Hello, Indiana

On Thursday morning, before the temperature was able to hit a million degrees in Topeka, Andrea and I headed east in a little black Ford. We drove and drove all day until we reached my new home of Bloomington, Indiana. Sometimes I can't remember why on earth I chose Indiana, but somehow it was chosen for me.

Anyways, here I am sitting at my little white desk, surrounded by all of my Chinese mementos. In fact, I also seem to be surrounded by Chinese people. I almost want to laugh. As Andrea and I have been out and about yesterday and today, 90% of every person we see is Chinese! I can understand a lot of what they're saying, and I feel like I'm in China. White Americans are a rare sight at the moment, which is fine with me. Classes don't start for another couple of weeks, so apparently only the Asians hang out here all summer. I'm excited to make some Chinese friends!

Actually I'm excited to make friends in general. I met one of my neighbors who is from Wisconsin, and about the same age as I am. We also happen to be in the same grad school program. Everything's feeling a bit more like home. Andrea is staying with me for a few days, and I'm so thankful for her company and help! She's been hanging curtains, cleaning stuff, and just being an eager beaver about life.

Yesterday we went around town, browsed through an Asian food market, and finished putting together my baby apartment. I must say it's looking pretty nice. I'll have to take some pictures in a few days. This whole town and college are a little overwhelming. The town is really nice and diverse. People recycle, bike, do artsy things, and eat ethnic food. And the campus itself is a million times more beautiful than I could have expected.

After dinner Andrea and I trekked to campus to see where I'll be taking most of my classes. We took a path all the way by an old farmstead, under some still-used train tracks, past some prairie, and by a lot of Asian noodle restaurants. And there, upon a tree-lined hill, is the School of Public and Environmental Affairs. It's a decent 30 minute trek. Thank goodness Bloomington has great public transportation. I anticipate taking the bus a lot.

Then this morning we went to the farmer's market, which was very Americana. I wanted to buy everything, but didn't. Then we went to campus again to explore some more. The buildings are gorgeous and old. There are even forests on campus! It's like a movie.

Thanks as always for your thoughts! I will leave you with just a few pictures to peruse...


A giant cross in the middle of Illinois.


A meadow in the middle of campus.


A cool bridge with trains that go right over.

Heading east

Okay, everyone can breathe easily-- I am not going to take up farming! As a Kansan, you would think I would either live on a farm or have worked on a farm. But that is a myth you shouldn't believe. I have only visited a handful of farms in my young life, and the only thing close to farming I've ever done is mow our grass and fed the stray kitty that hangs around our house. Once I took care of a tiny flower garden, but that basically shriveled up and died.

But in the back of my mind, I've always wanted to have a farm. I'm always amazed at the Father's creativity in the Great Plains here. It's gorgeous! And it would be so glamorous to own a farm, right? Luckily I had the opportunity to go hang out on a farm yesterday.

Andrea happens to be friends and roommates at her Florida university with the only other Kansan at that school, Chelsea. Chelsea's family owns Iwig Family Dairy outside of Topeka. They have amazing milk and ice-cream. (Go try some!) So Andrea and I drove out there to see Chelsea and look around.

First, I noticed how dry and dusty and smelly everything is. Sort of like China, but hotter and sunnier. They have to wake up at about 4 a.m. to get started on the milking and everything. Then they also have to bottle the milk, bale hay, and keep up with all the farm-y things. They work really, super hard. This family would have survived the Oregon Trail. I would have wilted on the Oregon Trail within the first five miles.

So it was a fun way to spend the morning, and we came away with some good ice-cream. But I decided that I still ought to go to graduate school. No farming for me!

Once again I am leaving home and heading east-- except not as far east as China. In fact, I'll be closer to Kansas than I have for the past 6 years. I'll only be a mere 538 miles away!

It has been a wonderful, restful summer. I continue to miss my life and friends in China, but there are also many things and experiences to look forward to in America for the time being.

I've spent a great many moments hanging out with my mom and sister. I've gazed at the beautiful blue sky and felt the 100 degree Kansas heat for weeks now. I've worshiped at a big fellowship and been reunited with old friends. I've worked through readjusting to American culture and speaking English at a normal pace. I've eaten real meat and I've washed clothes in a real washer with a real dryer.

Although I've certainly struggled, I've soaked in His grace. I feel renewed and ready for the next challenge. Indiana is certainly no China, but I bet it will be just as challenging and exciting, albeit in different ways. Please pray for opportunities to connect with a strong community of believers, and chances to share His love with my classmates and international students.

Happy August!


Kansas.


The Iwig dairy farm on the edge of Topeka.


Chelsea and Andrea on a fine 100 degree morning.

An Indianan Life

My dear, patient mother and I were wandering around an Ikea, looking for some basic pieces of furniture for my new apartment in Indiana. We kept running into a group of Chinese college students. I was so distracted, as I understood what they were saying about blankets and lamps, and while hearing all the English around me. In fact, I seemed to see Chinese faces wherever I went this past week...

Last week, my mom and I drove to Bloomington, Indiana, which will be my home for the next 2 years. We moved into my tinyyy, but super cute studio apartment. I don't think I will have ever lived in such a small and scenic town. My new abode backs up to a forest preserve, or something. Maybe that explains why all the residents were in the parking lot talking on their cell phones! Reception isn't the greatest.

So I still have some trepidation on beginning this new journey, but there are many things to outweigh that. I'm looking forward to classes and making new friends again. The campus is beautiful, and it isn't 108 degrees in Bloomington like it is in Topeka. I even found an InterVarsity Christian Fellowship graduate student chapter and have been in touch with them.

Now I'm back in Topeka until the end of next week, when Andrea will drive back out there with me. I've been staying busy by packing, working on a few projects, and working at the city election yesterday. Thanks for your thoughts and encouragement!


Ikeaaaa!


The new place. Pretty woodsy!

Moving on

It's always difficult for me to make big life-changing moves. Sure, I went far away for ballet, college, and then to China, but that doesn't mean it gets any easier to tear myself away from home.

On Sunday I had my China sharing night at church. There was quite a nice turnout, and people seemed really touched by the video and slide show I made. The Father definitely spoke through me, and it was great to be able to share and encourage people about what He's doing in China. And just like last year, I started to get all teary-eyed when I talked about Reborn...

I think I've finally grieved for leaving China. I'm realizing that I'm not returning there for now; that chapter is over for the time-being. Ever since I've returned from China, I have tried to be brave and practical, but my tears finally, finally came.

So this afternoon Mom and I will begin the journey to Indiana... and my new life there. I have to move into my apartment this week, because it's near impossible to find a place to live there. Then I'll return to Topeka for a few more days to hang out with my sister. And then it's back to Indiana I go.

I've been so excited about it for a long while, but now that it's here, I just feel discouraged about it. All ambition has drained from me. It's hard to remember why I'm going, especially since I'm leaving behind such dear people in China and Kansas. Is it possible for dear people to exist in Indiana too?

No matter what may happen and no matter where I may be, I still want to continue as a light. I'm not alone on this journey, just like all the other journeys I've been on the past years. Okay, God, I'm ready.

Chronicles of a 24th birthday

As a first born, I don't naturally like surprises, although China helped me get over that to some extent. July 17th was my 24th birthday and it was filled with lots of nice surprises. Since I don't have many friends left in these here parts of the country, I spent my birthday with my lovely mother. I was very glad, and couldn't have asked for a better birthday friend.

Mom planned a whole day of exploring some of northeast Kansas' history and charm, which I love. It was extremely hot and sunny-- the heat index was 110 degrees, but that seemed fitting for Kansas and fitting for my birthday. And it ended up that I had a marvelous time! Thanks, Mom! And she took some pictures with her camera, chronicling the day. So I apologize for all the pictures of me, me, me!

First, we headed east to Kansas City, Kansas on the wide, open road. This Kansas City is the less successful, less glamorous, less well-known twin of Kansas City, Missouri. We found our way to Kansas City, KS, with some parts that are as ghetto as Kansas can get. It was fun!

Mom pulled into a Polish sausage shop, which was about the only thing open in the "Strawberry Hill" community of Kansas City. Strawberry Hill's not doing so well as it used to, it appears. It had been established as a Slavic community, with tons of Catholics from Russia, Croatia, Lithuania, Poland, etc. Now a lot of the restaurants are shuttered, the cute little houses are half-decaying, and most of the Slavic store-fronts are either closed, or replaced with signs in Spanish.

Anyway, the Polish place didn't serve lunch. My Mom asked the two Polish guys in there, "Well, what about the Bosnian place?" Nope, it was closed. "Italian?" Nope, closed on weekends. I think Mom went through a list of all the possible ethnic restaurants, to no avail. The only thing cooking in this town was Mexican food. So we cruised around until we found a little Mexican restaurant, which wasn't at all hard to find.


Eating tacos instead of Polish sausages.



After eating a tasty lunch, we went to the Strawberry Hill Museum and Culture Center, which shows the history of the community. It was all very interesting and historic, albeit a little depressing. It's always sad to visit places that were once thriving, and are now struggling.


Strawberry Hill.


View of Kansas City, MO from Kansas City, KS.


Aw, little strawberries on the mailbox.

I'm not sure what city we ended up in next--maybe a smaller city around KC. We went to Andre's, and had nice little desserts in lieu of a birthday cake.


Dessert at Andre's, whoever that is.

Then since I was a history major, Mom decided to surprise me with another museum! This time it was the Johnson County Museum, which is pretty nice and well done. Inside the museum, they even had an exhibit on the 1980s--complete with a 1980s car seat, 1980s clothes, and 1980s pictures. I was born in the 1980s! I'm 24 years old, and all of a sudden I belong in a museum.

Outside the museum they had a whole house called the "1950s All-Electric House." It was a model home built in the 1950s, with tons of electric things--there seemed to be a switch for everything. And it was all preserved in its 1950s style. The guide had white gloves on and told us not to touch anything. It looked like my grandparents' houses--how can it be a museum? But it was still pretty cool.


Is this your grandma's house? Nope, it's the 1950s All-Electric House Museum!

After museuming some more, we went to the Legends outlets around there, and shopped for a while. For dinner I had the best turkey burger. Thank you, America, for all your meat!



Eating my turkey burger. The End.

From the Far East to the Midwest

Mom and I were bobbing around 28,000 feet in the air last night in an airplane, counting how many airplanes we've been on this year. I've been on 17 airplanes since the year began, but Mom has me beat--20 airplanes. I think I win for miles, though.

So last night I was on my 16th and 17th airplanes as we returned back to Kansas from a wonderful visit to upstate New York, where my grandparents live. I'm pretty sure I have the cutest grandparents in the world. We had such a nice relaxing time, even as that part of the country was going through an intense heat wave--it was still cooler than Nanchang and Topeka, though.

I have to say that Rochester, NY is a very cultured place with a lot of educated people. It's like being in a different culture again. One of my favorite parts of our trip was going to an old theater, called the Dryden Theater. The theater was several decades old, but had been restored. It played an old 1930s movie with Cary Grant, "Topper," to a crowded, cozy theater. I always felt like I was born in the wrong decade.

We also helped Grandma and Grandpa clean and organize, and we just spent a lot of good quality time together. I also got to learn more about how Grandma's parents came from Lithuania, and the people and lives they left behind.

On Thursday we took a day trip up to Ontario, Canada. I've been there a good several times by now, but it's always a pleasant little journey, especially on the back roads and little highways. We stopped at a cute little town called Niagara-on-the-lake, and also Niagara Falls. I've been to Niagara Falls a few times, but each time is like seeing it for the first time! I'm amazed at God's power and creativity.

And now I'm back in Kansas. Late last night Mom and I were standing on the curb at the Kansas City airport waiting for the shuttle bus. I felt happy to be back under the big Midwestern sky, but also a little confused with the amount of Chinese people we saw right there. A Chinese family was getting into a car and talking in Mandarin, which I could understand. Then to the right of us was a man squatting on the sidewalk by his suitcase, probably waiting for someone. He was also definitely Chinese. I could recognize that Chinese way of sitting anywhere. So it seems that the Far East has followed me to the Midwest...


Fairport, where my grandparents live.


Grandpa!


Lunch with Grandma.


Niagara Falls.

Friendliness and Floods

I've stumbled upon the "Land of Super-Friendliness." Did anyone realize just how friendly Kansans are? Even when you are walking, you must say hello to the one person walking clear on the other side of the street. Everyone in the grocery store smiles at you, even those who aren't employees. During the "meet and greet" minute at church, people walk around hugging practically all 300 hundred people. The older the people are, and the higher waisted pants they have, that means they are even friendlier! :)

There was also an article in the paper that seems to affirm the friendliness and helpfulness of people around these here parts. The other day a small film crew was filming a few people downtown for a short movie. The actress had (fake) blood all over her, and was lying on the street. Bad idea in Topeka--because everyone's going to try to help you, even if it's not real! And that's exactly what happened. Apparently tons of people stopped to see if they were okay, and many people called 911. The film crew was impressed at how much people cared and tried to help.

In other news, I started taking ballet classes again, which is fun. After an absence of about 5 years, everyone's grown up so much, and some of the dancers in the advanced class are half my age. I feel like the old, washed-up ballerina. The teacher every once and a while would sigh in the middle of class and say things like, "Laura had such beautiful legs!" "Oh, Laura's feet were incredible." "Watch Laura, she was such a nice dancer!" Even though I'm past my prime, I still enjoyed it a lot-- I forgot how much I missed dancing, and I could still hold my own in that class of young, energetic whippersnappers.

And in China news, I've been in touch with a few students. If you've been reading the news at all, there always talk of the floods and landslides in China. Our province, Jiangxi, has been one of the affected areas. It started raining the day after I left, and apparently hasn't really ever stopped. A dam broke, destroying tons of houses. One of my students said that the premier, Wen Jiabao, who is a very popular leader in China, even came to Nanchang to tour the destruction. People are sort of used to flooding, it seems. Many of my students have already lost their homes in previous floods. I think they were just excited that the premier came to visit the fair city.

So I'm leaving you some pictures from the flooding in Nanchang.


A guy riding his bike in Nanchang.


A guy wading through the flood waters with a guy on his shoulders.


This is the Ganjiang River in Nanchang. The river is covering that small house.


This isn't in Nanchang, but it's still a crazy picture of the flood's intensity.