This afternoon as I rode the bus home, I had the privilege of watching a fantastically beautiful sunset. The sun had was setting behind a mountain and because of the reflection on the clouds, it looked like the sky was on fire. To make things even more beautiful, the red and orange colors lighting up the sky also reflected off the buildings downtown and the ocean. It was simply breath-taking. And the thought popped into my head, "I just can't believe I live here."
This is my fourth year in China. My first year, every day I woke up I would say to myself, "I can't believe I live here." I can tell you that after living here for 1,186 days, I often find myself saying, "I can't believe I live here." I never imagined this adventure for myself. A few years ago, I was the kind of girl who wanted to stay in her hometown her whole life, gets married, and take care of a family. But then Dad got a hold of my life and now I'm living an adventure bigger than I could have ever dreamed. And I wouldn't trade it for the world. His dreams have replaced mine and I couldn't be happier. His dreams are SO MUCH BIGGER.
So, thank you Daddy. I love every moment my life is in your hands. I truly cannot imagine where I would be without you. And even though I'm so glad you did, I have no idea why you would pick me. But you do keep telling me that your name is glorified in my weakness. I am going to say that is a good enough answer for me. :)
And I still can't believe that I get to live here.
Monday, October 24, 2011
Saturday, October 15, 2011
The Power of Good Company
I love being alone. I truly am a person who enjoys her own company. The thought of not saying an entire word all day or having the house to myself sounds amazing. I am a true introvert. In fact, I didn't really talk very much until college. Even now, I would rather listen than speak. However thanks to some great friends in college, I learned that there is good to be found in carrying a conversation and in good company.
I've been reminded of this multiple times this year. I am convinced that this is the best year I have spent in China...well, at least on the social front. I have had the privilege of beginning several new wonderful friendships and strengthening those friendships that I already had. Every time I spend even a few moments with these friends, I am amazed at how happy, blessed, and peaceful I feel afterward.
So my dear friends, I am so thankful you are in my life. I am thankful for the moments you make me laugh. I am thankful for the moments you challenge me. I am thankful for the moments you laugh at me. I am thankful for the moments we collapse on my/your couch and watch a movie or play a game. I am thankful for all your emails, phone calls, and texts. I am thankful for the walks. I am thankful when we eat dinner together. I am thankful for the moments you help me see that I am wrong. I am thankful for the moments you hold me when I cry. I am thankful for every moment with you. Thank you for being part of my life.
I've been reminded of this multiple times this year. I am convinced that this is the best year I have spent in China...well, at least on the social front. I have had the privilege of beginning several new wonderful friendships and strengthening those friendships that I already had. Every time I spend even a few moments with these friends, I am amazed at how happy, blessed, and peaceful I feel afterward.
So my dear friends, I am so thankful you are in my life. I am thankful for the moments you make me laugh. I am thankful for the moments you challenge me. I am thankful for the moments you laugh at me. I am thankful for the moments we collapse on my/your couch and watch a movie or play a game. I am thankful for all your emails, phone calls, and texts. I am thankful for the walks. I am thankful when we eat dinner together. I am thankful for the moments you help me see that I am wrong. I am thankful for the moments you hold me when I cry. I am thankful for every moment with you. Thank you for being part of my life.
Thursday, October 13, 2011
10 Random Facts About China
1. People in China believe you should wear warm clothing from National Holiday (Oct 1) to May Holiday (May 1) no matter how hot it gets outside. If you wear anything but warm clothing during that time period, you will constantly be asked whether or not you are cold.
2. Driving on the wrong side of the road is totally legit in China...even when that side of the road is already occupied.
3. Lanes on the road and stop lights are often suggestions rather than rules.
4. Horn honking is a form of communication in China. It means, "I'm coming, move over." "Look out!" "The light is green. GO!" "You are driving down the middle of a two lane road. Pick a side." etc.
5. Fireworks are legit any hour of the day (even daytime). They are used to celebrate holidays, weddings, new babies, new homes, etc. Fireworks go off about 20 hours a day for 3 weeks straight during Chinese New Year.
6. There are doors on most Chinese kitchens so that the rest of the house doesn't get "dirty" when you cook. Almost every Chinese dish is cooked in a wok with oil.
7. Friends often hold each others hands. Usually only girls do this, but I have seen a few guys do it too.
8. Guys usually carry their girlfriends/wives purses.
9. Chinese people decorate with things Americans would call "cheesy." For example, giant flowers, childish prints, large prints, cartoon characters, etc.
10. Chinese books/movies won't typically feature a superhero or someone saving the world. It is more likely to feature an entire community working together to save themselves. This is because of a mindset focused on everyone rather than oneself.
2. Driving on the wrong side of the road is totally legit in China...even when that side of the road is already occupied.
3. Lanes on the road and stop lights are often suggestions rather than rules.
4. Horn honking is a form of communication in China. It means, "I'm coming, move over." "Look out!" "The light is green. GO!" "You are driving down the middle of a two lane road. Pick a side." etc.
5. Fireworks are legit any hour of the day (even daytime). They are used to celebrate holidays, weddings, new babies, new homes, etc. Fireworks go off about 20 hours a day for 3 weeks straight during Chinese New Year.
6. There are doors on most Chinese kitchens so that the rest of the house doesn't get "dirty" when you cook. Almost every Chinese dish is cooked in a wok with oil.
7. Friends often hold each others hands. Usually only girls do this, but I have seen a few guys do it too.
8. Guys usually carry their girlfriends/wives purses.
9. Chinese people decorate with things Americans would call "cheesy." For example, giant flowers, childish prints, large prints, cartoon characters, etc.
10. Chinese books/movies won't typically feature a superhero or someone saving the world. It is more likely to feature an entire community working together to save themselves. This is because of a mindset focused on everyone rather than oneself.
Kid's Perspective on Being Pregnant
Yesterday I had a hilarious conversation with the second graders. Before I tell you though, here's some background info. Our school gives each elementary classroom a teaching assistant (TA). The TA's are all Chinese. Since my co-teacher, Karen, is out, I have two TA's this week. Karen's TA is going on maternity leave in a few weeks because her baby is due the end of October.
Student 1: Miss Keller, do you have a baby?
Me: No, you have to be married to have a baby and I don't have a husband.
Student 1: Mrs. J (Karen's TA) has a husband.
Me: Your right. She does. Which is why she's having a baby soon. Did you know Mrs. W (my TA) has a baby?
At this point every single kid starts staring at her stomach and looking for evidence.
Mrs. W.: My baby has already been born.
At this point there was a very audible, "Oh."
Student 2: Miss Keller, Mrs. J looks like she swallowed a basketball. She's got a huge tummy.
I couldn't breath from laughing so hard.
More random facts about having babies in China...
- Most Chinese babies are born by C-section because doctors convince paranoid mothers that it is safer.
- Most Chinese are only allowed to have one baby, but if you and your husband are both only children, you can have two. You can also pay to have a second baby.
- Chinese believe that a baby and the mother should not leave the home for the first 90 days of the babies life.
- Most Chinese women wear overalls their entire pregnancy.
- A Chinese woman will not use a copier when pregnant because "the radiation might hurt that baby."
- Chinese women eat themselves silly while pregnant because they think they need to gain a lot of weight.
- Most foreigners go to Beijing to have their babies because there is a hospital there that is fairly Western. Chinese hospitals are really different from Western hospitals.
Student 1: Miss Keller, do you have a baby?
Me: No, you have to be married to have a baby and I don't have a husband.
Student 1: Mrs. J (Karen's TA) has a husband.
Me: Your right. She does. Which is why she's having a baby soon. Did you know Mrs. W (my TA) has a baby?
At this point every single kid starts staring at her stomach and looking for evidence.
Mrs. W.: My baby has already been born.
At this point there was a very audible, "Oh."
Student 2: Miss Keller, Mrs. J looks like she swallowed a basketball. She's got a huge tummy.
I couldn't breath from laughing so hard.
More random facts about having babies in China...
- Most Chinese babies are born by C-section because doctors convince paranoid mothers that it is safer.
- Most Chinese are only allowed to have one baby, but if you and your husband are both only children, you can have two. You can also pay to have a second baby.
- Chinese believe that a baby and the mother should not leave the home for the first 90 days of the babies life.
- Most Chinese women wear overalls their entire pregnancy.
- A Chinese woman will not use a copier when pregnant because "the radiation might hurt that baby."
- Chinese women eat themselves silly while pregnant because they think they need to gain a lot of weight.
- Most foreigners go to Beijing to have their babies because there is a hospital there that is fairly Western. Chinese hospitals are really different from Western hospitals.
Monday, October 10, 2011
One Very Full Life
It's been ages since I blogged. I've really been wanting to, but there never seems to be enough time. It seems that September got progressively more and more busy until the point where I am now collapsing into bed each night completely exhausted. I will not complain though. I love my life and I'm having a great time. Here's some highlights from the last couple weeks.
I had eight 3rd grade girls over to my house on a Saturday for 5 hours. We danced, played, cooked, and watched a movie. I actually met my downstairs neighbor when we started having a little too much fun. Oops...
I just finished teaching a unit to my second graders about dinosaurs. My co-teacher and I hung 6 dinosaurs that were about 5 feet tall. We taught words like camouflage, carnivore, herbivore, predator, prey, and more. The kids LOVED it. Now we are moving onto health. I just hope they love this unit as much as the last.
Last week was Fall Break. We actually call it National Holiday because they celebrated the anniversary of communist China. During this break, all the foreign teachers went up to BJ for a conference. My co-teacher and I presented lapbooks to a small group of teachers. (If you don't know what they are, you should google them...they are awesome!) We finished very early, but it was fun to watch all the teachers sit and collaborate. :)
My co-teacher, Karen, had knee surgery just a little over a week ago. She is home ridden (well she's supposed to be) for two weeks so I'm currently teaching both second grades. It's only eighteen kids, but my room really is too small for that many bodies. However, I'm loving it. I like it when things are different than normal. It's fun. But, I did feel bad when one of my students burst into tears because I didn't notice her trying to get me attention for a rather long period of time. Sorry sweetheart. Now, to collapse into bed exhausted so I can do it again tomorrow. :) Well...maybe I should wait a few more hours before collapsing. The last time I went to bed at 7pm, I was wide awake at 1:30 in the morning. Not something I feel the need to repeat. :)
Lastly, I just finished reading Jane Eyre a few days ago. I can't believe I've never read it before. It's a long book and some of the language is difficult, but it was so worth the read. Charlotte Bronte really did a good job of giving you a look inside the characters heads. I didn't agree with most of what they did, but I truly understood why they did what they did. Really, you should read it if you have the opportunity. I will probably read it again sometime this year. :)
Ok, that's it for now. No deep thoughts for today. Just wanted to let you know I'm still alive and very busy. Have I mentioned lately that I love my life and wouldn't trade it for anything in the world?
I had eight 3rd grade girls over to my house on a Saturday for 5 hours. We danced, played, cooked, and watched a movie. I actually met my downstairs neighbor when we started having a little too much fun. Oops...
I just finished teaching a unit to my second graders about dinosaurs. My co-teacher and I hung 6 dinosaurs that were about 5 feet tall. We taught words like camouflage, carnivore, herbivore, predator, prey, and more. The kids LOVED it. Now we are moving onto health. I just hope they love this unit as much as the last.
Last week was Fall Break. We actually call it National Holiday because they celebrated the anniversary of communist China. During this break, all the foreign teachers went up to BJ for a conference. My co-teacher and I presented lapbooks to a small group of teachers. (If you don't know what they are, you should google them...they are awesome!) We finished very early, but it was fun to watch all the teachers sit and collaborate. :)
My co-teacher, Karen, had knee surgery just a little over a week ago. She is home ridden (well she's supposed to be) for two weeks so I'm currently teaching both second grades. It's only eighteen kids, but my room really is too small for that many bodies. However, I'm loving it. I like it when things are different than normal. It's fun. But, I did feel bad when one of my students burst into tears because I didn't notice her trying to get me attention for a rather long period of time. Sorry sweetheart. Now, to collapse into bed exhausted so I can do it again tomorrow. :) Well...maybe I should wait a few more hours before collapsing. The last time I went to bed at 7pm, I was wide awake at 1:30 in the morning. Not something I feel the need to repeat. :)
Lastly, I just finished reading Jane Eyre a few days ago. I can't believe I've never read it before. It's a long book and some of the language is difficult, but it was so worth the read. Charlotte Bronte really did a good job of giving you a look inside the characters heads. I didn't agree with most of what they did, but I truly understood why they did what they did. Really, you should read it if you have the opportunity. I will probably read it again sometime this year. :)
Ok, that's it for now. No deep thoughts for today. Just wanted to let you know I'm still alive and very busy. Have I mentioned lately that I love my life and wouldn't trade it for anything in the world?
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