Christmasing

Hello, faithful readers! I'm in a dream-- somehow I've found myself in my little room at home on the Kansas prairie. To be honest, I haven't wanted to come back to Topeka. Of course I want to see my family in my first Christmas with them since 2007, but I don't get excited about my hometown. I actually sort of dread coming back to this place. Topeka is safe, dreary, and depressing, to be honest. Things are also different, since the last time I spent Christmas here. My dear, sweet Grandma's gone, people are out of work, and I've seen and done a lot since then...

But on the positive side, there's so many things to be thankful for. First of all, by God's grace, I finished my first semester of grad school! I even got good enough grades to keep my scholarship, which means I'll continue on with my degree. I also did some crazy things to celebrate, like sledding down amazingly steep Indiana hills, which Kansas sure doesn't have. Then Andrea came up from Florida for a couple of days, and we got to walk through the snow and have a grand old sisterly time together. Then we drove the 10 hour-long drive home, with a stop at the Kansas City airport to pick up Andrea's Chinese classmate, Sarah.

In a couple of days two more Chinese students, Mandy and Maggie, will also be joining us. They have become two of my Mom's "daughters." So I love how it is my first American Christmas in a while, but it will still be very Chinese! Please think of all of these dear girls. We've already had some great conversations with Sarah. Sarah doesn't know about the Son, but she is already open. She is my "Mei Mei," or younger sister and has quickly become a part of our family.

I'm just incredibly thankful that Mom and Andrea thought of inviting these girls into our home. This is the first Christmas for all of them, and Andrea thought it would be so neat to share the love of Christ with them by inviting them into our family. And another cool thing about Sarah is that she is an exchange student from Harbin Engineering University, where my former teammate and roommate from China, Jodi, is now teaching! What a small, small world.

I'm leaving you with a couple of pictures, but I'm sure I'll have more of my Chinese little sisters in the coming days. Have a blessed week!


My gorgeous, but freezing campus!


Campus/Narnia


Baby Andrea, the Floridian, in the snow


Reading by the toasty fireplace at school

Racing toward the finish

The title of this blog says I'm "racing toward the finish." More like crawling. Having final exams around Christmas time isn't the best plan. There's gorgeous snow outside, there are a million Christmas parties to go to, and there's tons of food to eat. I've started studying a bit, but have lost a lot of motivation.

It all started with ice-skating on Saturday. The graduate student association for our program has an annual ice-skating party. For only $2.50 we could skate and hang out. I picked up skating again pretty easily, although the poor Chinese people were the ones falling all over the place. It reminded me of roller skating with my baby students in China. About ten of them would hold on to me for dear life, because most of them just couldn't get the hang of skating, although that was their 100th time trying. It also reminded me of the last time when I went ice-skating. It was last winter in Xinjiang, the Siberia of China. I've never felt so cold.

Speaking of cold, think of my dear former teammate and roommate, Jodi. She's still serving in China in the northeastern city of Harbin. Currently the windchill is -41 degrees there. Brrr!!

It started snowing here on Saturday night. We only got a few inches, but we still got the blizzard conditions. Schools are closed today, and I'm once again holed up inside studying. I really can't go anywhere with the roads and -1 windchill and want to go crazy. The salt trucks keep coming down our tiny street, but the roads stay the same. All my friends are studying anyway, and I ought to be doing the same!

Yesterday, though, before the blowing snow started, I went to church. Then by evening, the crazy weather began. I went to hang out at my friends' house, because they have a fireplace. It was only a ten minute walk, but I was a bit afraid I'd fall into a snow drift. Everything was eerily quiet outside, and the wind was throwing sharp little pieces of snow in my face. It was nice to sit by a cozy fire then with my wonderful friends!

Okay, now I'm really going to start studying again and I'll leave you with some pictures. Stay warm and healthy!


InterVarsity Graduate-Faculty Ministry Christmas Party


Reading poetry by the fire


Vanessa's expressive reading of a Shel Silverstein poem


Getting ready to brave the weather again

Winter Fairyland

Out on the lawn there arose such a clatter
I sprang from my Ikea bed to see what was the matter
Away to the window I flew like a flash
I threw open the curtains my Mom had lovingly made
When, what to my wandering eyes should appear?
But a miniature pick-up truck and eight tiny men shoveling a heck of a lot of snow...

I feel like I live in a winter fairyland, just like what they sing about in the millions of Christmas songs I've been listening to on the radio. I am quite excited for Christmas, or as least an American version. It's like I'm a little kid. I am, but even more so lately. Everything is magical.

On Saturday, we got several inches of gorgeous, sparkling snow. The woods behind our apartments were covered, deer played in the big, nearby field, and kids went sledding down the hills next to our neighborhood.

I begrudgingly finished all my homework so I could get on with the festive side of life. I merrily walked to the post office in the falling snow, smiling and thanking the people shoveling (another awesome reason to live in an apartment), and waving at the post people delivering mail in their tiny, boxy vehicles that weren't designed for snow. The last time I saw snowfall was in Xinjiang, China, where it was -30 degrees and they used pick-axes to clear the ice and snow on the roads... And I was less excited about the snow by Saturday night when it took me 20 minutes to dig it out of the snow that encased it.

After shedding some tears yesterday, I'm back on track. All of a sudden I felt incredibly homesick for China. I think it was sort of triggered when I was told I basically did a horrible job creating a newsletter at my job, and then when I was walking around in a daze in Target. Where did all of these gaudy Christmas decorations come from? If America's in such a terrible recession, why is everyone walking around with a pile of pointless junk in their carts? Why do people look so frazzled and anxious? And more importantly, why are people still wearing Uggs?

Well, I better get back to analyzing the Tuolumne hydroelectric project for economics. Hooray! Merry Christmas!


Some of the snow when I woke up.


Narnia at the back of our apartments.

Life Fast Forward

Hi again, folks. I know you must be surprised to hear from me again so soon. I have managed to turn in some pretty hefty assignments in the past few days, so I'm giving myself a tiny break for tonight before the crunch begins again.

A part of me wants this semester to be over now! But then I am reminded of how I love my classmates and life here. Life is also fleeting, and I can't always be wishing toward the future. I want to enjoy here and now, even if it is filled with lots of statistical software and economics case studies that threaten to drive me insane...

Besides, life is also filled with awesome people, an enjoyable job, gorgeous scenery, a great church, and so many other blessings and challenges. Last night I was leaving work at city hall in the dark at 7 p.m. It was snowing beautiful, fluffy snowflakes and had accumulated on the roofs and grass during the day. All of downtown, including city hall, was lit up with white lights and pretty wreaths. I finally had some decent boots on and was feeling rather cute and festive. I've been feeling worn out, but I am glad I can still thank God for little glimpses of heaven... except I probably won't be wearing a winter coat in heaven.

Speaking of winter coats, another thing I'm so thankful for right now is heat inside! I spent the past two, long winters decked out in multiple layers of long underwear and outerwear that I had to wear outside and inside. Remember my stories of getting chillblains on my fingers and having frozen, white toes in China? I want to practically shout for joy every time I go into a warm building here. Maybe I'll forget about that soon, but I'm still counting my blessings! We take so many things for granted here in America.

I'm also thankful for people. I have spent this semester in a small "cohort" of people. We were assigned to the cohort, and have all the same classes together. I've grown quite fond of them, and will be sad to have different classes without them next semester. I've learned a lot from them, and respect them a lot. Our last classes together are next week. The following week we have finals.

And even thought it's been freezing, I've been walking the 40 minute walk home from campus instead of taking the city bus. It has given me a lot of opportunities to clear my mind and freeze my face off. Today I was thinking about some things in American culture that changed since I was away:

What's new and didn't exist before I left for China:
-Twitter
-The recession
-Justin Bieber
-Lady Gaga
-The Obama administration
-The smart phone craze
-Leggings
-Sarah Palin

What's old and doesn't exist anymore:
-The "poof" hairstyle
-The Bush administration
-Mercury, Pontiac, and Saturn cars
-Jobs

What persists and I wish would go away:
-Uggs
-Fake tans
-The U.S. deficit
-Annoying politics
-Aforementioned leggings
-Sarah Palin

Thankfulness

On a crisp autumn afternoon last week, my dearest mother arrived on my doorstep in Bloomington! In between going to classes, Mom and I hung out, went on walks, visited my church, and talked a lot about everything under the sun. Then she and I drove the looooong way to Rochester, NY to visit our dear, dear grandparents! Andrea flew up from Florida, and we had ourselves a very pleasant, blessed Thanksgiving.

I haven't gotten to see my family much over the past few years, so every time I can see them is a time to thank the Father. And even though Andrea and I don't see each other much, we still say the same things and talk like twins. We just don't really look like twins. How can we be related?

Anyway, we got to cook, visit different places in Rochester, enjoy a bit of snow, and loved being with each other. It was also great to love and help serve and pamper our grandparents--especially Grandma, who works so hard!

I don't know what else to say, except it's sort of a let down to be back at school, still failing different quizzes, etc. But I'm trying to look forward to the awesome things and people God's put in my life here, too. I did sort of miss my classmates; they all had crazy Thanksgivings filled with events like getting engaged, going to tropical islands, and even getting into car wrecks... You might not hear much from me over the next 3 weeks with classes, papers, projects, and final exams coming to a climax.

Hope your Thanksgiving caused you to reflect on your many blessings!


Reunited with my baby sister.


Baby Andrea making an amazing apple pie from scratch! She has taken over the apple pie-making business from Grandpa-the best teacher!


Grandpa with chocolate that came all the way from Abilene, Kansas.


Sharing a laugh with the cutest grandma.


Hot chocolate weather.


Mama and Andrea.


An amazing gingerbread house at the Eastman House.

I heart China

Tonight I was at my Korean friend's house playing Balderdash with people. His Chinese roommate walked in, and I realized that I am a bit too eager when I meet a Chinese person. I meet a new Chinese person almost every day, but I am still like this. I automatically speak to them in Chinese, and then they answer me back in their perfect English. I practically attack them. He was once again from the big city of Chengdu. I have yet to meet a Chinese person here from a "lesser" city like Nanchang.

Like I said in another post, most of the Chinese who come to study must be quite well-off. Remember my Chinese friends Grace and Jian? Well, they're going to... Hawaii for our very short Thanksgiving break. Hawaii. Yep, they're rich. I've never known wealthy Chinese people. But they're still in need of friendship and a Savior.

And remember some of my baby students, who could only dream of flying on an airplane, let alone going to Hawaii? A lot of them still keep in touch with me through email or Skype. Thanks, Father, for technology that bridges the ocean! My business English students are now in their third year of college, meaning they're basically done. Most of them are leaving this month for internships in far away cities. I'm extremely proud of them, but also anxious for them. I know many of their "internships" won't be much better than toiling in a factory. Some of them might end up in factories. But I hope and pray that they'll remember there is a Father who loves them more than they could imagine, and a Redeemer who will get them through the toughest days.

One thing I couldn't quite imagine was being a Chinese believer. I happened to be a believer in China, but that was nearly totally different. I didn't have all the constraints and obstacles that most Chinese believers have. I remember hearing a pastor recently say that sometimes people need "less exhortation and more encouragement." I could exhort my fellow Chinese believers, but often they just need a whole lot of encouragement to keep running the race!

A case in point is my dear Chinese sister "R". We email nearly every week and talk frequently on Skype. It nearly broke my heart to leave her, but she needed to be able to fly on her own and with the help of fellow Chinese sisters and brothers. I have just tried to encourage, encourage, and encourage her. She has recently broken up with her non-believer boyfriend, is being engaged with her fellowship, and growing in the Word. I didn't judge her or lecture her when she had that boyfriend or often didn't go to fellowship. She needed to make her faith her own. And she needed a lot of encouragement to keep living in Him. I don't know what it's like to be a Chinese believer, but I can love them and pray for them... He's the One who changes hearts.

Please continue to think of our Chinese brothers and sisters!

I'm leaving you with a precious picture my old students sent me last week. It was their last picture (in the shape of a heart, of course) before they all left the university to find work. So sweet! Father, watch over them...

Novembering

Wow, where does life go? It's already 9:45 a.m. on November 10th, 2010! I had class at 8 a.m. this morning and took yet another economics quiz. I may have actually gotten better than a 70% this time. Studying for those quizzes and preparing for the econ papers makes me want to tear my hair out most days.

Speaking of hair, one of my classmates who is only 23 dyed her hair recently. She said it's because she found gray hair, which she attributes to the stress at grad school. (I think I would also attribute some of it to her boyfriend, who's always around).

I'm 24, thankfully without gray hair, and am starting to feel a wee bit old. Yesterday I got my hair cut by a woman who looked in her late 20s. She had perfect hair, perfect makeup, and super stylish clothes. She looked a good 5 years old than I was. Then she started talking about how she's 24 and an "old maid." It was really strange. If she's an old maid at 24, doesn't that also make me an old maid? I didn't really care about that part. But why don't I look 24? I think I'm going to go straight from looking 18 to 35.

I also try not to care about those things, because there are also a lot of other better things to think about. My Chinese friend, Grace, has still been coming to church with me. This past Sunday she also brought her boyfriend, Jian, who is from Beijing. They are both very well-off. I've never really hung out with Chinese people who are far richer than I am. I drove us all to church in my Ford (which I'm thankful to have!) and he nonchalantly mentioned the brand-new Audi he has. I was like, "Son, why am I driving?" Later he did pay for us when we went out to eat lunch at a Chinese restaurant, although I tried to fight him for the bill true Chinese-style.

Grace's parents are government officials, meaning they have amazing security and perks for life. Jian's parents are bankers. They both studied at the best universities in Beijing. The majority of all their classmates from China are also studying in America. It's the thing to do. They have led almost opposite lives from my dear baby students in Nanchang. Most of my students' parents were poor farmers or migrant workers in factories...

But no matter rich or poor, everyone still needs to know His love! Please remember Grace and Jian--I'd love to study the Word with them! They are both very open.