Teach English in China

Teacher Diary

We would like to thank Wesley Willis for allowing us to reproduce this diary of his experiences in the Sinoculture teaching program.

E-mail Date March 15, 2005
The following entries are from the e-mails sent out over the past few months of not keeping up the journal. Lets us hope I will get back into writing in the journal and taking for it to write the e-mails.

Progress continues here with learning Chinese and learning what it is to be polite here. I am not use to young people letting instructors or older people enter and leave before them. It is something I was raised with, but have not seen it for many years.

By the time you come for a short visit I will know enough to get around and do some traveling. The language is not difficult, but as a beginner it does stretch my memory. I have begun also to learn how to put some of the Chinese Characters together. Now, there an art form developed over the thousands of years, and of course while learn as much as possible, becoming proficient would take years. The sounds are put together by tones, syllables, and vowels. Learn these you begin to learn very quickly.

My adventures continue to take me into the places of the city were the people go, but not necessarily where foreigners would go. There you can find everything that you would want in the small shops. So far have not seen anything like a large discount store such Best Buy or Home Depot. The closest are various centers where you buy anything in a category such as electronic items. In the centers you will find that haggling over the prices still exist, and can be fun. It is a very good way to find out also how different ways of fixing things are done.

Mixture of old and new is very present when shopping. I have decided to paint my room which appeared to be a mystery as to why by Zhangfang (he is in charge of all the foreigners on Campus, teachers and students) and Lily. With some wild rides in the car and some haggling over prices I have all the things needed to paint my quarters. Paint is not in cans (with the exception of very specialized paints) but in these beautiful old jars that are open with the paint in plastic bags. When you see them lined up images of hundreds, maybe thousands of years of doing something simple and not so wasteful come to mind. Yet there are rollers and such, and you return the jar for your deposit when you are finished. Oh yea! Learning the metric system is becoming something of a necessity.

My students are fast becoming the light and energy of my days. I look forward to their smiling faces in the morning. They are most shy and the years of working at the state hospital pays off by having skills to getting them to speak English. I have so much time that I set up a schedule when students can make appointments to come to the apartment for small group English conversation. We have tea and cookies and talk about anything in English. The one thing I really love is the interactions between instructors and students. Unlike at home where the years of suing for whatever reasons have gone on, and some distance has been put between many students and instructors, the students here come up and ask for phone numbers to make appointments. When they come in groups they bring fruit since the word has gone out that I eat fruit. It is their thank you for the extra time. They also on Saturdays get on the bus and go with me into town. Quite a change for someone who has spent most of their life doing things pretty much on his own and alone.

Health wise I am doing OK for the most part. There were some cold northern dry winds that came for about three days, and in my joy of the wind I forgot to take notice of how dry it was, and dehydrated somewhat which with some of the salted foods here left me with a kidney stone. Oche! Three times oche! I was proud of myself, and again all that time learning survival and having to think about old ways of doing things was helpful. With several liters of water poured into me I forced the stone to pass, and of course 1500 mgs of Tylenol, so cured myself overnight of both the dehydration and stone. Weight continues to drop at about 2 kilo per week. Simply put, my real physical age begins to lower, and my energy age is about 45, and my emotional age still hangs in never, never land.

I often think of the center these days and of the Sierras, and one day will return to them, but I am changing slowly, and notice the changes and appreciate the changes in my heart for I use the energy now to learn, to grow, with acceptance of my now. Hopefully my dear friend you too have changes in your heart and will find your growth in what you are looking for. Give my energy and light greetings to your mom and dad, and to Melody, Ryan, Muey, and the animal people. I have not left anyone else behind that matter so much. Take care my friend and know that in my heart our friendship is at the top and all else has diminished into joyful memories of a foolish old man. May your days be filled with peace, love, joy and sweetness in all your endeavors, and until next week eat well.

E-Mail Dated March 23, 2005
First thing is that there is an e-mail that will show up from Photo Show from Watching Wolf. Hopefully you will be able to open the e-mail and see the slide show.

There have been many gifts from the Universe since my last e-mail. One which I am delighted have is a new bicycle. The college pays for the bike, and I now get to ride to the beach and watch people at low tide harvesting the muscles and other delightful things to eat from the tide pools. Plus the tide pools, there are very nice scenes of fishing boats, and islands to photograph and turn into postcards. When I remember to take my camera picture of the beautiful Moon Bay in Yantai Bay will be available for sharing.

As you know I have students that come to my apartment each evening to practice Conversational English (they call it from a formal translation Oral English). I have not had to buy fruit for a long time now. When the students come they bring something in exchange, and for me it appears to be fruit since that is what they have heard I eat most of the time. The big surprise something that would have never cross my mind as I do not drink, from what I hear a very good bottle of red Chinese wine. I have not used it, and most likely will not know what I am missing as it will go to Zhangfeng, my supervisor. I have so many bananas it is hard to eat all of them before they need to be made into banana nut bread, which I cannot do because there is no oven. Pineapple is the thing this week along with kiwi, apples and pears. The best part is to come in the first week of May.

The 1st of May is a national holiday that last for one week. Many of the students will be going home for the week, but many more will be staying here on campus which turns out to be a gift for me. Again the trust between students and instructors is something that has been lost to many at home, but here it is strong. During one of the evening sessions one of the students asks if I could Chinese food. My answer was given and after some talk between and her other students, she asked, "can I come and cook for you and teach you how to cook Chinese one evening?" It was agreed that she and her friend would come during the holidays to cook. How much more can I expect form the Universe as far as my eating right can go?

Other events were the making of an American picnic. For those of you who are interest in the cost of things here in China, perhaps this will give you some idea of the cost of food here. One class asked for an activity to hold for all the class members. A picnic was the agreed upon activity. There was no equipment to purchase, but to feed eighty students in any country can be a somewhat busy endeavor. Yet it just what I needed to make me feel like I am giving for all that I am receiving. The "fixin's" for this event included ham, bread, mayo, and watermelon, truly a simple picnic lunch. Ah! I forgot to mention the potato chips. All the items together came to about 500 Yuan, which about $62.00. I have not shopped for a while in the USA, so you can tell me if this was a good deal or not for feeding eighty hungry students. The picnic was a success! It was held in the classroom on the scheduled day because of the appearance of a northern dry cold wind, and so the class monitor decided to hold it in the classroom.

Lastly for this week I would like to share with you some written images of some of the people with short comments:

The student who got on the bus at one of the stops near the Yantai Business and Technology College, and talked to me in English all the way to downtown Yantai. She was so happy to be able to talk English and be understood. Also I think she like the looks of Allen my Chinese language tutor.

The lady in the supermarket who told her boyfriend to wait while she held a twenty minute conversation in English because she wanted to practice.

The finding of sesame seed candy in a market place that is truly a delight to eat. Plus there is pineapple on a stick, and that makes for a picture in itself.

Well, there you have it for this e-mail. Do try to view the short Photo Show e-mail that will arrive, and please do let me know how to improve the presentation, as it is my first and I intend to send at least one per month if not more. Until we connect again, may all your dreams be filled with peace, love, joy and sweetness.

E-Mail Dated March 30, 2005
My adventures have expanded to seeing more of the City of Yantai. There have been more shopping areas to explore, and places to see. For a person that has preferred the remote trails and camping spots, the attraction to the side streets where bumping into people to make your way to somewhere is becoming a weekly item on my agenda. This pass week the adventures also lead to going the dentist.

The dentists in the city are located in the hospitals. After making your way to the hospital and looking up where the dentist are located (one of the few places that English titles are put on the signs), you go to register. Now you really see a difference in line waiting. The amount of time you wait in line is determined in part on how pushy you feel about being to get the window clerk to take your application and/or your money. A side note to this is how much energy I would put out in being upset at people who cut in line. Sometimes confronting people on one to one about the behavior. About year or little more, I learned that to be at peace was to let my relatives make their choices of behavior, and not to become part of the behavior by negative reactions. Well, I followed the lead of my supervisor, and helped push to the front. After you are registered and given your booklet, it is up to the dentist, and more line assertiveness. Once you see the dentist, it is back to the line to pay for the service needed, and in this case it was taking the x-rays. The dentist and I looked at the pictures and decided on what course of action would be taken, then back to the pharmacy line, pay, and then another line for the medications. Well in less then thirty minutes the whole deal was over, and only at a cost of 164 Yuan ($20.00). My tooth ache is gone, although some work will be needed, and the whole experience has bought questions that most likely cannot have easy answers.

If you remember the last journal writing there was student from Yantai University of Business and Technology that wanted to talk English on the bus. She did call my Chinese tutor and me to walk with us downtown last Saturday. Between her and Jackie, another of the students from Binzhou Medical College, we found everything on the shopping list. Plus, I was able to see prices drop when the three of the students would start bartering. With four students it was like having person group of protectors. When I would want to look at something or take pictures, they were there translating and making room for me. I have been informed that my age also adds to the protection and concerns about how much I do and not do. It turned out to be a wonderful afternoon before heading back to campus to prepare for the evening activities.

The evening activities were initiated by Anita, one of the foreign teachers on campus. At the appointed time we all met at the bus stop and it was off to downtown Yantai again. The restaurant was like nothing I have ever been to before, where you cook your own food at the table. You order what you want and then the waiters bring it, and you cook it in a common pot. Using your chop sticks you eat from the pot, or put a little on a plate. It was quite nice, efficient. After dinner we climbed into taxis and went to the waterfront to walk. We sang songs in English as we walked, and stopped to sing songs so some of the people could dance. Then more walking to catch the bus back to campus so the students would not be late.

One other evening event for the past week was the dinner for foreign teachers and English Department teachers. It was the first social encounter with the English teachers, and that proved to be very informational as we talked about class issues and what is expected of the students in class. Several of the teachers in close conversation mentioned that my students are very happy with me (the students do talk about any problems or situations with the Chinese English teachers), and that other students are asking to be put into my classes next semester. My heart soars like an eagle.

A bike was finally bought, and so I have been riding to Yantai University just for the fun of it. The distance is about three miles round trip, plus any side trips in the market area. In using some of the Chinese I have learned it is so much fun to just relax, go slow through the markets, and get some little items. Bartering is a bit down the road for me, but it will come. The bike did cause some changes for this week as I fell with the bike and pulled a tendon, but with the use of hot towels, and some self massaging, and stretching the leg is healing quickly. Being on the 6th floor eliminates going to classes this week, so my students are coming over in small groups for instructions.

Spring has arrived here, and already the temperature is warm enough to go with light outer clothing at night. There are flowers that are out, and some green starting to show in the grassy areas. More students can be observed holding hands, and boy and girls seem to be mixing in the classroom seating then before. The days are like the days on the coast. A little hazy in the morning, bright in the afternoon, then maybe some stronger winds for a couple of hours. Spring has hit me with the need to see rivers and mountains, and to do some camping, and that will come, but far from the mountains and rivers I know, and with new experiences with new people and Spirits.

Take care of yourselves, and once and in awhile when it comes to your mind, look to the Sierras, Shasta, and the coast, and say hi to the Spirits of those places for me, for I have not forgotten what they gave to me. May you all have dreams of peace, love, joy and sweetness, and may those dreams be brought to reality.

E-Mail Dated April 20, 2005
Hi to All My Relatives!

Spring is slowing getting started here. There is a yellow flower that the students bought to my apartment that roughly translates to entry flower. This flower blooms on the first real day of spring; well that was a couple of weeks ago by my reckoning. There are more and more days when outer garments can be wind breakers or other light jackets. The evenings are still cold, and sometimes there are still bone chilling winds from the northern high deserts and low mountains. Yet, from the same areas we have had from the west some strong winds that match the santanas we get in California being very warm and drying up moisture very quickly, more quickly than the winds from the deserts.

Still the wild life in the area consists of seeing one bird a time. At the beach one seagull was spotted and I was able to get a picture of bird. If the birds are there, they may have learned to stay on what looks like a reef or some rocks about a mile off shore. On another day I did spot a black and white bird that reminded me of the mocking birds back home. It talks like raven here, and the people here say it is a bird of good luck. All other animals have consisted of two small stray cats on campus. All the dogs seem to have a home; you just don't see them about like at home.

Trees here a just starting to get their first budding leaves. Some of the trees this week broke into blooms. Language right now prevents me from saying what fruit exactly the blooming trees bare, but description is like that of pears. They say the fruit is something very popular with monkeys (nope, not bananas). The government has a large program of replanting trees, and so corporate sites and such as the college plant hundreds of trees. Evergreens mostly, but others are also planted and rope is used in the winter to protect them from the cold. The rope is wound around the trees, while still others are shielded by large tarp enclosures. There is a forest being planted here on the campus of which I will send pictures when I can get a program that works more often then not.

Shrubs are starting to turn green, but not all of them as they grow shrubs where there are no trees, and the shrubs are put into designs of green and reddish brown from the top of buildings the designs are quite beautiful to see. Shrubs and tree, with clover type grass, or a type of grass that appears to need little care, but is just starting to green is planted in the many parks along the major roads. If there are flowers in the parts they have not come out yet.

It has warmed enough for rain to fall instead of snow. The difference was that at home it might be thought a cold rain, but here it felt warm compared to the snow that sometimes fell even when the sun was trying to poke through the clouds. At the same time the color of the ocean is changing, and more fishermen can be seen out trying their luck with the Fish People. By the way, they have also started fishing the college lakes. You can see the teachers with their fifteen foot flex poles at the lake in free time.

Shopping hasn't change with the exception that after pricing food at times I am finding that the street vendors can give you a pretty good deal. Example is that on the campus the store chare me 5 Yuan for about 3 lbs of bananas. The supermarkets charge me about 3.5 Yuan for the same amount of bananas, and street vendor can be talked into about 2 Yuan or less for the bananas. So! At this age after avoiding the bartering of things, I am learning how to barter. Strange when you have always paid whatever was asked or just didn't buy it. Another example of bartering is when my students get involved.

We went to look for about the third time in this sort of computer mall where everything electronic can be bought, especially for computers, cameras, and audio. The first time weeks ago that we went we could not find a printer for less then 1700 Yuan. There must have been a ship come in since my first and second visit, because now there were printers that were former mentioned price at an amazing 480 Yuan, and some even lower. Deciding on the use and that it will be left behind, I went for a 380 Yuan model. The students went to work! With a couple of whisperings to me, and two times telling me to walk away and look at some other things, the 380 became a deal at 320, and that included in the store, take out of the box, try it out, and take home. Just think, I would have paid the 1700 four weeks ago.

It was time to show an English speaking movie. Most of the time that a movie is shown it is with Chinese characters at the bottom while the spoken dialog is in English. I decided that was not going to help them focus on the English and with that in mind I ordered DVD's from the USA. Some of you may remember the movie Shane, and that was my first choice. The English in Shane is not cluttered and easy to follow, and the story is simple also. The did complain about not being able to follow, but I reminded them that my learning of Chinese includes watching Chinese movies with them on Saturday evenings, and that it is how I can now open and close my classes with some Chinese, go shopping for food on my own, and even find my way around town. It worked in that they talked about the movie in English and had produced more sentences than I have heard before from some of the more shy students. There are still many students that will not talk in class but when they come to the apartment they are much more talkative in the small group and the home like surroundings.

Thinking in terms of surroundings adjusting to life here again seems so easy. I am not sure why, but often it is my thought that the life style I prefer has always been camping, or living very easy. Yet there are luxuries that are provided to us foreign teachers that are not given to regular teachers. We have mentioned salaries before, but if not remind me I will be glad to give you a verbal picture of differences for teachers. I have learned that there are two teachers to each of the dorm rooms in the teachers' dorm building. The rooms are the same size as the rooms the students have that have seven males in a dorm, and six females in a dorm. They are building for the teachers living quarters about a mile away from the college, but foreign teachers will stay here on campus. Married couples are given one dorm room, but there at this time is no room for children.

True to my nature I am finding out cultural insights through students and teachers. The more traditional students start with having boy friends in high school and may marry as early as eighteen years. I have been told that this practice is being changed slowly with government education along with the one family one child policies. Males might wait till they are in early thirties, and females may wait till they are twenty-five or so as the families will think of them as desirable if not married by twenty-eight. The more education the longer the waiting period seems to be, up to the mid thirties for professionals of both sexes, but sharing rooms and such may be done before the marriage.

Boyfriends and girlfriends status for students seems to be more traditional, but yet not unlike some of the cases in the USA. Students who meet and decide they love each other in high school then continue on to college maintain those relationships until they may marry years later. If the couple mutually separates there is not a problem, but if not agreed by both then there can be strong peer opinions not in favor of the one breaking off. The choosing of a boyfriend or girlfriend is a deep commitment and after the graduations, and certifications, and placements, the relations continue till marriage in many cases. Suicide among college students can be as high as four or five per year on some campuses for those that are broken hearted. Underlining this is that often the families are unaware of the dating that goes on at college, or it may not be spoken of in respect for the parents.

Considering my surrounding and my freedom to go where I please, plus the protection of the protection of the students my world grows wider by the day. My spiritual development grows as I find much of the peace that has been missing for much of my life. It is possible to have found this peace in USA on one of the reservations or communes, but it was the choices put on my paths that have led me here, and I am most happy, and even more happy to share with my friends the peace, love, joy and sweetness that I am starting to understand and feel in daily living.

Take care my friends and may your spirits guide you on an easy path with good eating

E-Mail Dated April 26, 2005
This past week was a week of doing for me, and by Sunday evening I was a happy camper crawling into bed. The classes went well, and although many students were getting ready to participate in the weekend sports event, many of those that had been out for awhile returned (the college policy for oral English classes are that you do not have to go, so many use the time at times to catch up on labs or other student activities). My student levels continue to be higher than the other foreign teachers' classes and they have talked to me about what I do, but it is something that is hard for me explains. My style is fairly much like open and talking to students as equals, and keeping the humor high. What I have heard from students and the teachers is that there are more constraints in the other classes for practicing English during the class. All those years of working with emotionally unstapled persons, and having to be flexible for each person and group maybe is paying off for this endeavor.

The sports event is something that was a marvel to attend. It was sponsored by the college, and the sports center next to the college (most of the newer universities and colleges seem to have a sports center built close by) was rented by the college. Here is a difference in cultures maybe. There may be some high school and college sports events that are done similarly, but I cannot remember any in my past (of course we know my stance of participating in sports which is about 0) that the schools or colleges did not have major roles in the safety of the students. Safety for this case being that the students are responsible for their own training for the most part. Some of them had training in high school but none at this college for the rigger of some of the events. In asking the students and some teachers about the training it was said that students are responsible. The results were wondrous! There were students running 12000 meters self trained, and doing field events self trained. Some of the students this was the first time they ever competed in such events. It has been years since my training in college and having to take P.E. courses as part of the requirements, and with my almost nil experience it was easy to see the risk and possibilities for many of the students. Other than the running there was the disc, javelin, and shot put being thrown from a standing stationary position, I saw only two take the running or turning positions needed for maximum thrust. The high jumps and long jumps were also a mixed of past training and just doing it. During the events though their classmates were there to cheer them on, and to assist when needed by caring water, and helping them when injured or just overwhelmed with exhaustion. Yet these untrained students would go the distance just as if they had been trained and coached. Only did I see one student leave the field because she felt ashamed at not completing the 3000 meter race. There were sights of students that had to be helped from the field, but it was not until Monday watching the students on the way to class that I begin to see the limping, and pain in walking or sitting in classes that I realized that it was costly to many of the participants who just wanted to run, jump, throw, and do it all for the honor of getting points for their class. At Tuesday classes there were students that still had not regained their energy to sit up in class.

Here is a brief note on class structure at this college. Students are put into classes that stay together for all their classes with the exception of maybe some P.E. and lab classes, but you will find most of them all together in these classes also. The class has a student monitor who organizes and is responsible for getting information in changes or special activities to the class. Each class also has an audio/visual monitor who is responsible for operation of the classroom equipment. They are the contact with teachers if there is a problem for the class as a whole, but individuals take care of their special needs. The classes are then put into sleeping groups of six for ladies and seven for men. In questioning students they mostly agree it is good because for those that are far away from home and cannot go home on weekends or holidays, it is family away from home. Another reason for working so hard at the games this weekend.

Spring has arrived! It was wonderful to go to sleep one night this past week without a noticeable leaf on the trees, then to awaken and see the next morning brightly covered trees with shade underneath. This sight happen after there was two days of warm wind, and half a day of warm rain. I have pictures, but still not able to get them sent in presentation yet (also about 1000 + pictures were taken over the weekend of the students at the games).

E-Mail Dated May 4, 2005
This week is a vacation week for the Labor Day celebrations. Classes are out but I am not traveling except for one day and that is on Thursday. I will be going to see a town about two hours on the bus. It is suppose to be real pretty area. Of course I will take plenty of pictures. Other things this week include students coming over to teach me how to make Chinese dumplings. That will include a trip to the market and then back, and that is all happening starting today Wednesday at 10 AM.

In the evenings this week I have been showing movies to the students in one of the large class rooms (about 300 seats) and it has been a full house. It is really neat to hear the reactions to the movies (the new Extended Versions of Lord of the Rings) with ahs and clapping for the good guys. Reminds me of my youth when that was done more in the theatres. Popcorn is not the thing for movie watching here, but sunflower seeds are the thing. It is so much fun listening to the crack of seeds, but the thing is it is not weight producing popcorn and butter brings, along with soda or such.

I have set up some routines that are kept up now that help my physical being in addition to my living and chain chi going class, and that is to ride my bike at least three miles per day. This is promoted by the fact that buying fresh veggies and fruit everyday, meat or fish, is getting to be more natural, and it is the way that most of the people that I meet do their shopping for the family meals. So with new baskets on my bike, I head to a market that is a mile and a half from the college, and use Chinese to make purchases and enjoy the feeling of happiness in my spirit, and knowledge that I am getting healthy and eating more properly. Steaming veggies, and eating little or no meat now. The sweetest thing in the home is honey. I have purchased a small process that is being used to make my own juices from the fresh fruit that is available daily at a low cost. I make icees of fresh fruit with no added sweeteners, and they are good.

Students are maybe the same around the world. Vacation started it was for the girls the shop to you drop for the first two days. For the boys it was the computer cafes (doing the popular thing of staying up all night) to play computer games. They go in groups and play in competitions. It is a sight to watch them dragging themselves across the field in the morning as though they are workers coming from night shift. Yet, there is now a showing of some of the students turning back to their studies. They voice a deep concern that the families pay out a lot of money for education, and that going to be doctors means they have to study harder as the lives of people will be in their hands. One of the students that I see from another college down the road and is friends with my Chinese tutor says the students hear appear to study more than the students at his business and technology campus.

Speaking of the Business and Technology University at Yantai, how about seven or eight thousand students riding bikes to go to classes about a mile and a quarter because the extended campus had to be built for mainly housing students. It is a sight I enjoy watching. There is a bus that they can catch, but they still must walk about half a mile to get to that end of the line bus stop. I have to get to the sight one day to take pictures early in the morning. I have ridden the routine route that is taken for seeing for me how it would be to do this with books and such. The weather is great most of the time, but with heavy winds and the rains, and winter snows it is even more of a sight I am told.

My personal growth continues in learning and experiencing each day all that can be done so. Now it is not that it is wonderful to go to the street market, but it is the social contact with vendors, and buying items using the language of the people. My students tell me that most foreigners do not use Chinese, but have people with them most of the time. The students encourage me to go alone, and have given me hints on how to make sure I get what I pay for. Also the learning of the culture makes me wonder what it is that really sets people of modern times apart. In the early part of the 20th century and the 19th century it can be understood, that time and distance could keep people thinking how strange others are across the world. In our time, now, it is hard to see why the difference. The students here have some traditional behaviors that have long left our students (most of the students that I knew on campus), but studying, and working part time, and sharing life is the same. All my relatives comes to my mind often during the day now, and it is not just to accept, but to be part of, to be there when the beauty of people wherever you are comes shinning through like the moon light on a hazy night, or the light of day on the floor of the rain forest. It is always there, we just might not see it, but then if we open up to wandering around and seeing what is there, we come across it, the light from the Mother's Eye, or the light from Father Sun.

My health is good, and my clothes are getting bigger. Punched two new holes in my belt, and the first new hole is starting to be two loose. Eating veggies and fruit mostly now, steaming or fresh. My main meal now if I have one is in the afternoon. At night there is a piece of fruit or fruit juice for the evening till the next day. I am strong enough in the legs now that I can ride someone on the back of the bike to and from the market without any strain. Upper body and limbs in being worked on slowly. The brain is doing ok and with the change in diet my thinking seems to be much clearer. Diet! What goes in makes the difference!

E-Mail Dated May 11, 2005
Let me start with the weather as it is spring, but we have had some real cold days of late. The winds are back to blowing everything not tied down away. The construction crews have not been working in the tall building for a day or over the past few days. It was strange no to see them high up in the air hanging from ropes. The sun has come out in the afternoons. In short, the weather has been like San Francisco on the bay, and that includes an earthquake that came twice for about three seconds.

I have pictures of some of the trees for you to see now. Some of them are full of leaves and they make the area very pleasant to walk through or go biking through. The grass is more or less green, but it will be green-brown I am told in the summer when it is very hot, and the air is very dry. I will be taking some picture of the shrubs and the designs that are used with various colors. There is a new forest on campus, new rows of trees along the streets. The government is trying to re-plant the trees in the whole of China, especially where just about every native tree to an area has been down for decades in some cases, and longer than that in others.

The animal and bird people are more plentiful, but there are no new types seen. The cow people and goat people have come to visit the campus and that was a real treat for me. I could hardly wait for my class to be over so I could go and talk with them. We did communicate for a while, and some of the students were surprised that when I use their sounds, the animal people responded in kind. Those raised on farms of course took it all in stride. It was a good lesson in how we are all related which I have talked to them about in class. Fishing season seems to be going. The first in the lake are like our blue gills, just about pan size. I have not caught any myself, but the time will come.

It is with fishing that you might be able to see some of the old traditions for positions or age. The older people come and take spots. For this campus lake that means mostly the teachers get the best spots and students get second choice, unless they are with a teacher. I am a foreigner, so if I take a good spot it is just the way of the foreigner, but I take students with me as I do not have a fishing pole yet.

The Labor Day vacation week did go well. The Labor Day itself was very quiet. As many laborers as possible are off, but there were just as many places opened, and street vendors were in full force that day. Those students that could afford to go home did so, and that is based on money and distance. Permission was given to me to show movies in the evenings for those left behind, and we had a full house every evening. The films were The Lord of the Rings Trilogy, and the first Star Wars. I did not charge the customary one Yuan, and that was helpful to some. There were always someone to help clean up afterwards, and they do like for me to do any of the work. Many of the students see me as a grandparent and that often dictates their behavior toward me.

On this past Saturday it was finally arranged to visit one of the Buddhist temples. This one was built in the 1100s. There would have been few people in this area at the time. The isolation of the temple is clear. It was also clear that many spirits are living at the temple. It is surprising how many of the thoughts from the temple priest are similar to some of the Native American spiritual thoughts. The spirit connection was so strong that I could not resist facing the seven directions talking with the spirits. The temple priest or acolyte wanted to know what I was doing and with the help of my Chinese language tutor there was some exchange of thoughts. They did take time to show me proper Chinese honoring of the spirits. Hands folded, and kneeling and bowing three times. It was so peaceful there. It was like I knew the place.

Now that I can purchase the food needed, and do it daily like most of the workers at the market places, and in Chinese, my cooking has turned to cooking like Chinese. It is quite rewarding weight wise for reducing, and the taste for various veggies I would have passed on at home are now getting to be more acceptable. A word about the black pepper! It is hot! It is spicy! At one of the stalls in the veggie market I bought black pepper and had it ground, and with delight rode back to fix some eggs, homemade sausage, and potatoes. Shakers are hard to find here, it is spooned out over the food. Very carefully I sprinkled some black pepper over my meal. A lot less of sprinkling would have gone a long ways.

My growth continues, and as my language skills increase so does the acceptance in markets and with street vendors. It is my spirit that is really growing, and it is my guides taking a rest from the sort of life I had at home. I think they are happy here, and there is a tie of some sort to the people. Most likely it may be my brain remembering pictures of various Native Americans, and looking into the faces of various Chinese and seeing the similarities. Whatever the reason, my heart is soaring like an eagle, my eyes are far seeing, my thoughts are at peace, my heart is void of violence. There is such joy in being a part of a world that can have so much sweetness in just living.

E-Mail Dated June 2, 2005
Memorial Day was celebrated with an apartment full of students eating potato salad, hamburgers, chips, watermelon, and sodas. Everything for trimmings was also available. I demonstrated the first making of a burger, and how to load up the plate in good ole BBQ fashion. They could not believe the size of the hamburgers with all the trimmings, and all the other foods on the plate. Oh yea! And grilled chicken breast (four very large free range chicken breast for about $3.00 American) was part of the feast. They ate everything. The potato salad was too new for them so I have been eating it. On another occasion after talking about how well Americans eat it was time to demonstrate a steak dinner with fries and about an 8 oz of meat on a plate, and some salad. That is more meat for one person than my students and I will cook in learning Chinese cooking for six persons (steaks cost was about $8.00 American for six 8oz free range cattle beef). Since these demonstrations, the students have been more anxious to keep me on a Chinese diet. Yes, my eating habits will be greatly changed when I return to the States. It seems more important now to develop a personal veggie garden, with chickens and eggs. Most of all eating with simplicity.

The college did provide me with a refrigerator and so there are ice cube available to make delicious pineapple and banana slush. Now if there is fruit that is not going to make it onto the plate, it goes into the processor to make juice or slush. Very little waste here. I enjoy fruit or dried fruit for a sweet taste. It has become my custom now to purchase pineapple on a stick when hungry and walking around. The fruit and water work just great.

I cannot begin to tell you how many different Chai Che ... of this or that there are. One thing that is common is that they are old, and are excellent for health. My once a week is starting to work on me and with the help of the students I get good practice sessions between class meetings. Whether it is with sword, or hands, or sticks, it is all so beautiful to do and to see. To see a whole class do these things as one is really great. I have some video, but again how to do that sharing online is not something I am too familiar with at this time.

There has been no fishing for me yet as a fishing pole has not come into my possesion yet. When it is time I guess one will be handy. Another thing I am learning that was started in USA is that having things if you do not need them is not helpful to the care of the Mother. So the fish in the college pond will have to wait for a visit from me.

I have never seen one up close or been around one before, but yesterday there were small tornados that pass over the campus. Classes were just over, and I noticed that the sky was getting darker. Thought nothing of and went to office to check for mail. When I started back to where my bike had been left I noticed it was getting dark, night time sort of dark. I could here the anxiety in the voices of the students. Yet still there was no fear of what I thought would be just another rain storm, for there were some droplets of rain. For some reason I looked into the sky and saw this darkness hovering over the college and moving more over head. Then did I notice the winds were stronger than usual of what do not bother me. At that moment it must have been about 20 knots. Still it did not occur to me that something new for me was to happen. As I entered and one building and left it again it then came to me what was happening. The light was gone, it was like night. The sound of the wind was a sound I have never heard, and I could here some of the workers on the new building shouting to get cover, and students were running, yet there was no fear in me. I got my bike, and started back to my quarters. The winds all of an instant were in about the 60 to 70 knots (I learn to judge wind when I use to go sailing in the Channel Islands), and things were being lifted from the ground from the direction of the wind. It was like nothing I had experienced in nature before, but there was no fear for some reason it was in me that all would be well. So I enjoyed the fastest bike ride ever without peddling. By the time I reached the building of my apartment the wind was raging and things were flying, the rain was like being awash in the cockpit of the sailboat. In the time it took to claim the stairs the rain had blown some of the doors to the outside open and rain was almost like being poured into the hallways. I went into the apartment and watched the darkness become lighter and the rains started to stop, and the howling winds went away, and I thanked The Mother for her washing and drying of Her Children. As I thought about it there had not been the customary lightening that attends tornados, and I remembered that only loose items had been flying. Items such as debris from the new buildings, and things not anchored in some way. Was that why I did not fear this wind and rain action? Maybe I was just not bright enough to fear. I know the reasons, but that is an another story that I will tell you about one day. A story of acceptance and lost of fear.

E-Mail Dated June 9, 2005
It is so wonderful wake up each day early enough to greet the spirits and the day. To hear and see the faces of the students as they come to class. Then at the end of the day after the last student has left the apartment, and all is quiet, there is reflection time on what has been done during the day, then a thanking of the spirits and going to sleep. I have not done so well in cities in all my life, but am able to do it now. Another lesson in living for the now, and adjusting for the now.

Students continue to visit for English practice and to share with cooking meals. At times I think it is because there is no cooking in the dorm rooms allowed they get to have a meal that is not from the dinning room or restaurant, but in a home setting. The meals have become simpler now. There are soups, and one pot dishes, but then there are still the whole meals with some meat, veggies and rice. More often then not the main dishes are eaten by everyone with the chop sticks. Rice and noodles are given in individual bowls. Tea is not always served, and most of the times the students will just want hot water. Other drinks are considered special and not always desired when eating.

Some of the eating culture has to do with the times of the Cultural Revolution when there was little or no food for most families. I am hearing more about those times and it was a very sad time for the Chinese people, but something some think helped make China a better place for the people in the shortest amount of time. As I read with an open mind I am inclined to see both sides and it was done, and there is food for everyone now. Tea is not used as much as I thought it would be according to the information we get back in the USA.

The college is starting a new major in the fall semester, English Major. This is part of the move to become a university, and two thousand more students will be living on campus in the fall semester. The Chinese teachers will be living off campus, and this has been upsetting to some. Normally teachers live on a campus or much closer than where they are going. I have been told it is customary here for employers when able to provide housing for employees. The construction crews live here on campus in their own section, and housing is provided to some of the other employees of the campus. This seems to be universal, and keeps the wages down. Closest thing to this at home might be the ranches and farms, or some of the campuses, but that always seem sort of limited.

If it has not been mentioned before will do so now. Construction in most of the city is a 24/7 operation. Some of the methods and equipment may not be up to standards as in the USA, but the building go up just as fast if not faster and there a many more people working. Watching crews carry concrete in wheel barrows and using methods that I have not seen before when needing to lift something or paint is another lesson in how the world is different but can get the same things done. Taking pictures is hard as some of the people do not like to have their pictures taken while working, but the next building I see going up from scratch I will take some long distance shots of what I see. There are some street scenes that would be of interest, but there again getting the pictures without upsetting people is another thing. Being respectful is my primary concern.

Oh yea! The class trip to KFC. To encourage students to practice some English out of class I set up a contest. The students were given two songs to identify. First I sang the songs to them in class and gave them the requirements for winning. The song title would have to be found as the words in the songs included the titles of the songs. Then a student would call me and tell me the title and sing the song. The first student to call would be able to take all the students from their dorm room to KFC. It ended up with fifty students out of six hundred going, but still there was a lot of chicken left (just about everything is prepaid here). The two songs were Away in the Meadow, and Come Saturday Morning. The project was a success, and will do something similar next semester. There were many more girls winners than boys.

In my classes at least it is the girls who seem to be able to speak English easier or more willing to try. The boys, who do speak, speak well, and the others have a hard time. Encouraging boys to practice English is very hard, as they seem to be more in need of physical activities and computer games. Many of the boys I have been informed were not allowed the computer games at home, so here where they have a choice, the computer games are the big thing. It was not late into the semester that I saw the girls taking up the computer games or going to the computer cafes with the boys. Remember all my students are freshmen. First year away from home, and just as frisky as our own freshmen.

My health is good this week. I did not eat well this week as there was so much chicken left over from the class activity, and could not let it go to waste. Have been riding the bike more and more, but sometimes walking to keep that part of me strong. Sometimes I wish for a stand alone bow flex type of machine for the upper body. I have not seen anything like that here in China. Eating most of the time is good, but then when the students cook the meals are larger then I would like. I did make some chili beans to eat with the rice, and that is good. My clothes are getting baggier by the week. Buy Silver coins Eagle online from KPMcoins.com