This is it. The big day. I find myself a mix of emotions, as I usually am after trips like these.
I finished up my classes on Monday, and as I left, was followed by a chorus of "Merry Christmas!" from my students. I felt a twinge of excitement, knowing that in a very short while I would be immersed in the Christmas of the West and all its bliss: Scarves and hats and rosy cheeks, snowy blustery goodness, apple cider and a warm fire, the smell of Christmas tree, and of course, people whom we love.
It isn't easy to leave this country. Both Justin and I have admitted that, in a different time and different circumstances, we could live here and like it. China has a grip on us.
So... goodbye old man selling strawberries, goodbye students humouring your teacher, goodbye all the people pushing each other on the bus (I won't miss you), goodbye funky smells on the street, goodbye kind old man, looking straight into my eyes, goodbye weird washing machines, that leak all over the floor, goodbye big wall along the street, where we heard a baby cry one night, goodbye Cali, who made me remember why I like cats, goodbye Liz and Juliann, you unpretentious servants, goodbye John and Mary, with your wit and persistence, goodbye Kunming fellowship, who surprised us every week, goodbye China, I have not figured you out yet.
Hello home.
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Saturday, December 1, 2007
Kunming: Baby, It's Freezing Outside!
When I last wrote, I was praising the warmth of Kunming. I take it all back. Temperatures have plummeted. We are left shivering in our heatless apartment with a sweaterless wardrobe. The sun still shows his face now and again, but don't let him fool you. It is bone cold outside, oh, and did I mention that we have solar heated water? (And yes, I'm being dramatic, it's probably only around 40 degrees as opposed to 60s-70s, but we do shiver sometimes!)
Enough about the weather already. Thanksgiving turned out to be a memorable event, notwithstanding a lame excuse for an oven (crunchy sweet potatoes... yum) and our third annual game of flag... I mean... pantyhose football. That's right, in case the Chinese didn't think we foreigners were strange enough, we put pantyhose on our heads (in place of wearing flags) and ran around the apartment courtyard playing football like a posse of velveteen rabbits on crack. Yes, of course we have pictures. Keep reading, they're at the bottom.
Anyhow, on Thanksgiving day, we foreigners gathered together at one family's house -- a ragamuffin group representing various different countries -- to feast together on all the scrumptious food we had made. You'd be surprised at how much American food you can make with the materials in the stores here. Turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, pumpkin pie, rolls, cranberry sauce, gravy, all were present and accounted for. It was a good time, though there is nothing like being home on Thanksgiving.
We are now doing more teaching and tutoring. I am teaching three nights a week at a university, as well as one night with the housekeepers, and Justin is tutoring some students on the weekend. That has been keeping us a little more busy in a good way. It's nice to be involved and to get to know some Chinese students.
For all of you die-hard fans (maybe one?), Under the Oak may be making an appearance/performance at Nordica in Kunming, China, so book your tickets now... it's sure to be a sell out. Yes, I'm joking, but not about the performance part. If all goes as planned, we'll be playing next Friday, at our second craft show performance (yeah, we rock the embroidered house).
As a married couple, China has really taught us a lot about teamwork. Even getting into a taxi can be a challenge, and it is best met when we are working as a team. I thought we were getting pretty good at it, that is, until someone lent us their bicycle for use. Now, roads are scary things in China. What is MORE scary, is that it is common practice for someone to sit on the back of a bike, kind of side-saddlish (see the picture), while the other person pedals and weaves their way through traffic. The tricky part with the side-saddle (other than the obvious balancing act), is that there is no way to see in front of you, or even on both sides. You have one view: traffic on the left. Everything else is out of your hands, and speaking of your hands, there is not much to hold on to. So, all this to say, we are taking teamwork to a whole new level, and I am learning how to be a biker chick (don't fight the lean, don't fight the lean!!). I'm telling you, China should offer a marriage challenge course.
Justin's birthday is tomorrow. We'll be leaving for the Motherland in two weeks and one day.
Pictures, as promised:
Enough about the weather already. Thanksgiving turned out to be a memorable event, notwithstanding a lame excuse for an oven (crunchy sweet potatoes... yum) and our third annual game of flag... I mean... pantyhose football. That's right, in case the Chinese didn't think we foreigners were strange enough, we put pantyhose on our heads (in place of wearing flags) and ran around the apartment courtyard playing football like a posse of velveteen rabbits on crack. Yes, of course we have pictures. Keep reading, they're at the bottom.
Anyhow, on Thanksgiving day, we foreigners gathered together at one family's house -- a ragamuffin group representing various different countries -- to feast together on all the scrumptious food we had made. You'd be surprised at how much American food you can make with the materials in the stores here. Turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, pumpkin pie, rolls, cranberry sauce, gravy, all were present and accounted for. It was a good time, though there is nothing like being home on Thanksgiving.
We are now doing more teaching and tutoring. I am teaching three nights a week at a university, as well as one night with the housekeepers, and Justin is tutoring some students on the weekend. That has been keeping us a little more busy in a good way. It's nice to be involved and to get to know some Chinese students.
For all of you die-hard fans (maybe one?), Under the Oak may be making an appearance/performance at Nordica in Kunming, China, so book your tickets now... it's sure to be a sell out. Yes, I'm joking, but not about the performance part. If all goes as planned, we'll be playing next Friday, at our second craft show performance (yeah, we rock the embroidered house).
As a married couple, China has really taught us a lot about teamwork. Even getting into a taxi can be a challenge, and it is best met when we are working as a team. I thought we were getting pretty good at it, that is, until someone lent us their bicycle for use. Now, roads are scary things in China. What is MORE scary, is that it is common practice for someone to sit on the back of a bike, kind of side-saddlish (see the picture), while the other person pedals and weaves their way through traffic. The tricky part with the side-saddle (other than the obvious balancing act), is that there is no way to see in front of you, or even on both sides. You have one view: traffic on the left. Everything else is out of your hands, and speaking of your hands, there is not much to hold on to. So, all this to say, we are taking teamwork to a whole new level, and I am learning how to be a biker chick (don't fight the lean, don't fight the lean!!). I'm telling you, China should offer a marriage challenge course.
Justin's birthday is tomorrow. We'll be leaving for the Motherland in two weeks and one day.
Pictures, as promised:
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