We're Home!

Near Kunming's Bird and Flower Market

We've been the worst bloggers in the world the last two months. Sorry! We were crazy with finishing our semesters and getting ready to move back.

Lexi graduated from high school; Savana finished her assignment at the clinic in Wen Shan; Wyatt graduated from 8th grade, and I survived going to An Ning twice a week.

Our two years in China have been an absolutely amazing adventure. Thanks for coming along with us.

We arrived about 6pm on Saturday. We were delayed a few hours in Beijing by an incredible thunderstorm that grounded many planes across China. At about 4pm the clouds were so dark it was like nighttime. There was thunder, lightning and the rain was coming down in SHEETS at a 45 degree angle. The terminal has huge windows and we had a front row seat to the spectacle. After the storm there was a beautiful sunset.

We are taking a few days retreat before diving back into California life. I will start work with my dad in Santa Maria at the end of the month at his commercial real estate appraisal firm. In the Fall, the girls start college, Wyatt starts high school, and Bobbie's opportunities are wide open.

We hope to see many of you in the next couple of weeks. We have a 'Sharing Night' at PCC in Redwood City on the night of June 21st. An evite will be going out soon. Hope you can come!

Jeff

A Mosque in Downtown Kunming (one of many)

I guess this is what Easter Eggs look like when they hatch 

Scorpions for sale in the Bird & Flower (Stingers Removed)

Visit to a clinic and orphanage

Last week I had the chance to visit Savana in W. It was an unforgettable experience. It was the most ministry I have seen here in China. This team works with mentally and physically disabled children all day at a clinic and in an orphanage. It was heartbreaking and beautiful all at the same time. I can’t believe what this team endures in a week.

I was able to spend a morning in the clinic and an afternoon at the orphanage. It was high energy and hard work at the clinic as they took their clients thru their workouts. So much love and patience. It was incredibly emotional when one mom said that she couldn’t handle it anymore, and that she was going to drop her son off at an orphanage. Thank G_d for this clinic, where parents can get a rest and help with their disabled children. And a voice of reason that says, “No, you cannot do that.” “Hang in there, we will help.”

Then we traveled outside the city to the orphanage. I can’t lie, I was scared. I didn’t know how I would react to the conditions. Within 5 minutes Savana and I were in tears after we entered the baby room. We scooped up babies and pr_yed over them as we tried to get a hold of ourselves. I asked Savana if it got better over time, and she said “no”. Emotions run high.

After about 10 minutes everyone left to go do physical therapy with the children that needed it, and I was left with 2 women and 15 babies! Teeny tiny newborns up to about 18 months. I worked my way around the babies. There was one boy who was about 6 or 7 who was mentally ill. He would constantly try to grab my hand and pull me. If I wouldn’t go with him, he would dig his nails into me or grab saliva off his tongue and try to wipe it on me. So unnerving. Every day since then when I think about it, I wish I would have called out the evil spirits. I did not think of it at the time. Perhaps there was a reason I didn’t think of it.

Many of these children are at this orphanage because they were confiscated as they were being sold over the Vietnam border, most likely into prostitution. The orphanage is a blessing compared to this fate.

It was an image I will never forget. It won’t leave me. So I’m pr_ying what I am supposed to do with it. Savana is back with us for a little while. Her time there wears her down. I am grateful she can rest here. She has one more stint before her time there is done. Many of the team suffers from illness because, so many (practically all) of the children are ill. But, they persevere. As a mother I want to rescue Savana from pain and sickness, but she is resolved. This is where she has been called. The safest place is in the center of His will, no matter the conditions. So we press on. Lift us up dear friends!

Back to school (finally)!

This is a spider from Thailand. It's a little bigger than it looks because my hand is NOT really next to it. I killed 4 of these in our bathroom in the first place we stayed. It's more like killing a rat than killing a bug...And those long legs make them FAST. Yuk.

We had a staff meeting last night, the first working day since December 23. Classes start Wednesday, so I have today to prepare. That's China! I will have to travel to An Ning on Mondays and Wednesdays this semester. It's a 25-minute bike ride to school, I will catch the bus to An Ning (1 hour), teach, and then catch the bus back to Kunming at 6, get on the bike at 7 and hope to be home before 8. I will have to get creative about how to make the travel time productive. The class in Kunming is Business English and I had them last semester. I enjoy them very much. My students in An Ning will all be new.

Savana headed back to Wenshan this morning at 7am. Every time she leaves to head down there, I feel likes it's a foreshadowing of our 'empty nest.' Definitely mixed feelings. Great for them, a little sad for us.

Savana scholarship: Stumping for votes!

Happy Valentine's Day! Not really celebrated here in China in case you were wondering... Bobbie's back to teaching a week already and Savana & Lexi are working on college scholarship applications! Hard to believe it's already 'that time.' Savana has been accepted to Azusa Pacific and Lexi has been accepted to King's College in New York. They have also applied to California State Schools & the UC system, and are already enrolled at a Junior College back home. But the Christian colleges are highest on their list. One way you could help: Savana has applied for a scholarship that requires on-line voting to move to the final round. She wrote a brief essay (had to be 300 words or less) about her work with the kids in Wen Shan this year. Two clicks would really help us! First click here to see the essay: http://www.wyzant.com/scholarships/v2/essay43548-Redwood_City-CA.aspx Then click to vote. Thanks!

Riding Elephants in Thailand

Lotus and Elephants! Two of my favorite things.





One of the best parts of Thailand was getting to ride elephants! So amazing. I rode an elephant once as a little girl when the circus came to Prescott, and I think I realized then what a rare opportunity it was. And ever since it always stuck in my head how surprised I was that they were so hairy! Something I guess you only know if you have the chance to get close to one.

I always wonder about the first person who had the audacity to swing up on a elephant or a horse for the first time. Man is audacious for sure! Riding an elephant is not like riding horse! With each swaggering deep step you feel like you are going to plummet to the ground because their shoulder blades drop about two feet with each step. I guess that's why the trainers ride so close to the head.

An experience of a lifetime! We will have to share about Marway the monkey in another blog....

Thailand Mangrove Jungle and Fishing Village

Blue crab
Mangroves, simply amazing
Friendly happy fishermen!

Mending the nets before heading out to sea
village on the water





We had an amazing trip walking through the Mangroves above water on a wooden path and boating up through a fishing village. Surreal, felt like what I always imagined Vietnam to look like.
It was a peek into the local's lives way off the beaten path. The Thai are so friendly and have a quick smile. I really like the feel of Thailand because it reminds me so much of California. It's a beach community. People are more kicked back and easy going.
I never had a desire to visit Thailand, but I would return in a heart beat. If you have the chance go! So many German and French flock to Thailand, it is crazy. By far the most international city I have been to thus far.
The weather is awesome, all the western conventions a person could want but, still Asia. AND clean clean clean!
We went to the dentist one day and the dentist office was in the hospital. Excellent dental care! I highly recommend canceling your dental insurance (if you have it) and buy a plane ticket to Thailand and have all the dental and medical care you need taken care of there! Cheap and excellent care.
While I was in this spic n span hospital I walked into the bathroom and slipped and fell, what felt like 50 feet across the floor!! Ouch! It was so clean I could not tell the floor was wet! I sat there dazed on the floor for a few minutes, wondering if I was going to need to be admitted. So thankful I did not really injure myself. Just a sprain and a few bruises.
Well, we got back to Kunming last night and it is the last night of Chinese New Year. It will be a night filled with fire works. There is a lantern festival at a nearby park tonight, so much is happening in China too! Is is the year of the dragon. So happy New Year of the Dragon! It is reported between Jan 8-22, 80 million traveled by train to return home (most likely) to celebrate the new year with family. Wow!

I decided I am going to start teaching you Chinese, so here is your first word:

long(first tone) dragon

anybody out there still reading our sporadic blog??

Dolphin Bay

Well, here we are at our second spot in Thailand, Dolphin Bay. I feel like it is a throwback to the 50’s when east coasters would spend a good portion of their summers in the Pocono’s and perhaps still do at a camp-like resort. It is simply fabulous and I feel like every muscle and bone is melting into a relaxation I have never known.

We are deep in the tropics, and it is an entirely different feel. The temperature this time of year seems to be exactly body temperature day and night as well as the ocean. So strange. Humid, but perfect. I have smooth jazz playing on the computer while I write, Jeff and Wyatt exclaim every once in a while across the lawn during their ping pong game. The girls are napping while the coconut trees gently sway. My view is green grass, palm trees, a beautiful pool with a dramatic slide and then a hop skip and a jump………. the beautiful aqua sea.

Jealous? Well, the tropics are not for everyone. Asia is not for everyone.

We are here in Thailand for our yearly retreat. There are no words to describe the desperate need to collapse after the intensity China demands of you. Of course I continue to learn more from the veterans living this life. When you come out of country you crash, your system lets down you get sick and cry ;) You might even sob after you realize how long you have been holding your breath in a country that still does not offer all the things familiar to a westerner. After so much work of trying to jam your round plump body into a square peg, you are a little bruised and a little confused.

Thailand is a lovely combination of east meets west. With a large German and French influence….. many speak English and there is bread and ice cream. What more does a westerner need? It is entirely clear to me why the bible says that Jesus is “the bread of life” and not the rice of life. Is there any comparison?

But, of course Thailand is Asia and not all is bliss although the pictures look it. Jeff got bit by some nasty insect (Dr. thinks it's an ant) that blistered his entire foot and ankle. It has had him to the hospital 3 times, and keeps him from many pleasures and necessities.

Also witness: an inch-and-a-half cockroach in the bread basket last night, a tick on my shoulder, monstrously vicious mosquitos, and fire ants ready to advance an army attack at any given moment.

But, it rarely smells bad and my poor soft brain gets a rest from the demanding grind of Chinese. And the thought police are off duty. I can scream a great big “Hallelujah” and a “Praise God!” if I wanna. Maybe you don’t want to, but when it’s taken away, you start to think a little different a little deeper about it.

We have run into several families here from China. This is where so many westerners flock every year during Chinese New Year. The four weeks of Chinese fireworks just about send you to the loony bin, so good friends and neighbors happen to be staying where we are. Of course it’s not just the fireworks that send westerners here, but the dentist, health care and many company retreats and conferences for companies like ours.

It’s a beautiful wonderful life we have. But, it’s hard and harder still. So grateful for the challenge and adventure, but also for a small time out and rest!

Thailand Pics

The beach and some of the shells we found.

The night market:




This little guy was selling roses but we didn't have a common language and I think his counting skills were a little lacking (but he was darn cute and we loved every minute of it):


Floating Market:


Local wildlife:

Dropbox & Linguistics

Another sunrise picture from our apartment. See the cranes? There may be more high rises going up just in Kunming than in all of the Western United States right now.

Okay, so this is kind of a strange post and maybe even a commercial. But I found something really cool today.

I finished reading Theories of Second Language Learning for the other college this week. I read it into a digital recorder so that English learners can listen as they read along.

It was a really dry, academic book. Try saying out loud (over and over again) words like, nativization, denativization, markedness, creolization, pidginization, decreolization and depidginization. This book is tough for a native English speaker to understand (me, who has an English degree) let alone some poor Chinese grad student who has to slog through this thing in his second language!

But I don't have to think and it's a way to earn a little extra income during the break, which we're very thankful for.

Savana is doing it too and we weren't sure how to deliver the files once she's back in WenShan. MP4 files are big, too big to email.

I was trying to figure out if we could set up an FTP site (which is really old school) or some other solution when I found this: Dropbox. You get free 2G of storage and you can share it between home and work, multiple computers and multiple people for free. Very handy.

Disclaimer: If you sign up from the link above, I get more free space. ; }

Tomorrow (Tuesday) is the last day for packing and getting ready for Thailand. Everyone is mostly over their colds, except poor Savana, who is just starting. So keep her in your thoughts. We are hoping to thaw out our bones in warmer weather down there and come back rested and healthy to tackle next semester.

The "Holidays" are here

Kids in our neighborhood are starting to set off firecrackers and the stores are filling up with 'dragon' decorations and gifts. Last year was the Year of the Rabbit, but this year is the Year of the Dragon. Spring Festival (New Year) starts January 23rd.

We've all had pretty bad colds. Wyatt had walking pneumonia and Bobbie and I ended up with bronchitis. We are really grateful for the international clinic. Many of the doctors are friends. We're on the mend.

We are really enjoying having Savana with us as her clinic is also taking a break for Spring Festival.

I am finding that what had been so unfamiliar last year has become familiar this year. I had a long bus ride yesterday and as I looked at the faces I was reminded of how it felt last year to be out and about. Walking on campus, riding the bus, riding a taxi was a constant "Oh Wow" last year because it was so completely foreign. Then, we were learning to live and survive, but the excitement made us want to embrace it all.

This year, a lot of the 'wow' impact isn't there, which in many ways is a good thing. We are so much more comfortable and settled. And I think our focus has narrowed, we've found our niche and that niche is about the people that are in our life.

Several local friends are coming over tonight for dessert. We are excited because one of them is going to tell us the story of how she grew up.

We continue to be grateful for the opportunity to be here.

We leave for our annual company/meeting retreat in Thailand on January 18th.

And finally, here's a groom carrying his bride. Away from the apartment, after the fireworks. Sorry I can't explain it more, cause I don't know!

Siberian Seagulls

Green Lake Park

The Siberian Seagulls winter every year in Kunming. It is an amazing sight! Kunming is very proud of the fact that these beautiful crisp white birds land here every year. People come out in droves to experience it. They hover just over the water and at eye level. They are so thoughtful to mainly stay over the water and not your head! It is truly spectacular to be caught up in thousands of flying feathers.
Indian food for Christmas this year!
High pour, yummy Indian tea!
This is my women's English class. Aren't they beautiful! Half the class is Korean and half Chinese. On this day I took them on a field trip shopping to practice English using money and clothes vocabulary. So fun!
These are my students at Wisemen. Their music teacher did an awesome job teaching them guitar for a Christmas special.

Our family enjoyed the holidays and a much needed break. Everyone has been sick for way too long and would appreciate your pr_yers. Poor Wyatt had walking pneumonia, but seems to be on the mend.

Lexi, Wyatt and I start back to school Wednesday and Jeff and Savana are off until the end of February! It is wonderful having Savana with us during this time. She has come back playing the guitar quite well, and it is great to have her music back in the house. While Jeff and Savana are off they have picked up some extra work recording for Yuunan Normal University. It is quite cute to watch the two of them collaborate. Two peas in a pod!

Today Wyatt and I are going to the village with my good friend Zoe. Zoe has a friend who lives in the village and they will be celebrating a festival for the new year. We are looking forward to it, but I'm not quite sure what to expect. I think............. part of the celebration is butchering a pig. hmmmm. Which is why Wyatt wants to go.

Last night was my last class with one of my groups. Very emotional! I have grown quite attached to these children! I will also finish up with my other Thursday night class and transition over to just one school teaching just during the day now. A bitter sweet feeling!

I am very excited though, because my very good friend will be coming to visit in April! Whoo hoo! We will put on an Easter party for these students when she comes. So happy to still have connection with them and of course have my buddy come experience China with me!