chicken heads?!?!

I picked Selah up from school and was greeted by her teacher who told me "ta chi san ge ji tou" I knew that she was telling me that she ate three chicken...something. "ji" means chicken in Chinese, so I knew she was talking about something regarding chicken, but I didn't immediately recognize the word "tou." I hadn't heard that associated with food much. So she, Malachi and I left the kindergarten when I realized that "tou" means "head" in Chinese. So she had eaten chicken head for lunch at school and not only that, but went back not just for seconds, but apparently for thirds too. So the translation of what her teacher said is: "she ate three chicken heads!" She said after school that "it was good, but there were a lot of bones!" I guess so :)

a lesson I learned in class

Teaching english in a foreign context is very trying at times, as I suppose teachng anywhere is. After all, you have some students who are less motivated than others. You have varying degrees of language ability. And you have a lot of students afraid to make a mistake and "lose face". To an ambitious, extraverted, self-motivated learner like myself, I can't relate to these students sometimes. It requires a lot of patience at times. Sometimes I do a good job, and otehr times, I can see my impatience come out. Character is an importantthing in the class room, especially in China. They pay a lot of attention to the manner and effort of a teacher here. They judge your character on your work ethic, preparation, etc. Well, I have one kind of class that is very challenging and its the class that demands the most of my character-wise. A Chinese friend of ours is in one of my classes this semester. We've talked with here a lot about important things. When I saw her, I thought to myself, "Wow. I really have to have good character now." What!? I was quickly exposed and convicted. I had a good desire to be a good ma and a good teacher, but my motivation had been misguided. I should have desired and strived for Character regardless of who was watching. This was a good object lesson for me to look at my motivations. Why do I want to be the man I am and should be? Is it to be seen by others? (though being seen is not always bad). OR, is it because it is good in itself to be set apart in a way that's pleasing to our Dad? I hope the latter.

Logic isn't everyone's strength

Typically, the first day of my classes, we'll do introduction activites. I had my class do two truth and a lie. It's a game where you introduce yourself to other by telling 2 things true about yourself and one lie. The other people have to guess which thing is a lie. I hd them break up into groups of 3-4. For some of them this game was a little difficult. Some had to write down their thoughts. I looked over one guy's shoulder and I saw written: 1) I am holding my pen cap in my right hand. 2) I am holding my pen cap in my left hand 3) .... He was struggling to think of a third thing. It never crossed his mind that it didn't matter what he wrote for the third thing. :)

Lantern Festival

Tonight is the Lantern Festival, marking the last day of the Spring Festival or Chinese New Year here. It's celebrated in a beautiful array of glowing red lanterns hanging in windows, fireworks and community. As I watched today as people passed by roadside fireworks (they've been almost non stop all week) they were emotionless as if their joy had been sucked into a vacuum. Excitement is a luxury that few here get to enjoy. Because of the amount of people jockeying for the same societal position, joy and wonder have no place. People are walking and doing and producing, but are they LIVING?? Without a hope, these mundane things are what you do. Why waste time on anything else, there's no profit in that.

I sat with a friend on our frozen tundra we call our balcony, cuddled in a blanket having cookies and coffee. She's one of the few who has wonderment still stamped on her soul. She's not a sister to me, but I see awe stirring in her. We 'ooh'ed' and 'ahhh'ed' at the fireworks as they poured through the sky. It was a refreshing time and reminded me that my hope is everything that gives me and others a life to live.

"When I Relax I Feel Guilty" Part II

In one chapterof this book, it's titled "Four Commandments of Contentment". I'd like to share just a few quotes and thoughts for us to mediate on.

"Many people spend their entire life indefinately preparing to live" --Paul Tournier

After pointing out that Phil 4:11 shows us that PAul LEARNED t be content, the author offers us for "laws" of contentment.

1) Live here and now
2) Don't hurry
3)Don't take yourself so seriously
4) PRactice gratitude.

I'd love to hsare everythingthe chapter says, but that's why you need to get the book. In short, one strong idea he points out is that we constantly idealize the future and are taught early on to live in preparation for the future, yet eventually, the future become the presetn and this mindset we westerners are so good at logically leads us to never live joyfully, b/c we will always be disappointed with the present and always living for something that doesn't arrive.

"Success is getting what you want; happiness is wanting what you get."

"When I Relax I Feel Guilty"

I have trouble relaxing. I always allow the things that need to be done overwhelm my day. Even when watching a movie I'm working on something or writing a letter, never allowing myself to fully enjoy the experience. There was a book titled "When I relax I feel Guilty" by Tim Hansel. I skimmed right passed it hoping Brad wouldn't see it was there. But alas he did and he pretty much packed it in our bags for me. It's a great book that reminds us of the mandate of rest. It sheds away the arrogance and shallow purpose of always working. These are a few questions it posed that really penetrated my perspective of how we are to live and enjoy not just our day but the Creator of it.

When was the last time you woke up rested? When was the last time you took a friend for an ice cream, or bought flowers just because it was Tuesday? When did you last laugh so hard you cried or were so excited about something that you couldn't describe it with words? Or do you insist on being one of those nice, dead people who continue to spend most of their time preparing to live? Do you even know what brings you the deepest joy? Are you convinced that if you stop working, the world will cave in?

Thailand Update

As I sit here in an interet cafe, I'll only attempt a breif sketch of our days in Thailand.

We arrived at our conference a little early to relax and see the city a little bit more. We have certainly enjoyed western foods--hamburgers, for example. At conference itself, it's been greatr to hear about what is going on around China and around the other Asian countries. Very encouraging! We both loved getting to speak in unbroken English--the skill of which you learn when an english teacher in a foreign country.

The president of the organization instituted a few "sabbath" days into the week long conference, to try preventing conference fatigue that can make you more tired AFTER a conferecne than before it. It was good, but since it was a new idea, some wrinkles will have to be worked out. He spoke about surrender and delight.

One of the most distincitve things that has happened to us while in THailand has been that Carrie's tooth fell out and consequently, 3 teeth have had to be replaced (long story). While we certainly don't have a spare $1000 lying around, it was a huge blessing that it happened in Thailand, where medical care is good and in the states, this producures would be 4-5K. In China, we don't know how this would work. We're not out of the woods yet though. Today at 1:00, we go back fore the final appt., but if the fake teeth don't match up, we're stuck. Alreay one set of teeth didn't work.

We'll be back at our school in 3 days. You can email us anytime. We look forward to hearing from you all.