From Dog Meat Soup to Poodle Promenades in the Park... The Story of the Chns Dog

Just as in the U.S., various areas in Chn are known for their culinary delicacies.  Chicago is known for its deep dish pizza just as Beijing is known for Peking duck.  Pittsburgh is known for its primanti brothers sandwiches just as Sichuan is known for its spicy cuisine.  Well one of my childhood homes in Chn was known for its dog soup.  Dogs in Guiyang had it rough, they were by no means pets.  Guiyang was a poor city and the numerous stray dogs were the least of anyone's concern until dinner time came around and then they were a mans best friend.  As stated before, Chn has changed quite a bit and is at the same time, exactly the same... You may be thinking "that statement doesn't make sense." EXACTLY.   

One of the changes that I've recently taken great interest in is the civil rights movement of the Chns K9.  Something has happened over the past twenty years in the equality of dogs.  I walk down the street and I see dogs with their heads held high wearing clothes!  When I see dogs wearing clothes in the states, it's Paris Hilton type people dressing their dogs up for special occasions etc.  I will admit that our deceased dog Mia, was known to don a Steeler shirt during football season.  But dogs wearing clothes are the exception, not the rule.  Here in kunming, some of these dogs wear clothes on a daily basis as if it would be totally inappropriate to leave the house without a shirt and skirt on.  I can't help but wonder, when/how/why has this happened.  I want to interview the owners and ask what made them make the leap from putting a dog in their soup to dressing it up in tennis shoes and jeans.  If this was some sort of campaign, then I want to meet the orchestrator.  Perhaps we should put the Chns dog activist on the committee to bring peace to the Middle East or end world hunger....anything, they must have excellent powers of persuasion.  

Sometimes I resent these dogs.  After all we live in a world where children die of hunger and little Rover has a full belly and Michael Jordan shoes (everything else has been true, the Jordan shoes is an exaggeration).  But what's one little foreign girl to do, run all over town undressing dogs?  So instead, I ask you to rise up oh dogs of kunming, and use your power to join the rest of us in the fight against human rights violations worldwide!  But by all means, put on those split pant jeans, skirts, sweaters and shoes, put your hair up in a ponytail (I kid you not) and hang your purse around your little neck (also true), who says injustice can't be fought in style.  

P.s.  I have been chasing unsuspecting dogs around for a couple of weeks to take pictures.  It's made me wonder if I have a future in photojournalism... It's been exciting to run after dogs in the market and through the park with the camera on my cell phone!  Unfortunately there is little dog that wears tennis shoes, jeans and a sweatshirt that I have seen a couple of times but didn't have my camera out in time.  There was also one wearing a purse, but I was on a bike and taking a picture would have gotten me killed.  I hear from a reputable source, of a dog that wears eye shadow, but haven't come across it yet.  

Dance Party in the Park!

I LOVE going to the park, which is basically a large concrete square with some very small walking trails on either side.  A lot goes on in this park.  Older men play cards, children roller blade and bike ride, and my favorite.... Everyone dances!  On any given weekend, you can find over ten groups of different dances.  Some are line dances that resemble step aerobics and some are the circle dances which seem to be popular in minority traditions.  

If any of you out there think that the concept of a flash mob is either western or new, you haven't seen what goes on in Chinese parks.  I am convinced that the Chinese have been flash mobbing since the Ming dynasty.   I have been scouting out the dance parties because one of my New Years goals is to join in.  You have to understand that while this seems like an easy goal, it's pretty intimidating.  My very presence in China brings about stares, cell phone pictures and the traditional point and scream "foreigner" from small children.  I can't even imagine the response when I jump into the crowd and start shaking what my momma gave me!   I guess I'll find out!

Today, I had the pleasure of watching how these epic dance parties begin.  A group of four ladies rolled up with a boom box and started dancing.  The area that they began in was virtually empty.  Within about ten minutes there were about twenty strangers dancing in a circle together and about forty so spectating.  I love the inhabition and the inclusiveness of these spontaneous events.  There were people from different minority groups, women, men and children of all ages.  One of the men was dancing in a business suit!  I feel like at home it would take a pretty strong drink to get most people to dance around with strangers and the gawking eyes of onlookers!  But that's Chna for you and one day I'll be flash mobbing with the best!!!

Bill's Visit : )

Bill and I will have a busy December for all of eternity...his birthday is December 15th and mine is the 28th.  Add in Christmas and New Years Eve and you have a crazy two weeks!  There will be years when this is a pain but this year it was a blessing.  Bill came to China and we were able to be together for both birthdays and Christmas, which was a tear saver for me!  Given my visa, I need to exit mainland China three times during my stay and Hong Kong got to be my first exit!  

For those of you who may not know, my family lived in Hong Kong for about a year and a half when I was about nine.  Hong Kong is my favorite city in the world so it was nice to get to show Bill around what used to be one of my homes.  What made Hong Kong all the sweeter was that I was coming from Kunming.  While I enjoy what I do here and love working with the people, Kunming isn't the most beautiful places on earth.  Yunnan province is known for its beauty and judging from my trip to the countryside at the beginning of my time here, I see why.  The mountains are amazing and the temperature leads to lush plant life.  However, Kunming itself gets me a little down.  It's a big city and you have a tough time finding nature which is what makes me miss the beauty and rolling hills of Pittsburgh.  Anyway, it was nice to show Bill, both my childhood home/favorite place ever and my current location.  

We had a great time in both places and were happy to get to spend time together after being apart for six weeks.  The weather didn't cooperate in either place which was frustrating, but we survived the torrential downpours of Hong Kong and the freezing temperatures of Kunming.  Kunming is generally pretty mild but we hit a bad week : (. The difficult thing about living here when there is cold weather is that there is no central heating in the buildings.  Some days it's so cold inside that I can see my breath.  That was what poor Bill got to experience.  It really can be depressing to NEVER warm up.  

Below are some pictures of our two weeks together...miss you already Bill : (

Lantau island ... This is where we used to live.  Love it!

Cartoon avenue of the stars in the park.

My family asked me what I wanted for Christmas and instead of asking for more things that I don't need and Bill would have to carry, I told them that I wanted to go to Disney Land Hong Kong.  I LOVED it!  I think it's better than our one at home and is less crowded and a lot cheaper!  It was a magical day and I loved it!  Thanks family!  Ps Bill forgot a hat and glasses so he had to buy a Mickey hat with sunglasses attached...he's a classy one!

These are all a lie... It's not really Christmas... Just close enough!

We tried to go to the big Buddha.  We took the bus and trekked out in the cold rain and when we got there, it was so nasty out, you couldn't even see him.  It's at the top of those steps.

Stone Forest.  A big tourist attraction about two hours from kunming.  The pictures don't do it justice, it's pretty neat.

We took this picture because this place is usually packed but because it was so fold we were on a viewing deck in China by ourselves for probably the first and last time in all of time.  These places are normally wall to wall people and you feel like you are going to suffocate.  

Bill likes to go to really interesting places and then find valves to look at, engineers are there own breed!  Love you and I'm glad you're weird like me just about different things ;  )

Gathered with the other people here on Christmas Eve day for brunch, games and Chrisptmas carols.  It felt a little like home which was nice!

China has more Oreos than anyone could eat in a lifetime.  Bill and I watched Home Alone and had an Oreo tasting party on Christmas morning.  I have found four new favors since then...it's nuts!

Best birthday candle ever!  It sings, spins and burns the house down!   Unfortunately you can't bring them to the states.

We ate at Pizza Hut for my birthday.  It's totally different here because it's actually a pretty nice restaurant with a big menu.  I stuck with pizza since it's a treat that I don't get often.  I like that the sign says "let's pizza together"

Thanks Bill for a great holiday!  

A Dog Tinkled on My New Years Resolutions : )

I will admit that I am borderline insane when it comes to New Years resolutions.   I LOVE getting a fresh start, reflecting on the previous year and thinking about how to torture yourself in the new year : ).  In reality I don't do resolutions because I have terrible success with that system...in true procrastinator fashion, I prefer goals because they are one time things that I can cram in at the end of the year.  I generally take about a week to come up with a list of 12 or so new goals for the upcoming year.  These goals fit into categories and then I put them into a powerpoint...borderline insane may have been giving myself too much credit.  

The process of coming up with New Years goals was yet another reminder on how my life in America and my life in China differ.  In America I feel like I can do BIG things, or at least dream to do big things... one year I wanted to (and did) participate in an adventure race involving kayaking 2 miles, biking 12 miles and running 3 miles.  One year my best friend and I rode our bikes from Pittsburgh to D.C.   In China, due to the language barrier and other complications, I feel like I have to dream a little smaller because I am barely able to do the daily tasks required for sustaining life.  But these small things end up feeling like big things because they involve large amounts or frustration, anxiety, stress, tears and embarrassment.  

Now we get to the dog... As I was beginning the process of making my goal list, I felt that I need to branch out and try to buy my vegetables from the market instead of from the local Walmart.  This would give me a chance to support the local farmers and an opportunity to use my Chinese.  I have bought fruit from the market and it has been nice because the fruit man and I exchange pleasant nods when I go past.  It makes me feel like I am a part of a community which I really miss.  Right outside of my apartment there is a street where farmers come and sell their vegetables.  Many of them lay out blankets on the ground and sell their produce that way.  As I was walking towards that street I saw a stray dog lift its back leg and tinkle on the lettuce.  I looked at the seller in horror to see what her reaction would be.  She saw the episode and merely looked away and continued on with her selling.  A DOG TINKLED ON MY NEW YEARS RESOLUTION!  I considered taking my vegetable buying off of the list and giving up vegetables for the next six months but then realized that I already have so much anxiety about purchasing meat that I am nearly a vegetarian by default...how can I be a vegetarian without eating vegetables?  Isn't that what scurvy is?  Am I going to end up like the pilgrams voyaging to the new world and die on the boat before reaching the destination?  NO!  In the words of Gloria Gaynor, "I will survive!"  I decided that I will continue to buy and eat vegetables, I will just have to come up with a better strategy for purchase and learn how to clean them correctly.  Since the dog incident I have had vegetables (they were bought from Walmart : ) ) I conquered the washing part and washed them like I have never washed anything before.  The bowl that I washed them in looked like a commercial for Mr. Bubble.  I was almost jealous of the bubble bath spa treatment of my green beans and bean sprouts.  Now for the purchasing strategy... I've scoped it out and have come by markets in which the vegetables are on tables.  It would have to be a pretty big dog to tinkle on a table right?  

At last my list of small but big goals is complete.  I have my categories down to three categories.  They are cultural immersion, learn how to say more than "ting bu dong" (translation: "I don't understand") and professional development.  In the cultural immersion category (which really overlaps with "ting bu dong") I have decided to join one of the early morning or evening dance parties that go on in the park, get back onto a bike (I have taken an approximately three week break because everytime I rode a bike in traffic I wanted to go back to America), shop in the market (I want to try to buy fruits, vegetables and meat in the market... the meat will be the biggest challenge because the beef is hanging there in big slabs and I don't know what it is and the fish is alive and that freaks me out.  I also want to try new vegetables, there are some really interesting looking vegetables here and I would like to give them a whirl) and strike up conversations in Chinese with unlucky innocent bystanders.  I also want to cook two meals from scratch (since that is really the only option) a month.  Regarding language learning, I need to be more disciplined.  I didn't sign up for classes because I will be moving around so much but it's hard to study without anyone in your face.  I have decided to study at least 5 hours a week and start talking to random people.  My professional growth category isn't that excting so I won't bore you : )   

There my friends is 2014, the year of talking, shopping, riding and eating, when I put it that way it sounds pretty fun!  Happy New Years!!!

My Favorite Walk Sign

Everyday while walking to the rehab center I stand and look at this walk sign and try to figure out the timeless question, "to walk or not to walk."  

As you may be able to make out... Both "walk" and "don't walk" are lit up.  At first I thought it was a mistake and then I further analyzed the dangers of pedestrian life in China and I now feel like all cross walks should have this sign... It's as if the maker is saying "walk if you must, but I strongly advise against it as this may be your final jaunt across the street."  I now think of all walk signs as really flashing the cautionary "don't walk" and I think I'll be much safer :  )

Merry Christmas!

Oh, New Year’s resolutions : )   This year along with the 12 or so other resolutions that I made, I decided that I wanted to read the whole Bible.   I don’t remember where I fell off of the wagon but I know that I didn’t even make it to Leviticus which is supposed to be where all resolutions go to die.   With time running out I decided to cheat and take another approach… a book that summarizes the Bible… spark notes, if you will, for those of you who also cheated in High School English class : ). 

The book that I started reading is really good (thanks Katie Harris for a great book recommendation, miss you and our theological conversations!).  It’s called “God’s Epic Adventure” and it outlines the Bible and explains the background and meaning behind many of the books. 

Reading my way through the Old Testament made me see and appreciate Christmas in a new way because I read the prequel so to speak.  If I had to further summarize the Old Testament I would summarize it as G0d’s relentless pursuit of His creation… This theme begins with Adam and Eve in the garden.  G0d could have had a variety of responses to their disobeying His commands and eating from the tree, but His response is to walk through the garden and call out “Where are you?”  From the beginning of time G0d has chosen to seek after as when we are lost or hiding.  Beginning with Exodus and continuing through the rest of the Old Testament, the story is basically the Israelites’ breaking covenant with G0d and Him finding ways to try to bring them back.  It’s both exhausting to read because you see the constant disobedience of humans, and heartbreaking to read, because you see a loving G0d that doesn’t give up on His children. He reaches out using a variety of sources and method, ranging from strong leadership like Moses, written guidelines like the Ten Commandments, hard knock methods such as conquest, different forms of leadership such as the Judges and Kings, wise words from prophets etc.  and STILL HIS people turn from Him.  Then the Old Testament ends. 

 I’m curious to know what the unfamiliar reader would predict would happen next.  Perhaps a flood, a massive fire, a volcanic explosion, something that wipes out mankind for our never ending rebellion, wickedness and contempt.  But instead, we get a silent night that is pierced by the sound a baby’s cry, we get a star pointing Wiseman to the birthplace of their new king, we get angels singing in the night, and most importantly we get Emmanuel “G0d with us” .  With Christmas we see that G0d’s pursuit of us stops at nothing… He sends us His son.  Even though mankind hides, runs and defies Him, He sends us J3sus.  

As I read through the Old Testament I was annoyed with the Israelites’…I wanted them to get it together.  But then I thought about myself.  I too have been through my ups and downs and have experienced G0d’s grace.   I too needed the gift of a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.   

 
I don’t think that I ever read that story quite like that before.  I’ve never thought of Christmas as G0d’s merciful, loving, relentless pursuit of His children on not only a corporate level but on an individual level.  The baby in Bethlehem was G0d’s gift to capture our hearts and turn them towards Him.  This Christmas get lost in the AMAZING love story between a father and His children… the story of a patient and loving G0d that stops at nothing to bring us into relationship with Him.  MERRY CHRISTMAS!
 

"All I Want for Christmas is My Two Front Teeth"

Well if you need a dentist in China, I can refer you to mine : ).  On about my fifth day in China I broke my tooth because that is the kind of luck I have!  A LONG time ago (maybe ten years ago) I got a root canal done in the U.S.  Due to the absurd cost of dental work and my lack of dental insurance, I never got a permanent crown put on it.  This tooth has been good to me and not bothered me at all until I decided to travel to the other side of the world. 


While I was on the road trip to the rural villages I was offered quite a bit of very hard foods (nuts, dried corn etc).  In my effort to be polite, I ate all of them and ate them in the manner that the locals were eating them…by cracking them with my teeth.  I am not sure which one did me in, it was either the raw chestnuts, dried corn pieces or dried cheese (I don’t even want to think about how cheese gets as hard as a rock).  After we had left one of the villagers homes, I felt something odd in my mouth and found that a piece of my tooth had chipped off (it’s a back molar so you can't see it thankfully).  I was a little worked up...my memory of dental work in China is a guy with a chair on the sidewalk yanking teeth out of screaming "patients" mouths.  I really wanted to wait until I got home to see a dentist but eight months is way to0 long. 

 
About two weeks ago the short term coordinator went with me to the dentist.  I was feeling ok initially but the panic soon set in.  The dentist told me (through the coordinator) that I wouldn't need any Novocain.  I was relieved because I thought that this meant that he didn't need to drill.  Imagine my surprise when a drill entered my oral cavity!  I need to consult with my dental friends (Allison and Chloe any thoughts?) because maybe they never numb you when the root canal has already been done.  It truly didn't hurt it just TERRIFIED me!    I sat there for what seemed like eternity, my palms sweating, my heart racing, my stomach churning and bits of my tooth flying out of my mouth.   The panic really heightened when I saw that the drill was smoking and I could taste the smoke!  Somehow I managed to not die under the stress! 

 
All things considered it went well.   The dentist was a really nice guy and seemed very professional.  This week I went back and the dentist put on the new crown.  I was told that it is the one that the foreigners all get (all two of us) and that it is "world famous."  It was the only one that didn't seem to be made of toxic metal which is how I settled on it over the cheaper one.  The short term coordinator tried to haggle about the price but the dentist wasn't having it.  He told me that it is about a fourth of the cost of a crown in the U.S.  He is probably right.  As I sat in the chair I reminded myself that I am trying to avoid buying some of the junky souvenirs that so many people get in China.  I had wanted to find myself something functional and long lasting .... VIOLA!  I found the perfect souvenir (and Christmas present) from China… a world famous tooth!