"Pentecost and the public life" is the subject of an exciting article at First Things . Here's a snippet:
What does a Spirit-filled society look like? We should ask what it sounds like. For the first thing Paul says is that the Spirit makes us noisy. “Do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit,” he says (Eph. 5:18). Though he condemns drunkenness, Paul implies that the result of being filled with the Spirit is quite similar to the result of being filled with spirits. “They are filled with new wine,” said the skeptics about the babbling disciples at Pentecost (Acts 2:13). It was a plausible mistake.
For Paul, the Spirit doesn’t make us placid and mild, quiet and retiring. When we’re filled with the Spirit, we cannot not speak, and our speech breaks out in boisterous psalms and hymns and spiritual songs. Being filled with the Spirit means being filled with music, in our mouths and in our hearts. A marriage filled with the Spirit is full of noise, harmonious and melodious noise, joyful noise. C.S. Lewis wrote that a Christian society would be a joyful society, rollicking, lighthearted, exuberant. Paul agreed.
It's a short, but encouraging read.
Thursday, May 31, 2007
Summer Reading Challenge 2007
Seasonal Soundings is hosting a Summer Reading Challenge. No pressure other than compiling a list and publishing it during the first few days of June. The Challenge runs from June 1 to August 31. I'm going to participate in hopes that it will be a good form of accountability for me! I have many books I intend to read, but often find other ways to fill mr hours.
My list, while small, is ambitious for me considering that I'll be continuing to teach my children. But here goes! My list:
- The Good Earth - Pearl S Buck
- The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid, A Memoir - Bill Bryson
- The Johnstown Flood - David McCullough
- Heaven - Randy Alcorn (I've already started this, but I'm only 2 chapters into it.)
- and possibly, A Thousand Splendid Suns - Khaled Hosseini
Join in! Seasonal Soundings: Summer Reading Challenge 2007
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
How about this for socialization?
This statement sums up exactly what was the "straw that broke the camel's back" in our decision to homeschool:
"Think about the shift that occurred somewhere whereby the school and not parents now has the authority to determine if an absence is 'excused' or not."
Read the rest of the post at The Common Room blog entitled, "It Could Happen Here" . A shocking look at where far-left influences have led education in one European country. Sadly, the US may not be far behind - my apologies to Mrs. Cromelin, my sophmore year English teacher, who informeed me that a particular argument I'd proposed could not be made because, "The US is not Sweden." She was right, but maybe I wasn't so far off after all.
"Think about the shift that occurred somewhere whereby the school and not parents now has the authority to determine if an absence is 'excused' or not."
Read the rest of the post at The Common Room blog entitled, "It Could Happen Here" . A shocking look at where far-left influences have led education in one European country. Sadly, the US may not be far behind - my apologies to Mrs. Cromelin, my sophmore year English teacher, who informeed me that a particular argument I'd proposed could not be made because, "The US is not Sweden." She was right, but maybe I wasn't so far off after all.
Today in History
Today I received my daily "This day in history" email where I noted that today is the Feast day of St. Joan of Arc. I had recently borrowed, purely by chance, Josephine Poole's book Joan of Arc from a friend. So that was a pleasant addition to our planned school for the day.
In addition to the St. Joan book, we also borrowed, from the library, the delightful children's classic Crictor by Tomi Ungerer. This was one of my favorite books as a child, but I hadn't really remembered that it was set in France. Crictor is a sweet, funny story with wonderful illustrations that add to the humor! On page one is a lovely drawing of a "typical" (if there is such a thing) french gothic cathedral, which was a nice segue from a tale of a 15th century saint to a present day "Madame Louise Bodot". So, we got a double dose of France today. :)
I highly recommend Poole's book if you are looking for a nice picture book to discuss Joan of Arc. All three of my children enjoyed it - 11, 7, and 5. The illustrations are really lovely and address her martyr's death truthfully, but gently. There is a helpful timeline of her life and beatification on the last page and a good map on the front and back liner pages.
In addition to the St. Joan book, we also borrowed, from the library, the delightful children's classic Crictor by Tomi Ungerer. This was one of my favorite books as a child, but I hadn't really remembered that it was set in France. Crictor is a sweet, funny story with wonderful illustrations that add to the humor! On page one is a lovely drawing of a "typical" (if there is such a thing) french gothic cathedral, which was a nice segue from a tale of a 15th century saint to a present day "Madame Louise Bodot". So, we got a double dose of France today. :)
I highly recommend Poole's book if you are looking for a nice picture book to discuss Joan of Arc. All three of my children enjoyed it - 11, 7, and 5. The illustrations are really lovely and address her martyr's death truthfully, but gently. There is a helpful timeline of her life and beatification on the last page and a good map on the front and back liner pages.
Friday, May 18, 2007
A Literary Meme
I saw this at The Common Room blog.
Here's what you do:
1. grab the book closest to you
2. open it to page 161
3. find the fifth full sentence
4. post the text of the sentence to your blog
5. don't search around for the coolest book you have, use the one that is really next to you.
The book right beside my computer is The Latin Centered Curriclum by Andrew Campbell. I'm working on next year's (and this summer's) lessons and am referring to it frequently as I type our lesson plans. I really recommend it to anyone currently or considering a classical education for their family.
Ok, when I turn to p 161, there are only 3 complete sentences and some lists of books, so I'm going to find the fifth full sentence on the next page that has a fifth sentence. That would be page 165. Here is the sentence:
Is it accurate to claim, as one Christian curriculum publisher does, that the "classical Greek approach focuses on Greek literature and man's reasoning. The Hebrew methods focus on God's Word and faith"?
If you post the meme on your blog, let me know!
Here's what you do:
1. grab the book closest to you
2. open it to page 161
3. find the fifth full sentence
4. post the text of the sentence to your blog
5. don't search around for the coolest book you have, use the one that is really next to you.
The book right beside my computer is The Latin Centered Curriclum by Andrew Campbell. I'm working on next year's (and this summer's) lessons and am referring to it frequently as I type our lesson plans. I really recommend it to anyone currently or considering a classical education for their family.
Ok, when I turn to p 161, there are only 3 complete sentences and some lists of books, so I'm going to find the fifth full sentence on the next page that has a fifth sentence. That would be page 165. Here is the sentence:
Is it accurate to claim, as one Christian curriculum publisher does, that the "classical Greek approach focuses on Greek literature and man's reasoning. The Hebrew methods focus on God's Word and faith"?
If you post the meme on your blog, let me know!
Hurrying past beauty
I was checking through some of my links today and came across this article via a link at SpunkyHomeSchool. It is a long read, but has video of a mini-concert by one of, if not *the* best violinist, so that alone makes it worth it! The article is wonderful - funny, articulate and thoughtful. It will make you stop and think how many times you've hurried past a masterpiece.
Now, I'm going to see if I have the "Chanconne" to hear it in its entirety.
Now, I'm going to see if I have the "Chanconne" to hear it in its entirety.
China Experience - Changsha, Hunan
On 4/5/07:
It is about 3 in the afternoon here and you all are tucked snugly in bed. This morning Kim and Phoebe stayed "home" instead of doing the sightseeing. Phoebe has been a little fussy and had a hard time sleeping the past day. So, Kim decided they both could use a little downtime. (Turns out that she has an ear infection- more on that later)
The group went to a lovely river-side park for a stroll. The park was built 2 years ago. The landscaping looks much more mature than that, though. We saw many, many grandparents out with their grandkids (preschool age) and lots of kites flying. There were a couple of men practicing their katas (karate "routines"), too! An interesting cultural note - pre-potty trained babies/kids wear split crotch pants and NO diapers. You often catch a glimpse of a cute little bum here and there. Hahaha! This particularly cracks me up because they bundle the heck out of their kids (three layers are mandatory regardless of the weather!) and then let their little bums catch the breeze!
After the park the bus driver took us for a quick drive out to the countryside. Every inch of green in the country is cultivated for agriculture. The only things not cultivated are the roads and homes. :) We saw rice paddies, fish "ponds" (small lakes), and water buffalo pulling plows. The bus pulled off the highway so we could get some photos.
Peter, our guide, wandered down to a group of farm houses where the owners were beginning to congregate to watch us. He spoke with an owner of a particularly large home and asked if we could come in (or was invited). They were very gracious to invite us in to see how they live. Their home was very simple, but quite modern inside. We didn't actually go in, but peeked in the front door from the courtyard. I felt a little conspicuous and didn't take any photos of the interior. I'm sure they wouldn't mind, but it just seemed too intrusive.
Before we left the owner pulled out a pack of cigarettes and began passing them out to us. Peter explained that this is customary. These are a very expensive item and they share them to be hospitable. He said, "Even if you don't smoke, it is best to take one." So, I did (we all did). Tell Uncle Josh I've got a Chinese cigarette for him!
Before we left, I asked Peter if he'd ask them if I could take a photo with them. They very graciously obliged and Peter took the photo of the two ladies and I. Again, they really enjoyed that I could show them the photo on the digital back.
Then we drove back to the city and had lunch. Kim and I might go out to explore a bit...we'll see how Phoebe feels.
Ok - about the ear infection. Three of the babies were roommates - Phoebe and two others. The two others have ear infections and now Phoebe does, too. We are SO BLESSED to have a doctor with us - Dr. Ivory! His family is adopting (they live in Colorado) and they are traveling with us. They have three kids (11, 9, 6 - girl, boy, boy) and their eldest daughter is with them. Matt has been so wonderful! He's given all the kids a good physical and dispensed some medication that he brought.
The government gives them physicals before we leave, but they are very cursory. The medical information they send home with the babies is really not very good either. So, it is very reassuring to have a doctor in our travel group.
Just FYI - very interesting, Kim and I thought there would be many first time parents, but most of our group already have kids. Some are adopting for the second time and some have 2 or more children. Two of the families have grown children and are adopting now that their children are grown!
Ok - gotta run. We are trying to get out into the city before it gets too cool!
It is about 3 in the afternoon here and you all are tucked snugly in bed. This morning Kim and Phoebe stayed "home" instead of doing the sightseeing. Phoebe has been a little fussy and had a hard time sleeping the past day. So, Kim decided they both could use a little downtime. (Turns out that she has an ear infection- more on that later)
The group went to a lovely river-side park for a stroll. The park was built 2 years ago. The landscaping looks much more mature than that, though. We saw many, many grandparents out with their grandkids (preschool age) and lots of kites flying. There were a couple of men practicing their katas (karate "routines"), too! An interesting cultural note - pre-potty trained babies/kids wear split crotch pants and NO diapers. You often catch a glimpse of a cute little bum here and there. Hahaha! This particularly cracks me up because they bundle the heck out of their kids (three layers are mandatory regardless of the weather!) and then let their little bums catch the breeze!
After the park the bus driver took us for a quick drive out to the countryside. Every inch of green in the country is cultivated for agriculture. The only things not cultivated are the roads and homes. :) We saw rice paddies, fish "ponds" (small lakes), and water buffalo pulling plows. The bus pulled off the highway so we could get some photos.
Peter, our guide, wandered down to a group of farm houses where the owners were beginning to congregate to watch us. He spoke with an owner of a particularly large home and asked if we could come in (or was invited). They were very gracious to invite us in to see how they live. Their home was very simple, but quite modern inside. We didn't actually go in, but peeked in the front door from the courtyard. I felt a little conspicuous and didn't take any photos of the interior. I'm sure they wouldn't mind, but it just seemed too intrusive.
Before we left the owner pulled out a pack of cigarettes and began passing them out to us. Peter explained that this is customary. These are a very expensive item and they share them to be hospitable. He said, "Even if you don't smoke, it is best to take one." So, I did (we all did). Tell Uncle Josh I've got a Chinese cigarette for him!
Before we left, I asked Peter if he'd ask them if I could take a photo with them. They very graciously obliged and Peter took the photo of the two ladies and I. Again, they really enjoyed that I could show them the photo on the digital back.
Then we drove back to the city and had lunch. Kim and I might go out to explore a bit...we'll see how Phoebe feels.
Ok - about the ear infection. Three of the babies were roommates - Phoebe and two others. The two others have ear infections and now Phoebe does, too. We are SO BLESSED to have a doctor with us - Dr. Ivory! His family is adopting (they live in Colorado) and they are traveling with us. They have three kids (11, 9, 6 - girl, boy, boy) and their eldest daughter is with them. Matt has been so wonderful! He's given all the kids a good physical and dispensed some medication that he brought.
The government gives them physicals before we leave, but they are very cursory. The medical information they send home with the babies is really not very good either. So, it is very reassuring to have a doctor in our travel group.
Just FYI - very interesting, Kim and I thought there would be many first time parents, but most of our group already have kids. Some are adopting for the second time and some have 2 or more children. Two of the families have grown children and are adopting now that their children are grown!
Ok - gotta run. We are trying to get out into the city before it gets too cool!
China Experience - Changsha, Hunan
On 4/4/07:
Good Evening - it is Wednesday evening (I think - good gravy, I'm so confused...). It should be your Wednesday morning, right?
We've been going to bed pretty early and waking by 5:30 or 6 the past few days. All the sightseeing and the excitement of the babies is exhausting! We watch a little CNN International, but Chinese soap operas are about all that is one otherwise. Oh, we do get the National Geographic channel. But I'm too tired to follow much of what the TV is saying anyway! (I know, can you believe that?) The Chinese commercials are the best - Kim and I crack up at those.
Yesterday we all tried to go to Wal-Mart, but instead Jane (a CWA employee – head of the China program) took us to a local supermarket. It was AWESOME and very inexpensive. On the way there we went through an alleyway where there were lots of little stalls selling vegetables and fruits. Then further on we came to the meat area - WOW! They really do eat EVERYTHING in China. :) We got some interesting and somewhat gross pictures. Of course, it is only gross to us because we aren't used to seeing our meat processed before our eyes. At least you can see how healthy the animal is before you eat it. :) There were chickens, ducks, eels, turtles, frogs, all manner of fish, and lots of meat (beef, pork, etc). In the supermarket we picked up diapers and formula and other odds and ends.
As we were checking out, there was a line of Chinese grandmas all getting their feet massaged (with those little machines you've seen being sold at Christmas time and such). They love the babies - but they loved Phoebe the most. (I think because she is so chubby!) Kim turned her around so they could see her and they all clapped. They do this to get the babies' attention. So we took her over to them and they went crazy! We got some cute photos. One of the ladies was very adamant about getting a copy of the photo (luckily we had Jane there to interpret). We'll email Jane the photo and she'll drop it off at the store for her. (Many Chinese do not have mailboxes.)
After the supermarket, Jane took us to a little "shopping mall" - just various stalls and independent vendors. It reminded me a bit of the bazaars of the middle east (like we saw in Turkey). It is so much colder here than we'd expected (58 was the high today - we'd expected it to be in the 80s and 90s) that many of the parents needed warmer clothes. Very cute baby clothes - at local prices (a few dollars for jackets and pants). All the Chinese look astounded to see this group of 20 some Westerners with little Chinese baby girls wandering around. They love to see the babies. Kim is very good to let them come see Phoebe and talk to her. Two young women stopped and said hello to Phoebe. We got their photo, too. (They love to look at the photos - so it is wonderful to have the digital!)
Kim and I both agree that, although we LOVED the sights we saw in Beijing, by far our favorite is just being out seeing the chinese! We both loved the walk through the city and markets yesterday. Some of our group are not so enthusiastic. In fact some are downright negative about it. (I'm also surprised that many of them are pretty ignorant about the culture and history of China - not the details, but the major points of Chinese history.) Kim and I are both really enjoying the culture and the people.
After the markets, we went home and had dinner in the hotel again. The food is good, but Kim and I would LOVE to venture out. It is better with the babies to stay in the hotel, though. We did have some spicy food last night. It was delicious - but I'm sure they toned down the spice for the "laowai" (noble foreigners).
Today our guide took us to a local park and then Wal-Mart. I'm not sure which I loved more. The park was just beautiful and HUGE! Magnolias, camelias, camphor trees, azaleas, miniature irises, acuba and more - everywhere! In the middle of the park was a good-sized amusement park with a big roller coaster (not in operation yet). Many groups of Chinese meet to do Tai chi, folk dancing, sing, play music, etc. We saw violins, flutes, and a traditional Chinese string instrument (played like a cello, but very small - fits on the lap...and shaped very differently). I'll try to get a photo the next time I see one. The park was full of people like it was a Saturday afternoon!
After the park we headed to the Wal-Mart SuperCenter. Kim and I had so much fun here! Because it is so chilly, I needed a warmer jacket. So I found one - a nice denim jacket for $12. (Btw - I had to buy an extra large - which is the same as a small in the US. I know this because we compared it when we got back to the hotel) Also got a couple of basic cotton tops - $2 each. Kids - I got you each a set of Chinese calligraphy brushes (these were in the children's school supply aisle). They were only about 15 cents for a set of 3 brushes. I bought a set for each of you and for each of the Thomasson kids. I'll need to find an ink stone and ink stick for you, too.
A very Chinese Walmart - all sorts of interesting produce and the meat department was fascinating and a little stomach-turning at the same time. :) Chicken feet (and I mean just the little claws - all fried up for you), pig hearts, chicken necks (for human consumption!), dried sting rays (whole), and lots more.
Chinese love to try out their english with us. (and we love to try out our very limited Chinese) Two young ladies came up in Wal Mart and said, "Hello" and we spoke for a moment with them. They, of course, doted on Phoebe. We complimented their English which sent them over the moon! (Even little kids will try saying "Hello" and "Good bye" in English. In the park today - we passed two groups of preschoolers on a field trip, I guess, (the cutest kids you've ever seen!) and many of them said "Hello"!)
The electronics department was to die for - so CHEAP! Erik, remember the SD card I just bought for the camera? It cost like $60 - I could have gotten it here for under $15. Can you believe that? I did need some batteries - they are also ridiculously cheap - I think I got 14 batteries for $4. That would have cost me nearly $20 in the US. I was a little worried they might fry the camera, but I double checked and they are the same voltage. :)
For lunch we stopped at the KFC (yes, KFC) just outside the WalMart (our guide paid - all our meals are included in the fees until we get to Guangzhou). Kim and I were a little bummed that they didn't take us somewhere for Hunan food, but we did have a chicken wrap with chinese vegetables and sauce. Phoebe ate "potato paste" - that's mashed potatoes to you and I. :) She loved them!
The Wal-Mart is inside a larger mall - Kim and I may take a taxi down there later this week and check out the rest of the mall. The prices are so good and the merchandise will be interesting.
Tomorrow we go to either another park or an embroidery "factory" (depends on the weather). I'm not sure we'll have a chance to purchase Hunan embroidery anywhere else, so I may buy some. (By the way - I'm holding out well on my cash. I've made one purchase on the MasterCard here, but otherwise I've used cash. And the MasterCard purchase was not huge - approx $60...just didn't want to run out of cash.)
Oh - one other thing about what you can discuss via email here in China - don't worry about it. I wondered if I'd be able to get onto Christianity Today to send those eCards - but had no problem. I don't think it matters. Besides, the Olympics are coming here in 2008 and I think they are trying to look as "open" as possible! :)
Ok - I need to head back upstairs. Our laundry is due back soon and I need to make sure I got all my clothes back! :) I love you all!
from China with LOVE,
Kerry
ps. Remind me to tell you the "Taiguile" (**pronounced Tie Guay Leh) story in my next email! It is very funny and I can't believe I haven't told you that, yet.
Good Evening - it is Wednesday evening (I think - good gravy, I'm so confused...). It should be your Wednesday morning, right?
We've been going to bed pretty early and waking by 5:30 or 6 the past few days. All the sightseeing and the excitement of the babies is exhausting! We watch a little CNN International, but Chinese soap operas are about all that is one otherwise. Oh, we do get the National Geographic channel. But I'm too tired to follow much of what the TV is saying anyway! (I know, can you believe that?) The Chinese commercials are the best - Kim and I crack up at those.
Yesterday we all tried to go to Wal-Mart, but instead Jane (a CWA employee – head of the China program) took us to a local supermarket. It was AWESOME and very inexpensive. On the way there we went through an alleyway where there were lots of little stalls selling vegetables and fruits. Then further on we came to the meat area - WOW! They really do eat EVERYTHING in China. :) We got some interesting and somewhat gross pictures. Of course, it is only gross to us because we aren't used to seeing our meat processed before our eyes. At least you can see how healthy the animal is before you eat it. :) There were chickens, ducks, eels, turtles, frogs, all manner of fish, and lots of meat (beef, pork, etc). In the supermarket we picked up diapers and formula and other odds and ends.
As we were checking out, there was a line of Chinese grandmas all getting their feet massaged (with those little machines you've seen being sold at Christmas time and such). They love the babies - but they loved Phoebe the most. (I think because she is so chubby!) Kim turned her around so they could see her and they all clapped. They do this to get the babies' attention. So we took her over to them and they went crazy! We got some cute photos. One of the ladies was very adamant about getting a copy of the photo (luckily we had Jane there to interpret). We'll email Jane the photo and she'll drop it off at the store for her. (Many Chinese do not have mailboxes.)
After the supermarket, Jane took us to a little "shopping mall" - just various stalls and independent vendors. It reminded me a bit of the bazaars of the middle east (like we saw in Turkey). It is so much colder here than we'd expected (58 was the high today - we'd expected it to be in the 80s and 90s) that many of the parents needed warmer clothes. Very cute baby clothes - at local prices (a few dollars for jackets and pants). All the Chinese look astounded to see this group of 20 some Westerners with little Chinese baby girls wandering around. They love to see the babies. Kim is very good to let them come see Phoebe and talk to her. Two young women stopped and said hello to Phoebe. We got their photo, too. (They love to look at the photos - so it is wonderful to have the digital!)
Kim and I both agree that, although we LOVED the sights we saw in Beijing, by far our favorite is just being out seeing the chinese! We both loved the walk through the city and markets yesterday. Some of our group are not so enthusiastic. In fact some are downright negative about it. (I'm also surprised that many of them are pretty ignorant about the culture and history of China - not the details, but the major points of Chinese history.) Kim and I are both really enjoying the culture and the people.
After the markets, we went home and had dinner in the hotel again. The food is good, but Kim and I would LOVE to venture out. It is better with the babies to stay in the hotel, though. We did have some spicy food last night. It was delicious - but I'm sure they toned down the spice for the "laowai" (noble foreigners).
Today our guide took us to a local park and then Wal-Mart. I'm not sure which I loved more. The park was just beautiful and HUGE! Magnolias, camelias, camphor trees, azaleas, miniature irises, acuba and more - everywhere! In the middle of the park was a good-sized amusement park with a big roller coaster (not in operation yet). Many groups of Chinese meet to do Tai chi, folk dancing, sing, play music, etc. We saw violins, flutes, and a traditional Chinese string instrument (played like a cello, but very small - fits on the lap...and shaped very differently). I'll try to get a photo the next time I see one. The park was full of people like it was a Saturday afternoon!
After the park we headed to the Wal-Mart SuperCenter. Kim and I had so much fun here! Because it is so chilly, I needed a warmer jacket. So I found one - a nice denim jacket for $12. (Btw - I had to buy an extra large - which is the same as a small in the US. I know this because we compared it when we got back to the hotel) Also got a couple of basic cotton tops - $2 each. Kids - I got you each a set of Chinese calligraphy brushes (these were in the children's school supply aisle). They were only about 15 cents for a set of 3 brushes. I bought a set for each of you and for each of the Thomasson kids. I'll need to find an ink stone and ink stick for you, too.
A very Chinese Walmart - all sorts of interesting produce and the meat department was fascinating and a little stomach-turning at the same time. :) Chicken feet (and I mean just the little claws - all fried up for you), pig hearts, chicken necks (for human consumption!), dried sting rays (whole), and lots more.
Chinese love to try out their english with us. (and we love to try out our very limited Chinese) Two young ladies came up in Wal Mart and said, "Hello" and we spoke for a moment with them. They, of course, doted on Phoebe. We complimented their English which sent them over the moon! (Even little kids will try saying "Hello" and "Good bye" in English. In the park today - we passed two groups of preschoolers on a field trip, I guess, (the cutest kids you've ever seen!) and many of them said "Hello"!)
The electronics department was to die for - so CHEAP! Erik, remember the SD card I just bought for the camera? It cost like $60 - I could have gotten it here for under $15. Can you believe that? I did need some batteries - they are also ridiculously cheap - I think I got 14 batteries for $4. That would have cost me nearly $20 in the US. I was a little worried they might fry the camera, but I double checked and they are the same voltage. :)
For lunch we stopped at the KFC (yes, KFC) just outside the WalMart (our guide paid - all our meals are included in the fees until we get to Guangzhou). Kim and I were a little bummed that they didn't take us somewhere for Hunan food, but we did have a chicken wrap with chinese vegetables and sauce. Phoebe ate "potato paste" - that's mashed potatoes to you and I. :) She loved them!
The Wal-Mart is inside a larger mall - Kim and I may take a taxi down there later this week and check out the rest of the mall. The prices are so good and the merchandise will be interesting.
Tomorrow we go to either another park or an embroidery "factory" (depends on the weather). I'm not sure we'll have a chance to purchase Hunan embroidery anywhere else, so I may buy some. (By the way - I'm holding out well on my cash. I've made one purchase on the MasterCard here, but otherwise I've used cash. And the MasterCard purchase was not huge - approx $60...just didn't want to run out of cash.)
Oh - one other thing about what you can discuss via email here in China - don't worry about it. I wondered if I'd be able to get onto Christianity Today to send those eCards - but had no problem. I don't think it matters. Besides, the Olympics are coming here in 2008 and I think they are trying to look as "open" as possible! :)
Ok - I need to head back upstairs. Our laundry is due back soon and I need to make sure I got all my clothes back! :) I love you all!
from China with LOVE,
Kerry
ps. Remind me to tell you the "Taiguile" (**pronounced Tie Guay Leh) story in my next email! It is very funny and I can't believe I haven't told you that, yet.
China Experience - Changsha, Hunan
On 4/3/07:
Good news - renting the computer is much cheaper here in Changsha! We are trying to get some photos uploaded today, we'll see how that goes. Check the blog late on Tuesday and maybe they will be there. :)
After we talked (Mon night/Tues morning) we came back to the hotel and had pizza. It was pretty good, too. We are taking some time to email and then we will be heading to Wal-Mart around 4. One of our guides will take us down there via taxi and then we can grab a taxi back when we are ready. Shouldn't cost more than $1 for taxi each way.
I'm glad you told me more about how things are going. I'm relieved as it sounded like maybe my kids (especially Halen) were sad or having trouble. But, it sounds like everyone is getting along all right. I may try to send eCards to them.
**On the phone we discussed the trip to pick up Phoebe. We went to the provincial (Hunan) government headquarters in Changsha. We walked into a room where there were a number of adults holding all ten of the babies. They called each baby’s Chinese name and the adoptive family belonging to that baby stepped forward with their paperwork. The paperwork was checked and the baby was handed over.
Some babies were screaming, some were quiet as church mice. Phoebe was the chubbiest and quietest. We found out later from the orphanage director that she was considered a difficult baby and we suspect they fed her a lot to hush her up (which is why she is chubby). More paperwork was done and fees paid. We went back later to do final paperwork (later in the week).***
Today is a bit quieter as everyone is getting settled with their babies. Tomorrow we go sightseeing in the morning and then are on our own in the afternoon. I told you how lush it is here on the phone. I'll take some photos so you can see, too. It is also a more typical "city" than Beijing. I guess kind of like DC - it is not a typical American city either, is it?
Our hotel room overlooks an elementary (possibly middle school, too). It is very large with 4 or 5 buildings each 5 or 6 stories high. We can see right down a wide walk way between two buildings into the courtyard (soccer field and track area). I watched the kids put up the flags this morning while the anthem played. Very cool! At lunch time many of the parents meet them and bring them lunch. Because this is a tropical climate, they do the mid-day "siesta" here, too. Although I don't think they nap - they do go home for lunch and come back to work and work later in the evening.
The hotel where we are staying is REALLY nice. I'll take photos - very fancy!!! The beds are hard as rocks...but feel really good. :) Nice linens, down comforters, and down pillows! Kim and I have both commented that the staff speak English better than in Beijing. Don't know why I'm surprised by that, but I am. We've had all our meals at the hotel so far while in Changsha...hoping to go out for some spicy Hunan tonight. We'll see. Many of our group are quite negative about the food, preferring to stick with American fare rather than enjoy the chance to have REAL chinese food. Oh, well. Kim and I are REALLY enjoying it!
You'll be glad to know that I am taking my Cipro. I got a little bit of a sick stomach (not at all bad - probably more related to traveling in general), so I decided not to take a chance. You have to be so careful about the tap water - when you wash your face, take a shower, etc. So I just decided to take the meds as a precautionary. I'm still being careful about the tap water, but I don't have to worry about it.
I've started "Three Cups of Tea" - I can tell I'm going to like it! But I am realizing that I really brought too many books. I just couldn't decide what I might be in the mood to read!
Good news - renting the computer is much cheaper here in Changsha! We are trying to get some photos uploaded today, we'll see how that goes. Check the blog late on Tuesday and maybe they will be there. :)
After we talked (Mon night/Tues morning) we came back to the hotel and had pizza. It was pretty good, too. We are taking some time to email and then we will be heading to Wal-Mart around 4. One of our guides will take us down there via taxi and then we can grab a taxi back when we are ready. Shouldn't cost more than $1 for taxi each way.
I'm glad you told me more about how things are going. I'm relieved as it sounded like maybe my kids (especially Halen) were sad or having trouble. But, it sounds like everyone is getting along all right. I may try to send eCards to them.
**On the phone we discussed the trip to pick up Phoebe. We went to the provincial (Hunan) government headquarters in Changsha. We walked into a room where there were a number of adults holding all ten of the babies. They called each baby’s Chinese name and the adoptive family belonging to that baby stepped forward with their paperwork. The paperwork was checked and the baby was handed over.
Some babies were screaming, some were quiet as church mice. Phoebe was the chubbiest and quietest. We found out later from the orphanage director that she was considered a difficult baby and we suspect they fed her a lot to hush her up (which is why she is chubby). More paperwork was done and fees paid. We went back later to do final paperwork (later in the week).***
Today is a bit quieter as everyone is getting settled with their babies. Tomorrow we go sightseeing in the morning and then are on our own in the afternoon. I told you how lush it is here on the phone. I'll take some photos so you can see, too. It is also a more typical "city" than Beijing. I guess kind of like DC - it is not a typical American city either, is it?
Our hotel room overlooks an elementary (possibly middle school, too). It is very large with 4 or 5 buildings each 5 or 6 stories high. We can see right down a wide walk way between two buildings into the courtyard (soccer field and track area). I watched the kids put up the flags this morning while the anthem played. Very cool! At lunch time many of the parents meet them and bring them lunch. Because this is a tropical climate, they do the mid-day "siesta" here, too. Although I don't think they nap - they do go home for lunch and come back to work and work later in the evening.
The hotel where we are staying is REALLY nice. I'll take photos - very fancy!!! The beds are hard as rocks...but feel really good. :) Nice linens, down comforters, and down pillows! Kim and I have both commented that the staff speak English better than in Beijing. Don't know why I'm surprised by that, but I am. We've had all our meals at the hotel so far while in Changsha...hoping to go out for some spicy Hunan tonight. We'll see. Many of our group are quite negative about the food, preferring to stick with American fare rather than enjoy the chance to have REAL chinese food. Oh, well. Kim and I are REALLY enjoying it!
You'll be glad to know that I am taking my Cipro. I got a little bit of a sick stomach (not at all bad - probably more related to traveling in general), so I decided not to take a chance. You have to be so careful about the tap water - when you wash your face, take a shower, etc. So I just decided to take the meds as a precautionary. I'm still being careful about the tap water, but I don't have to worry about it.
I've started "Three Cups of Tea" - I can tell I'm going to like it! But I am realizing that I really brought too many books. I just couldn't decide what I might be in the mood to read!
China Experience - Beijing
On 4/1/07:
Farmor asked about wildlife on the streets in Beijing --HAHAHA! No there is not much, because they EAT it ALL! I'm not being politically incorrect - Beijingers say it, too.
**side note added later: By the way, the Chinese pronounce Beijing with a hard “j” – Bei-Jing not Bei-jhing, like we do. So, if you hear me pronouncing it that way, you’ll know why!
Seriously, there is very little wildlife in Beijing. Even birds are pretty scarce. That is probably partially because, yes, they will be eaten, but also because of the lack of natural areas in the city and the pollution. There are trees and such in small parks and strips along roads, but no large tracts of green space. When you have 14 million people...you need every square inch just to house them. :) ** Also, it is still very late winter here, so many animals had not come out of hibernation, I suppose.
We are trying to keep these emails short as we have a very early morning tomorrow. We have to have our luggage out by our doors by 7:30 and then the bus leaves for the airport at 8:30. We fly to Changsha and will meet Phoebe Lin shortly after we arrive at the hotel. It will be a CRAZY day tomorrow, so please understand if I am unable to call or email. But, I will TRY!!!
Today we had a VERY long and full day of sightseeing. We started the day at Tianamen Square and the Forbidden City. They are all in the same complex. Tianamen Square was huge - and imposing. The Forbidden City was wonderful! I really can't do it any justice - but do have lots of photos, good postcards, and an (inexpensive, but good) souvenir book. We even came home with a small piece of one of the original (600 yrs old!) cobblestones. They are going to tear the old ones out and replace before Beijing Olympics. (That just makes me CRINGE that they would just replace the old - but it is a very Chinese thing to do. Why keep old when new is better? ARGH!) So, we found a couple of good-sized chunks to bring home.
(Also - more photos taken with the "big Americans" in Tianamen Square. :) That's just funny!)
(** side note – I’m not sure why I didn’t mention this in the email, maybe because it would be hard to explain to the kids…but Tianamen Square was a bit overwhelming. Hard not to try to imagine where that infamous tank and student might have been.)
Then we visited a jade factory and had lunch at a cloisonne factory. Hmm...I think we are starting to learn that "factory" in Beijing really means tourist trap. But - the jade was gorgeous and the REAL thing. And, because it is government-sponsored, it is better than taking your chances with fake or bad quality by buying on the street.
After the "factory" -we drove to the GREAT WALL! It actually started to snow while we were getting off the bus. None of us had warm enough clothes - but we wrapped up the best we could. The wind was really whipping!
Most of our group went one way and the Kim and I went another. It is very steep in parts and the views are fantastic. But, it is hard to really appreciate the Great Wall from a limited section...I think you really have to walk huge lengths of it to get a feel for how dramatically long it is.
Many funny things - a marching band from Naples FLORIDA was performing on the Wall. We heard "Hang on Sloopy". Very odd - not at all Chinese. But somehow it actually made sense - the Wall is very touristy. Still worth it to take the hike and say you've stood on the Great Wall of China, though. Lots of funny signs and other stories I'll have to share later. We hear there is even a bobsled ride (sort of a roller coaster) at some point on the Wall - the side we didn't go to. Also saw a camel! Yes, a REAL one with 2 humps!
I've come to the conclusion that Beijing is a "rubbly" place. Lots of rubble around. Just piles of it here and there - in the city and even more so outside the city.
Also, the painted lane lines on the streets are really just suggestions. Drivers are very creative here.
Beijing is a city totally at work - every square inch of it. People are repairing cars, fixing bicycle tires, selling all manner of stuff, carting large loads on bike-drawn trailers, drying laundry, tending shops, etc. Everywhere you look people are doing stuff...not just going somewhere to do stuff. They aren't bustling off somewhere...they are right there working away.
Also - you can always tell a Party building or other official government building -these are always the most well-kept. They also tend to have a very imposing air about them - which is certainly the point. I guess the same would be said in the US, too. But, here it is such a dichotomy with the rest of the city.
I've enjoyed Beijing...all the Chinese we've interacted with are warm and good-natured. Tomorrow (Monday) a new city!
Ok - that is all for tonight! Zaijian! By the way - you'd be so proud of me, I'm really trying to use my little bit of Chinese whenever I can! Kim and I even learned to say "Good Evening" - "Wan An". :) Our friendly Business Center lady taught us that.
Farmor asked about wildlife on the streets in Beijing --HAHAHA! No there is not much, because they EAT it ALL! I'm not being politically incorrect - Beijingers say it, too.
**side note added later: By the way, the Chinese pronounce Beijing with a hard “j” – Bei-Jing not Bei-jhing, like we do. So, if you hear me pronouncing it that way, you’ll know why!
Seriously, there is very little wildlife in Beijing. Even birds are pretty scarce. That is probably partially because, yes, they will be eaten, but also because of the lack of natural areas in the city and the pollution. There are trees and such in small parks and strips along roads, but no large tracts of green space. When you have 14 million people...you need every square inch just to house them. :) ** Also, it is still very late winter here, so many animals had not come out of hibernation, I suppose.
We are trying to keep these emails short as we have a very early morning tomorrow. We have to have our luggage out by our doors by 7:30 and then the bus leaves for the airport at 8:30. We fly to Changsha and will meet Phoebe Lin shortly after we arrive at the hotel. It will be a CRAZY day tomorrow, so please understand if I am unable to call or email. But, I will TRY!!!
Today we had a VERY long and full day of sightseeing. We started the day at Tianamen Square and the Forbidden City. They are all in the same complex. Tianamen Square was huge - and imposing. The Forbidden City was wonderful! I really can't do it any justice - but do have lots of photos, good postcards, and an (inexpensive, but good) souvenir book. We even came home with a small piece of one of the original (600 yrs old!) cobblestones. They are going to tear the old ones out and replace before Beijing Olympics. (That just makes me CRINGE that they would just replace the old - but it is a very Chinese thing to do. Why keep old when new is better? ARGH!) So, we found a couple of good-sized chunks to bring home.
(Also - more photos taken with the "big Americans" in Tianamen Square. :) That's just funny!)
(** side note – I’m not sure why I didn’t mention this in the email, maybe because it would be hard to explain to the kids…but Tianamen Square was a bit overwhelming. Hard not to try to imagine where that infamous tank and student might have been.)
Then we visited a jade factory and had lunch at a cloisonne factory. Hmm...I think we are starting to learn that "factory" in Beijing really means tourist trap. But - the jade was gorgeous and the REAL thing. And, because it is government-sponsored, it is better than taking your chances with fake or bad quality by buying on the street.
After the "factory" -we drove to the GREAT WALL! It actually started to snow while we were getting off the bus. None of us had warm enough clothes - but we wrapped up the best we could. The wind was really whipping!
Most of our group went one way and the Kim and I went another. It is very steep in parts and the views are fantastic. But, it is hard to really appreciate the Great Wall from a limited section...I think you really have to walk huge lengths of it to get a feel for how dramatically long it is.
Many funny things - a marching band from Naples FLORIDA was performing on the Wall. We heard "Hang on Sloopy". Very odd - not at all Chinese. But somehow it actually made sense - the Wall is very touristy. Still worth it to take the hike and say you've stood on the Great Wall of China, though. Lots of funny signs and other stories I'll have to share later. We hear there is even a bobsled ride (sort of a roller coaster) at some point on the Wall - the side we didn't go to. Also saw a camel! Yes, a REAL one with 2 humps!
I've come to the conclusion that Beijing is a "rubbly" place. Lots of rubble around. Just piles of it here and there - in the city and even more so outside the city.
Also, the painted lane lines on the streets are really just suggestions. Drivers are very creative here.
Beijing is a city totally at work - every square inch of it. People are repairing cars, fixing bicycle tires, selling all manner of stuff, carting large loads on bike-drawn trailers, drying laundry, tending shops, etc. Everywhere you look people are doing stuff...not just going somewhere to do stuff. They aren't bustling off somewhere...they are right there working away.
Also - you can always tell a Party building or other official government building -these are always the most well-kept. They also tend to have a very imposing air about them - which is certainly the point. I guess the same would be said in the US, too. But, here it is such a dichotomy with the rest of the city.
I've enjoyed Beijing...all the Chinese we've interacted with are warm and good-natured. Tomorrow (Monday) a new city!
Ok - that is all for tonight! Zaijian! By the way - you'd be so proud of me, I'm really trying to use my little bit of Chinese whenever I can! Kim and I even learned to say "Good Evening" - "Wan An". :) Our friendly Business Center lady taught us that.
Friday, April 20, 2007
China Experience - Beijing
The second in the series of my China travel journal:
On 3/31/07:
Good Morning - it must be around 7:30 Saturday morning for you all as it is 7:30 pm here. It was wonderful to talk to you all this morning/last night! I loved hearing all your voices!
I'm so pleased to hear that school is going well and everyone is getting along well. You sound like you all are staying very busy!
We had a great day in China today! We had a nice breakfast from the buffet they provide here at the hotel. It is a FULL breakfast - no continental muffins and juice here! Interesting Chinese options and more familiar Western ones, too. I had fresh pineapple, bacon, and some banana bread.
After breakfast we met the group and headed to the Summer Palace. If you get a chance, look it up online. It is an amazing complex of buildings, courtyards, covered walkways, all on a large man-made lake. We took lots of photos and are going to try to upload some to Phoebe Lin's blog.
While we were there, we were stopped by another tour group - a chinese one. They wanted their photos with the "lao wai" - foreigners! (literally: old strangers - remember "old" is term of respect in China) At first we thought they were asking us to move out of the way a bit so they could get a photo, but then it became clear that our group *was* the photo. They all took turns jumping in the photos and taking them. We started taking photos, too. It was such a funny, sweet moment! They were laughing and so were we. We learned that they were from a distant province and didn't see westerners frequently. For some it was the first time. Imagine that.
After the Summer Palace, we headed to a Pearl Market where they demonstrated how pearls are cultivated and we got to see one opened right before our eyes! It must have had 20 pearls in it -all pretty small, but WOW! Then, of course, we got the sales pitch, but it was very gracious. I did make two small purchases while we were there -but, perhaps I'll keep those as surprises. :)
Next it was time for lunch. We headed back into town and enjoyed a family-style lunch. Really delicious food!
(By the way, Halen - last night, I had wonton soup - which has those yummy dumplings in it - I thought of you as I enjoyed them!)
After lunch we had the afternoon "free". A few of us walked down to a popular street that has been closed off to traffic to make a pedestrian "mall" area. Bordering one side of the pedestrian area is a very western and HUGE mall. It was still being constructed in parts (most parts -in fact there were no elevators - just escalators). Kim and I commented that there, in America, there is NO WAY that place would be open. But what was completed was very nice. We saw KFC, McD's, Bennetton, and more familiar names and some not so familiar. We also saw...a STARBUCKS. But, we skipped it....NOT! :) We sat and enjoyed our familiar "lattes".
We went off on our own to explore the outside pedestrian area and one discovery led to another and before we knew it we were thick in the middle of a traditional Chinese "hutong" . A hutong is a group of traditional Chinese courtyard homes set on alleyways connecting them all together (many have been torn down to make way for high-rise apartments - more economical living, but not nearly as interesting). They are VERY old -in fact some families have lived in the same hutong for centuries. The alley ways are filled with market stalls, food being prepared and sold right on the street, , clothes air drying, bikes, kids, etc. It was AWESOME!!
We did some haggling and walked away with some little trinkets. (No English spoken here! I brought my calculator along - so we were able to haggle by using it to show what number we were trying to say. I'm sure we didn't get the best price - but it was still cheap and really fun!) It was just neat to walk and peek in door ways, smell the smells, hear the sounds, etc.
Halen and Ella - we saw people eating tanghulars like in "Little Pear"! I don't think I'll be able to bring any home - they are very sticky looking and wouldn't keep. But I did take a photo for you! We also saw corn on the cob, roasted and on a stick; all sorts of unidentifiable meat on a stick; and even - squid on a stick! And no, we did not eat any!
It is very "quiet" in the hutongs once you get away from the market area. By quiet I mean protected from the noises of the city. This is right in the middle of Beijing and yet you couldn't hear the cars, horns, etc that were only a few blocks away.
We came out to a modern street and said, "OK, I guess we go right". We did and sure enough caught site of our hotel in the skyline. As we headed "home" we came across an area where they had excavated the original city walls (well, not "original" but REALLY darn old - the original "Imperial" walls). We probably would not have seen that little historic gem, nor enjoyed the stroll throught the "hutong" had we not just adventured out. That was GREAT!
By the way - don't worry about us getting lost. The hotel gave us business cards with the name, address, phone number (in Chinese and English) and a little map on the reverse. We can always show someone the card and ask them to point the way.
After returning to the hotel room, we laid down for a quick rest and slept at least 2 hours! The phone rang when our guide was calling to see if we were joining them for dinner. We decided to skip dinner and just take it easy in the room this evening. Also, we might not have had time to come here and email you! We have some "just add water" noodles - so, we won't go hungry.
Tomorrow is the Forbidden City and Great Wall. There was quite a strong, chilly wind blowing here today, and we hear it will be even cooler on the Great Wall. I'll have to bundle up a bit! Oh, that reminds me of one other stop we made...Kim didn't have enough warm clothes, so we went into a nice little (very fashionable - like a "Gap" or something) clothing store and purchased a jacket. We had a great time with the clerk - he was a hoot! But, as we were told, it is hard to find clothes for big western bodies here in China. AND WE'RE NOT THAT BIG! :)
Well, we are pretty tired and it is 8:00pm for us. We need to be heading to bed as we are tired from a very full day. We'll call again in the morning/evening. Can't wait to hear your voices again! Have a good day!
Love to you all,
Kerry
On 3/31/07:
Good Morning - it must be around 7:30 Saturday morning for you all as it is 7:30 pm here. It was wonderful to talk to you all this morning/last night! I loved hearing all your voices!
I'm so pleased to hear that school is going well and everyone is getting along well. You sound like you all are staying very busy!
We had a great day in China today! We had a nice breakfast from the buffet they provide here at the hotel. It is a FULL breakfast - no continental muffins and juice here! Interesting Chinese options and more familiar Western ones, too. I had fresh pineapple, bacon, and some banana bread.
After breakfast we met the group and headed to the Summer Palace. If you get a chance, look it up online. It is an amazing complex of buildings, courtyards, covered walkways, all on a large man-made lake. We took lots of photos and are going to try to upload some to Phoebe Lin's blog.
While we were there, we were stopped by another tour group - a chinese one. They wanted their photos with the "lao wai" - foreigners! (literally: old strangers - remember "old" is term of respect in China) At first we thought they were asking us to move out of the way a bit so they could get a photo, but then it became clear that our group *was* the photo. They all took turns jumping in the photos and taking them. We started taking photos, too. It was such a funny, sweet moment! They were laughing and so were we. We learned that they were from a distant province and didn't see westerners frequently. For some it was the first time. Imagine that.
After the Summer Palace, we headed to a Pearl Market where they demonstrated how pearls are cultivated and we got to see one opened right before our eyes! It must have had 20 pearls in it -all pretty small, but WOW! Then, of course, we got the sales pitch, but it was very gracious. I did make two small purchases while we were there -but, perhaps I'll keep those as surprises. :)
Next it was time for lunch. We headed back into town and enjoyed a family-style lunch. Really delicious food!
(By the way, Halen - last night, I had wonton soup - which has those yummy dumplings in it - I thought of you as I enjoyed them!)
After lunch we had the afternoon "free". A few of us walked down to a popular street that has been closed off to traffic to make a pedestrian "mall" area. Bordering one side of the pedestrian area is a very western and HUGE mall. It was still being constructed in parts (most parts -in fact there were no elevators - just escalators). Kim and I commented that there, in America, there is NO WAY that place would be open. But what was completed was very nice. We saw KFC, McD's, Bennetton, and more familiar names and some not so familiar. We also saw...a STARBUCKS. But, we skipped it....NOT! :) We sat and enjoyed our familiar "lattes".
We went off on our own to explore the outside pedestrian area and one discovery led to another and before we knew it we were thick in the middle of a traditional Chinese "hutong" . A hutong is a group of traditional Chinese courtyard homes set on alleyways connecting them all together (many have been torn down to make way for high-rise apartments - more economical living, but not nearly as interesting). They are VERY old -in fact some families have lived in the same hutong for centuries. The alley ways are filled with market stalls, food being prepared and sold right on the street, , clothes air drying, bikes, kids, etc. It was AWESOME!!
We did some haggling and walked away with some little trinkets. (No English spoken here! I brought my calculator along - so we were able to haggle by using it to show what number we were trying to say. I'm sure we didn't get the best price - but it was still cheap and really fun!) It was just neat to walk and peek in door ways, smell the smells, hear the sounds, etc.
Halen and Ella - we saw people eating tanghulars like in "Little Pear"! I don't think I'll be able to bring any home - they are very sticky looking and wouldn't keep. But I did take a photo for you! We also saw corn on the cob, roasted and on a stick; all sorts of unidentifiable meat on a stick; and even - squid on a stick! And no, we did not eat any!
It is very "quiet" in the hutongs once you get away from the market area. By quiet I mean protected from the noises of the city. This is right in the middle of Beijing and yet you couldn't hear the cars, horns, etc that were only a few blocks away.
We came out to a modern street and said, "OK, I guess we go right". We did and sure enough caught site of our hotel in the skyline. As we headed "home" we came across an area where they had excavated the original city walls (well, not "original" but REALLY darn old - the original "Imperial" walls). We probably would not have seen that little historic gem, nor enjoyed the stroll throught the "hutong" had we not just adventured out. That was GREAT!
By the way - don't worry about us getting lost. The hotel gave us business cards with the name, address, phone number (in Chinese and English) and a little map on the reverse. We can always show someone the card and ask them to point the way.
After returning to the hotel room, we laid down for a quick rest and slept at least 2 hours! The phone rang when our guide was calling to see if we were joining them for dinner. We decided to skip dinner and just take it easy in the room this evening. Also, we might not have had time to come here and email you! We have some "just add water" noodles - so, we won't go hungry.
Tomorrow is the Forbidden City and Great Wall. There was quite a strong, chilly wind blowing here today, and we hear it will be even cooler on the Great Wall. I'll have to bundle up a bit! Oh, that reminds me of one other stop we made...Kim didn't have enough warm clothes, so we went into a nice little (very fashionable - like a "Gap" or something) clothing store and purchased a jacket. We had a great time with the clerk - he was a hoot! But, as we were told, it is hard to find clothes for big western bodies here in China. AND WE'RE NOT THAT BIG! :)
Well, we are pretty tired and it is 8:00pm for us. We need to be heading to bed as we are tired from a very full day. We'll call again in the morning/evening. Can't wait to hear your voices again! Have a good day!
Love to you all,
Kerry
Thursday, April 19, 2007
China Experience
On March 29th, my dear friend and I left for a two-week trip to China to bring home her newly adopted daughter, Phoebe Lin. We had an absolutely amazing journey through China traveling to: Beijing, Changsha, and Guangzhou. While there, we emailed home almost daily (in addition to phone calls home on an international cell phone). I've compiled the emails which became a wonderful journal of our journey and will begin posting the entries...and maybe my friend's also.
Here is the first entry...
On 3/30/07:
We are at the Business Center of the Wang Fu Jing Grand Hotel in Beijing using Kim's yahoo email account! Can you believe that? It costs $2.60/15 minutes, so, this is a great way to catch up when we can't call. The hotel is really very nice - every service you could imagine and excellent staff. (In fact, customer service is quite important here - we got to give feedback on our passport officer! :)
We are just about ready to grab a snack and head to our rooms. We are exhausted, but seem to have managed the time change OK. Our guide offered to take us out to dinner (the whole group), but Kim and I both agree that we are too tired to socialize. Besides I think I ate 3 times on the flight! The flight was fine - really it was one of the more pleasant flights I've been on in a while. We had an extra seat between us, so that gave us plenty of room.
We are both so amazed at the pleasantness and diligence of the people we've met here. They are just as gracious and helpful as can be. Unfortunately, it is very polluted here - so I'm very glad to have the extra inhaler...and lots of cough drops. The city is a big city - some old and dirty parts, some new and fancy parts.
We are going to the Summer Palace tomorrow and then we have a half day to relax. We've heard there is a nice pedestrian "mall" area with sidewalk cafes and such. We might go find that tomorrow afternoon.
You can email me at this address. We'll be here until Monday and we think we'll be able to get internet access at the other hotels, too. So, you should be able to email us anytime - please do! I'd love to hear from you! Kids - be sure to email and tell me what you've been doing during the days. I sure do miss you. There is a little girl here with her parents (she was adopted 4 years ago) and they are picking up a new baby sister. She's fun to have around - keeps us from missing you quite so much!
I'll check later and see if I have a yahoo mail account - I'm not sure...so until you hear from me, use this email address.
Well, goodnight (for us) - good morning for you all! Miss you guys! Give Sophia a big hug for me...and give each other big hugs for me, too.
Looking forward to your emails!!
Kerry
A side street in Beijing
Here is the first entry...
On 3/30/07:
We are at the Business Center of the Wang Fu Jing Grand Hotel in Beijing using Kim's yahoo email account! Can you believe that? It costs $2.60/15 minutes, so, this is a great way to catch up when we can't call. The hotel is really very nice - every service you could imagine and excellent staff. (In fact, customer service is quite important here - we got to give feedback on our passport officer! :)
We are just about ready to grab a snack and head to our rooms. We are exhausted, but seem to have managed the time change OK. Our guide offered to take us out to dinner (the whole group), but Kim and I both agree that we are too tired to socialize. Besides I think I ate 3 times on the flight! The flight was fine - really it was one of the more pleasant flights I've been on in a while. We had an extra seat between us, so that gave us plenty of room.
We are both so amazed at the pleasantness and diligence of the people we've met here. They are just as gracious and helpful as can be. Unfortunately, it is very polluted here - so I'm very glad to have the extra inhaler...and lots of cough drops. The city is a big city - some old and dirty parts, some new and fancy parts.
We are going to the Summer Palace tomorrow and then we have a half day to relax. We've heard there is a nice pedestrian "mall" area with sidewalk cafes and such. We might go find that tomorrow afternoon.
You can email me at this address. We'll be here until Monday and we think we'll be able to get internet access at the other hotels, too. So, you should be able to email us anytime - please do! I'd love to hear from you! Kids - be sure to email and tell me what you've been doing during the days. I sure do miss you. There is a little girl here with her parents (she was adopted 4 years ago) and they are picking up a new baby sister. She's fun to have around - keeps us from missing you quite so much!
I'll check later and see if I have a yahoo mail account - I'm not sure...so until you hear from me, use this email address.
Well, goodnight (for us) - good morning for you all! Miss you guys! Give Sophia a big hug for me...and give each other big hugs for me, too.
Looking forward to your emails!!
Kerry
A side street in Beijing
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
Not burn-out, but maybe fade-out?
I read a great article on the Carnival of Homeschooling for this week about getting back to basics ("Falling Like Rain") and it really has me thinking. I don't feel I'm burned out, but I do feel like maybe my eldest is a bit. On top of school, he is also in a play and preparing for his black belt test (extra classes and practicing). My middle one really seems to learn more from historic fiction or biographies. Maybe it is time to take her suggested approach of focusing on the basics and letting them select books for other interest areas. I'd want to give them some direction and guidance...just not sure how to go about giving them freedom within a framework. I guess what I need to do is determine what I want the framework to be. Hmmmm....
I hesitate because I don't want to let stuff slide! I'd love to hear from you if you use an approach where you allow your children to determine their studies within a framework (like modified unschooling, maybe?) Like the Newton bio - if he had his way he'd have quit reading it by now, but he'd have missed out on what he learned so far! How do you know when to push and require certain work and when do you let it go? Comments and advice appreciated!
I hesitate because I don't want to let stuff slide! I'd love to hear from you if you use an approach where you allow your children to determine their studies within a framework (like modified unschooling, maybe?) Like the Newton bio - if he had his way he'd have quit reading it by now, but he'd have missed out on what he learned so far! How do you know when to push and require certain work and when do you let it go? Comments and advice appreciated!
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