a way to sneak onto the site (but not to post pictures). I’m also trying to see if another website might work better for me this fall.
I’ve now been back in China for exactly two weeks, and home up in the northeast for a little bit less time then that. We had a week of team building meetings and I began teaching on Monday. This semester all of my teaching hours are jam-packed into Monday and Tuesday, leaving the rest of the week “open” for planning meetings, grading, lesson prep, graduate work, student meetings, and cooking. Yes, I consider cooking right up there with my other responsibilities. 🙂 It’s amazing how quickly the time fills up, though! Hopefully I will be self-disciplined enough to take advantage of the more open days.
In the meantime, I’m just enjoying being home again. It’s amazing how “normal” life has become here, and how life in many ways seems easier (with the exception of doing laundry). I was thrilled to return to fresh fruit sold by my neighbor, my egg lady who grins whenever she sees me, and garlic sold cheaply by the pound. It’s nice to again be able to walk to most places I frequent, and to hear the chorus of, “Look there’s a Russian” echo behind me (in case you haven’t heard me say it before, EVERYONE thinks I’m Russian. Everyone. From the old ladies in the park to the primary school kids on their way to class). I just somehow fall more in love with this place each year.
Updated on August 4, 2011
Homeward bound
Tonight, I’m doing a little dance…kind of like this…
…because I’m homeward bound in the morning. I have a couple days of meetings in Beijing and then it will be home sweet home. I must admit, I’m quite eager to get back. When I left China at the beginning of the summer, I didn’t have access to this blog, so we’ll see what the situation is when I get back. There’s a chance I’ll move sites, but I will have someone post the new address here if that’s the case. In the meantime, I hope you all are enjoying the last fleeting days of summer!
Updated on August 4, 2011
First time Aunt
I’m a first time Aunt. I have one darling nephew. I only get to see him at most two weeks out of the year. In case you haven’t realized it yet, I love taking pictures. Consequently, I’m currently sorting through hundreds of pictures I took while I was down visiting my sister and her family. I apologize for the sheer volume of Ethan pictures that are going to be appearing on Flickr in the coming days. If you have something against incredibly cute toddlers, I recommend you stay away for awhile.
The last time I saw Ethan, he was only 3 months old. His personality (and hair) was just starting to come out.
This summer, I got to see his personality out in full force. One of the things I quickly learned was that he loves to be involved in everything…and I mean everything. His favorite part of the day is helping with chores. You are simply not allowed to sweep, do laundry, or do dishes without his participation.
He loves helping transfer clothes from washer to dryer.
He analyzes each piece of laundry…just to make sure the colors are correct.
He is quite meticulous in his examination.
And shoves them all the way into the dryer.
He makes sure things are spinning correctly once the dryer starts.
And then makes sure he didn’t leave anything in the washer.
After that it’s time to do dishes.
Doing dishes involves one of his absolute favorite materials to be found on planet earth.
Water. Ethan LOVES water. Water in any form. He gets very upset if he sees or hears water and can’t touch it. Consequently, you absolutely cannot wash dishes without him.
I wonder if his love of doing chores will last?
Updated on August 4, 2011
Always be prepared
I should have been a boy scout…perhaps then I would have learned the lesson to always be prepared. And then I would have had more than a 50 prime lens with me when Zoe and I made a spontaneous stop at the Jefferson memorial. Don’t get me wrong, I love my 50 prime. It’s my favorite lens. Its portrait capabilities (see nephew post below) are stunning. But it’s not so great for wide landscapes. Hence, all of those beautiful shots I had in my head as the sun set at the memorial were quite impossible to actually capture. Consequently, our trip to the Jefferson memorial ended up being a portrait shoot of Zoe. Which, to be honest, I didn’t mind at all. I snapped this one when she wasn’t paying attention to me. And promptly teased her for posing like a superhero. Doesn’t she look like she’s about to fly off to save D.C.?
Zoe and I go way back. The first time we met I believe we were in middle school. She remembers the meeting. I don’t. We discovered during the week that this is the case for a lot of our history. Apparently, I have a horrific memory. We met at a youth group new year’s eve party in Columbus. After that brief encounter, the next time we met was the first day of school our junior year of high school. We were both new students at the school, having recently moved to Indianapolis. She instantly recognized me; I had no clue who she was. It took us awhile, but we finally pinned down our fateful first meeting to that party in Columbus. With both a shared history and the shared experience of starting over halfway through high school, we were destined to be friends.
It had been four years, and a lifetime of experiences in China, since I had last seen Zoe. But we picked right up as if no time had passed at all. A friendship like that is truly special. The great part of taking pictures of someone you have history with is you know their stories. You know how to make them laugh.
You know that exact embarrassingly funny moment in…was it econ?…to bring up in order to get that deep belly laugh.
Which is sure to be followed by that beautiful natural smile.
Perhaps even more beautiful than the scenery itself. The scenery you couldn’t capture because you weren’t prepared like a boy scout.
I even let Zoe take a few pictures of me before we headed out. I hate having my picture taken. I much prefer to be behind the camera. But I decided it wouldn’t hurt to have some photographic evidence that I was in D.C.
Updated on August 4, 2011
On hold
I had grand plans of writing about some of my adventures in DC. Perhaps I still will. But for the moment, I’m preoccupied with this.
Oh those eyes! I love those eyes…and…
Those expressions…
and chubby little hands.
Can you blame me?
Updates will just have to be put on hold…
Updated on August 4, 2011
Just a quick note
I’m currently finishing up an amazing week in DC. I came out to see a good friend from high school, who I hadn’t seen since moving to China four years ago. It’s been great to catch up and reminisce, and I’ve had plenty of time to traipse around the city with my camera while she’s been at work. Pictures and updates will be forthcoming.
Several of you mentioned a desire to help the two kids from the orphanage with club feet. They are now down in the south of China at the center, and they need your help! While we were able to raise the funds for their travel costs to and from the center, we are not paying for their treatment. The amazing part of An Orphan’s Wish is that they will not turn away kids. To see their beautiful faces and to see ways to help, head on over to Stefanie’s blog for more information. Her most recent post (Lookie, Lookie) is dedicated to the kids at the club foot center. My orphanage’s two little ones are Joey and Lexi. And yes, tears pooled in my eyes when I discovered them on her blog this morning!
Updated on August 4, 2011
Confession
I’ll go ahead and admit it. I’m a little bit of a snob. I love a good glass of wine, a good meal, and a good dose of culture. Due to the fact that for a majority of the year I live in a small city in China, where art museums and free opera in the park are hard to come by, it’s been a treat to indulge in a bit of snobbery this summer. I have been frequently jumping on the treadmill in the attempt to justify caloric extravagances such as linguine in a white wine and truffle oil sauce with grilled asparagus. Let me tell you, that was well worth a two mile run.
Earlier this week my mom and I headed out to the Indianapolis Museum of Art. She patiently waited (and wisely brought a book) while I soaked in the surroundings with camera in hand. It was a delightful afternoon, as we moved from appreciating the artistry in the petals of an orchid to the metaphor of thousands of hands supporting a floor. Below are a few of my favorite shots from the day.
Updated on June 1, 2011
It’s all about the people
The last two weeks have been filled to the brim with good classes, good food, and most importantly, good friends. Wheaton is always one of my favorite stops of the summer because: a) I’m a nerd and I like going to class and writing papers, b) Chicago in the summer is just about as good as it gets, c) I get to see dear friends who serve across Asia and show them around “my town”, d) I get to worship with a community of people I love, e) I get to sit and talk and just be with amazing friends. Most of the time I was too busy drinking in the moment to pull out my camera, but here are a few shots of the people and places that made the time pretty much perfect.
Like I said, there’s nothing like Chicago in the summer. Perfect temperatures. Beautiful evening. Free opera in the park. Good friends. Yes, please.
I was blessed by the hospitality of Greg & Noel, who fed me, provided a comfy bed, made mudslides, taught me a new card game, and got me addicted to hewering orcs on PS2.
Every summer Rachel cooks at least one meal for me, and every summer I’m reminded why I keep her around as a friend. 🙂 Ok, even if she wasn’t an amazing cook, I’d still be her friend. But it sure is a nice perk! That and the fact that we can talk for hours on end.
These are just a few of my classmates who are graduating from the program this summer. I’m going to miss learning with and from them!
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