Stories from Class

Something unexpected happens nearly every day. Some of my students have to be the most precious people ever.

My afternoon class was pretty interesting on Thursday. There is a student named Echo I have hung out with a few times. She is shy, smart, reserved, and pretty. There is also a boy named Armstrong who is a great student and also pretty reserved. Neil Armstrong is his hero. Armstrong and Echo never sit anywhere near each other, so I had no idea they even knew each other.

However, that changed yesterday when I asked the question, "If someone made a movie about your life, what would it be titled?" Students had random ones, such as "A Leaf Drifting on the Sea;" "Sometimes;" or "A Beautiful Life." When I called on Armstrong in the back of the classroom, he stood up to answer the question (in China, students are respectful, so they always stand to answer a question). Very sweetly and innocently he said, "For Echo." I paused for a minute, because I was a little confused. I pointed to Echo near the front row, and said, "like this Echo?" He nodded very seriously and went on to explain.

He looked right at the back of Echo's head several rows in front of him, with big mournful eyes and said, "Echo is becoming more meaningful to me every day. This is not a joke; I am serious. I want to know her better." At this point the class was buzzing with excitement and confusion. The only thing that came out of my mouth, was "Do you like her?" Again, he nodded quite seriously. I looked at Echo who was turning pink, and trying to hide behind her long hair. Then the whole class applauded. It was a very strange, unexpected moment in class, just like most every day. But it was also a really cute and innocent moment that made me very happy.

Shortly thereafter, Will Lee, one of my students in another class, and one of Armstrong's many roommates, came trudging through the door during the middle of class. He was all wet and cold. (Yesterday it was only about 40 degrees, with strong winds, and icy rain. And there's no heat in this part of China). Armstrong had left his homework in his dorm, so Will Lee walked through the terrible weather for at least 15 minutes to deliver Armstrong's homework that was probably worth only two points. I felt really shocked, because Will Lee was shaking like a leaf. He hadn't come to my morning class because he had a really high fever. It was another dramatic moment. Hopefully Will Lee hasn't died from pneumonia.

Earlier in the class I had made it clear that I wouldn't accept late homework. But what can you say when a very sick student risks his life just to hand in his best friend's homework?

So, yes, it is very cold here now a lot earlier than last year. I'm off to put on some more long underwear!

(The picture is of some of my dear students in class).

Veteran's Day/Single's Day

Happy Veteran's Day in America! (That's you, Grandpa!!) And Happy Single's Day in China! (That's me!)

Lately the Father has really been pushing me to love people and be more sacrificial with my time, money, and energy, especially with the outcasts of society. This year I have students who are a lot more difficult to love, because they are really aggressive, super awkward, etc. These are the students, of course, that He has been putting on my heart to invest in.

I have also been going downtown once or twice a week for fellowship or other activities. I still can't believe the amount of beggars, especially in a supposedly "socialist" country. Most of these people have severe deformities, and literally sit in dirt and filth. Everywhere you look or turn there is someone begging you for money. He has been teaching me to give to them with more generosity and love. And instead of feeling irritation when they tug on my arm or tap on my leg, He is filling me with compassion.

There is also a student at our university who is a bit mentally and physically disabled. There are a lot of students like this at Blue Sky, but this student has sought the foreign teachers out, although he barely speaks any English. Sometimes he visits our office several times a day, and it's pretty difficult to communicate at all.

Anyways, he came into our office before I was going to eat lunch with my friend Reborn today. It was raining heavily and freezing cold all day. I was hungry and extremely tired when he came in, and I didn't feel like trying to figure out how to communicate with him at the moment. I wasn't rude, but I also wasn't gracious to him. He pointed to my umbrella sitting on my desk and asked if he could have it, because he didn't have one and had to travel somewhere in the city today. I told him, no, I was sorry, but I needed it.

I then watched as he limped out of the room into the cold air with his very thin jacket. My heart was all twisted up inside. I was reminded how the Son cared for the lowest and most downtrodden. And how could I be so selfish with an umbrella, of all things? I pondered all of this as I walked downstairs with Reborn to walk the long way to lunch.

Right then, I spotted the student again near the crowded doorway. I immediately walked up to him and handed him my umbrella. I freely smiled at him, and he also smiled from ear to ear, while clutching my hands in thanks. I wonder how many people ever show him kindness. I am thankful that the Father gives us second chances, especially in loving people more like Him.

Then I happily walked into the wild weather outside, huddled under Reborn's half-broken umbrella. It was a great, blessed day. :)

The pictures I've included are some random ones. One is a picture of Reborn. The others are of slightly creepy posters the students have designed to warn against the spread of swine flu. I don't think anyone actually reads them, but I enjoyed taking pictures of them. What if you saw these posters in your local college classroom?

P.S. Can you think of me and my toe? It has gotten pretty infected since I got an ingrown toenail removed this summer. It has been highly suggested that I travel to Beijing or Shanghai soon to get it checked out...

A World of Walls

Did you know that the Berlin Wall fell 20 years ago? Modern European history (including Germany) was one of the topics I studied the most in college. I studied German for nearly six years and even went to Berlin twice - in 2004 and 2005. Each time I visited a section of the Berlin wall or Die Mauer in German. (See pictures).

It was amazing to be standing next to a piece of history that had literally formed the "Iron Curtain" during the Cold War. In 1989 the divided city became one again. I think most people in the world were pretty thrilled that this symbol of oppression had crumbled.

I loved Germany and all things German. Hmmm... I wonder how I ended up in China? Now I'm in a country of the Great Wall and the Great Firewall (so called because of the government's fondness and ability to block numerous websites). There are many other "walls" that you can't even see.

In other news, the heaven's opened up and torrential rainfall began today. It was like the whole earth breathed a sigh of relief. I think it has only rained once in the past 2.5 months. I was pretty glad for it, even though I got drenched running around campus and on the city bus.

This afternoon I had Chinese tutoring with my friend Amy. We always eat a big lunch and ice-cream together. No one has to worry about me starving here. Then we headed over to the dance studios on new campus. Amy was my translator and we won over the hearts of the building supervisor and dean of the fine arts department. I brought them oranges and tried to charm them.

In China, people who have any amount of power (even holding the keys to a dance studio), like to leverage that power. If, for example, you want to use a dance studio, you can't just go in and start using it, even if nobody else is using it. You have to go to the top of the power pyramid (like the dean), which is what we did. We visited the dean and the secretary and sat down to chat, while they debated the matter. Then we worked our way down to discussing the matter with the man who holds the keys. It is a time consuming process, and you can't demand your way. But that's a little picture of how you go about to get things accomplished in China. China is all about relationships.

Anyways, everyone conceded and agreed to let my use one of the dance studios for ballet on Monday afternoons. It was a wonderful accomplishment.

That's probably all for now. We are in the midst of giving midterms. I'm leaving you with an additional picture of me with one of my students. They all have red fans for a performance coming up soon.