Sweet Tea Rice

A look of innocent confusion passed over Vince's face as he looked down at his plate. Bravely, he brought his fork and knife to the plate and began to try to cut into the greasy goodness on his plate. His knife was working against him though, as he had it turned around the wrong way; only resulting in a hacked mess on his plate. He turned his fork and cut a small piece, too small for a boy who always finishes everyone's meals at the Chinese restaurants. As he chewed, and chewed the small piece, his head jerked forward as if this small piece of food just might pop out at

Vince and Emily eating pizza

any moment. "Vince, do you like the pizza?" Emily asked him. "Well, it is okay. It takes some time for our palates to get use to this Western food," Vince replied. "Oh okay," Emily said as she turned and smiled at me. "Yes, I use to always watch movies and see all the men eating lots and lots of pizza and be jealous of them. But now, I think maybe I am not so jealous," Vince said. "So this is your first time to try pizza?" I asked. "Yes."

Most of those at the sitting at the dinner table of the beloved Italian restaurant also had their first taste of pizza that night. In honor of Ryan's Birthday we decided to take him to get pizza and have some of his students and friends come along. Of course, we treated and brought a cake. We ordered 8 pizzas and all were gone by the end of the night. Though, most of those who had their first try of pizza that night probably went back to their dorms and had a bowl of noodles when they got there. Even though all the students didn't LOVE their first try of pizza, it was a great night. Besides just the team here and the students who came with us, we also had Tony with us and our friend and fellow teacher Jason. It was great to celebrate life and be able to pour out our love on Ryan and show and share that with the students.

The whole group after we delighted in pizza and Ryan's (center in the black coat) Birthday!

It does not always take a birthday though to spend good time eating with the students. It is "my pleasure" (the students say this all the time) to break bread with the students. I am becoming close to a groups of girls in one of my new campus classes. Their names are Rita, Semanda, DeAnn(said like Diane), and Betsy.

Betsy, Rita, DeAnn, and Semenda one day when we played ping pong together.

I can't help but love to be in their presence because they are all such good friends and take care of one another. They are also all very different girls. Picture Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants China style. After class on Thursday, we walked out of campus, past all the street food, past all the people selling little trinkets on the street, past all the restaurants a step above street food, and all the way down North street beside the campus. At the end, we arrived at The Green Apple. It is a brand new restaurant, complete with a little green apple on the sign that looks exactly like the Apple brand logo, only perfectly apple green. The inside is even better complete with round booths and decorated in orange and black (but not scary). As I sat and ate with the girls in the booth, I half expected their to be a camera hiding somewhere recording this movie moment. The place begged to be the "hang-out" of some group in a TV show, just like The Max for the Saved by the Bell gang. "Amelia, have you tried the special rice we eat at (some special) festival?" Rita turned and asked me as she talked with the owner of the restaurant who was helping us order. "No, but I'd love to try it," I replied. Five dishes later, the rice came to our table bundled in a leaf. Gooey goodness rested inside the rice. This rice gives "sticky rice" its meaning. As I took my first bite my mouth was greeted like an old friend. This rice tasted just like sweet tea!! What a dream for a southern! Rice that taste like sweet tea, in a restaurant in China with good friends. Maybe life doesn't have to be like a movie or TV show, but is too great to truly capture in such moments.

I think it is the fall, but it feels more like Christmas morning.

The leaves swirled around my feet, scratching me out a tune as I walked past the tennis courts and basketball courts on the way to get the bus to the New Campus to teach my class for the day. The sun shone more brightly than I had ever seen it do in China and even the air was perfectly crisp that day. A smile spread across my face as I thought "This is going to be great day." Not only was that day great, but so were the last few days! Probably the biggest highlight of the last few days was going to English Corner at new campus to carve pumpkins "with" the students. English Corner is a club the students have for practicing English. For this special night they had invited me, Tim, Emily, Jon, Ryan, Cameron, and Kim (some of the other teachers here) to come and participate. We decided to go because it was great opportunity to hang out with the students and of course carve a pumpkin!
As we walked up to the room they were holding the pumpkin carving I couldn't help but feel completely overwhelmed at first. Students stood 5 or 6 deep around the outside of the walls leaving a place in the middle of room for a table full of medium sized pumpkins and a place for all the foreign teachers to sit. They clapped for us as we walked to our seats and their hundreds of eyes gleamed at us like marbles. The excitement was as heavy in the air as the heat. For all this anticipation, it is good to know the Chinese students are easily pleased and can enjoy even the simple things. Down the line of the teachers we went introducing ourselves and telling them how happy we were to be there. Afterwords we (and when I say we I mean Emily) explained some history of Halloween.
When it came time to do the actual carving of the pumpkin, we each took one pumpkin and headed into different directions amidst the students. I wanted to make sure some of my students from my class were in my group, so I scooped up my pumpkin along with Jenny and Candy (a boy) to come and be in my group. Along with our pumpkin our only tools to do the carving was what seemed to be a pocket knife, a spoon, and a plastic bag for trash. As one with little pumpkin carving experience and shaky hands I was a little nervous as the student squeezed in on all sides and many hands tried to hold the pumpkin as I cut it to help me. I let the students squeeze in as close as they needed to see, but must say I just had to push their hands away from the pumpkin. I could just hear it now, "Yeah, that foreign teacher cut off a students finger!"
As a group we decided to make a scary pumpkin and after cutting open the top and cutting one eye I turned my pumpkin over to the creative skills of my students. I think the end result was one that was quite scary and the students had a blast. I must say the teachers had a great time too, especially when our night ended in us singing the students "My Heart Will Go On" (they love it).





Below are two videos from the night. I hope you enjoy them!

This is me showing my pumpkin to the students so they will cheer for it to be the best!


This is the team singing a Halloween song Ryan knew from elementary school.


Along with having the opportunity to carve pumpkins with my the students I have felt blessed the past couple of days in so many ways. I can't help but feel that I am continually receiving a huge gift. So much to the point that I woke up the other morning with the same feeling I always have on Christmas morning. A tingle of excitement went circulated throughout my whole body and there was a slight chill in the air making the morning seem fresh and new. I am so glad that His mercies are anew each morning and are being given such a great gift. I just must remember to take hold of it each day.

A thankful heart

One thing the director of IECS, Newt, told us before he left to return to US was to remember to be thankful each day and for the many ways we are blessed. Since that time I have thought on those words and how I might learn to be more thankful in my everyday life, especially in China. So below I just wanted to list a couple of things I am thankful for here in China!
1. I am no longer sick!!! Praises! It was not fun being sick, but right after the whole team lifted it up as a group I immediately started to get better. He is so faithful to answer.
2. All the Chinese students make me smile each and every day here. It is easy to love the students and to want to have deeper relationships with them. It is so fun to hang-out with them. Each time we spend time with the students, I always have a good time and enjoy myself. I enjoy their company just as much as they enjoy mine. It is always interesting as well to hear what the students will say as well. The other day we were helping our friend Rachel out with a speech she was preparing for a speech contest and we thought she said, "Obviously, I had to help out the blind lady..." but later when asking her a question about the "blind lady" we learned she was really trying to say "blond." Of course, I had to tell Rachel it might not be a good idea to say "Obviously, I had to help out the blond lady..." because of all the blond jokes in the US (I had to stand up for all of us blonds!) It was very funny to explain to the girls though. Below is a video of some of us hanging out and playing a game called Monkey Ball.


3. Tony and Lily's new baby!! I am so excited for my Chinese friends Tony and Lily who just had a new baby. Her name is Ximei (pronounced she-may). This past weekend we went to Beijing again and didn't see the new baby, but did see Tony. He shared these pictures with us. This is Lily with Ximei. Tony definitely had the look of a new proud, tired parent. His face was glowing with pride.






4. I love teaching my classes. Before coming to China, I was a little nervous about teaching, and it was the part of coming to China I felt the most uncomfortable about. Now, though I enjoy going to my classes and teaching them. I think it is fun to come up with creative lesson plans that get the students up and moving. I am so grateful that I can enjoy this time in China as well. Below is a video of my students playing the game swords in class.


5. I am surrounded by a great team both here in Baoding and those who are teaching in Lang Fang and Tian jin. This past weekend, we went to Beijing again to watch Peter and Brad run in the Beijing Marathon and we had the opportunity to meet all together again because of this. Whenever, we meet all together it is always a good. It is nice to be different parts of one body. We need each other and are able to offer different gifts and talents. I love working with the people here.

In a Haze

This morning, as I shuffled over to my chair beside my kitchen table too tired to make it to my bedroom after my shower, I knew I couldn't go to class for the second day in a row. For about two and a half days I've been really sick. In fact, I can't remember the last time I've been this sick. It started as just little tired, then I was feverish with hot and cold sweats, then I had a dull ache in my stomach, and then I couldn't stop the outpouring from my body. Basically, for two days all I've done is lay in my bed. The worst part of this sickness is the complete and total loss of energy. It takes effort for me to walk across my apartment. I think part of this sickness though is a lesson for me about not being in control and just surrendering all that I am. I must admit, being sick cause me to long for home a little bit and the big, fluffy couch at home with my mom to care for me, but it also has reminded me of why I am here and how much I do want to be an active roll in it. I just can't do things in my own way or time or I might get knocked on my butt. I do think I am starting to get better and have felt really cared for by my team here.
On a brighter note, Tony and Lily, our Chinese friends who work with IECS had their baby yesterday!!! It's a girl! I am so excited for them! Her name is Xi Mei (English name = Simi). She is 9 lbs, which is really big for Chinese standards and I can't wait to see her! Chinese babies are sooo cute. Next weekend I hope to go to Beijing again and hopefully I will get to see little Simi. I also really enjoyed teaching all the classes I did get to teach this week. They are going really well. I've decided to play one American song in each class, because the students really want to know more music and this week I started with the Cupid Shuffle. I taught my classes the dance and everything. They loved it.

A Weekend in Beijing

Tony told the taxi driver how to get to the JW Marriott in Chinese and watched as Emily and I crawled into the back of the dark car. After the driver nodded in agreement that he knew where we were going, Tony shut our back door and looked on as though a concerned parent might as the taxi took off into the building-lit Beijing night. In only a short 20 minute ride we would be at the China Salsa Congress!!! Talk about exciting!! The best salsa dancers in China were all gathered together in one room to perform and then dance afterwards, and I just happened to be in the same city that weekend. This event could not be missed. Of course, not everyone on my team was as excited as I was to watch Chinese people step-back-and-forth to the beat of Latin music, especially at the rate of 30 US dollars; not yuan, US dollars. Earlier, in the Pearl Market, as Emily and I sat in a booth surrounded by fake Polo's, Abrocrombie shirts, and Chinese people watching us I begged her to go with me. "Please, please come with me! I know it is a lot of money, but I can't go on my own." Maybe it was the look of desperation in my face or of hope, or more likely just because Emily is just a solid, awesome friend already and decided to come with me.
Whatever the reason, there we sat riding through the city looking out at all the skyscrapers of Beijing. We passed the "pants" building, it basically a building designed so that it has a hole in the middle and looks like pants. Emily got really excited about it, which made me happy, at least if she didn't like the salsa dancing later, maybe she would like the pants building. The taxi slowed to a stop at a light. I noticed the diver reach his hands underneath the steering wheel and he pulled himself up and to the left very close to his open window. Before I had time to think of all the possible things this could mean, "BLAAAUUUUTTTT" came out of this Chinese man's body. It was such a loud fart! Should I react? Was this normal? I mean is this something that just happens all the time in China. These thoughts passed through my head, much like the gas that was just passed as I looked over to Emily to help me find the answers. Her face was contorted into a tight ball and completely red as she tried to prevent the free flow of laughter that was sure to happen. Eye contact and we lost it. It was just too much for us....we laughed and laughed the whole rest of the way to the hotel. A glance in the direction of the taxi driver or Emily and I my belly began to shake like Santa. The next morning, as we sat in Starbucks drinking glorious coffee talking with Tony, Newt and Claire we told them about the taxi driver. We asked, "Tony, is this common in China?" He replied, "No, (and shook his head) no, this is not common." Then after a beat of time, with a child-like innocence Tony looked up at us and asked, "What is fart?" We let Newt explain it to him and then he really told us it was not common. I guess the taxi driver thought more than language couldn't be understood.
Even though we had a stinky ride over to the Salsa congress it certainly didn't put us in a crappy mood. In the front lobby of the hotel there was only one booth for the Salsa Congress. "Is this where we buy tickets for tonight?" I asked the two ladies manning the table. "No, take the escalator downstairs and buy them down there." As we descend to the bottom floor, more and more salsa gear came into view and I couldn't help but feel a little flutter in my heart. To me this was like having a little piece of home, of something familiar with me. This is one of my favorite things about salsa dancing, no matter where I go in the world I can always find a place to dance and people who love it just as much, and many times more than my self. It is comforting and brings people together. Without knowing the language of another person, all their culture, their past, their future, or anything about them we can still come together and communicate in this completely different and beautiful way. It is one of the blessings in life. After reluctantly turning over our 200 yuan we went were able to watch all the performances of the night.
The basic layout of the night was 8 couples were competing to be the Chinese Champion Salsa couple and go on to compete in the World Competition in Orlando later this year. After they had the 8 couples dance, then there are many special performances by people from around the world and also from around the area. My favorite dance of the night was from these performances. It actually was not all salsa dancing either (maybe, you are a little surprised?). A dance company from Shanghai performed a dance which was mix between tradition Chinese dancing with fans and salsa dancing. The fans added an element of visual and auditory excitement as whenever they opened the fan it made a loud noise and the red flashed in front of your eyes in an intriguing way. After the performances, they cleared the floor and had a live band and everyone who came could dance. They were all really good dancers. We only stayed for a little bit of this time, because we knew it would be wise to get back (much to my dismay though). At the bottom of the post I have three videos of some of the dances from the night.
Overall, the whole weekend in Beijing was really amazing besides just salsa dancing. The whole IECS team was FINALLY together. We were able to encourage and hear one another's stories. We also celebrated Peter's, Tony's, and Tony's little one's literal birth day (well to be in a day or so). In the Pearl Market we all were able to get the items we were in need of for the winter, like nice warm coats! Emily and I also bought jeans. This is of course after we tried them on in the back of a small open booth as the Chinese worker held up two white shirts while we dropped drawers. It was a little humbling and drafty. The weekend was a great finish to a holiday to get us ready to teach and be with our students again!

Can You feel the Love Tonight?

"Can you feel the love tonight," we all sang in an off-key loudness that some might call singing and our Chinese students would be sure to call "very beautiful." As we stood around in arms around each other in a semi-circle, swaying to the genius that is Elton John and The Lion King I couldn't help but feel completely content. The love in the room was amazing and I already feel very close to the people I am serving with in China. This past weekend Newt and Claire, the directors of IECS and Tony came to Baoding to visit us. It is always so refreshing to see someone in the family. They brought a lot of encouragement to me and it was just good to see their face. I was struck though while spending time with them and having them ask how we are doing here, how comfortable I am here and by how satisfied with life right in this moment. I am a teacher and a servant here. I am here to love others. I have no huge plans for the future and nothing at home that is causing me anxiety. I am called to China and it is a honor to live out that call. Even more so than that is the excitement I feel for each day. I literally never know what each day will bring and it is fun to live each day an adventure. Of course this adventure is so much better though because I am getting to share it with a team here, elsewhere in China and at home.
Something Newt really wanted to let us know while his was here was how important it is to share with others encouraging words and words of affirmation. We went around a few times and just said nice things about one another, and though this might seem a little cheesy or a like a love fest, I must say it is such a blessing to hear this words and really does make a difference in your life. They are so important. I am also struck by how blessed I am because of the number of people lifting me up at home. I realize how my life is so covered right now in softly spoken words. It makes me realize when I am make the point to remember someone on a regular basis how important it is to let them know I am doing that. What a blessing to know you are being thought about!
Today was also a very good day. Emily and I went to the RT Mart yet again, but this time in pursuit of food. We ended the night happy with home-made salsa (might I add some of the best I've ever had) and chicken tacos (complete with Monterey Jack cheese!). It was so good.