Life Adventures

Okay, so I’m off to Beijing tomorrow at 5 a.m. . . . at present the countdown is like 16 hours!!!! Woo-hoo!!! So, I won’t be back at home until the 3rd of July, so don’t expect posts or comments, not that you do anyway.

I promise to give lots of pics when I get back.

My sister just called to say she got delayed on the first leg of her flight to China . . . Tampa to Chicago . . . apparently the weather is pretty bad in Chicago, so they circled and then landed in Indiana to get more fuel and then have to wait for the okay from Chicago to come back in . . . hoping she doesn’t miss her connection to China!!! Eek! All that really matters is that she gets here! Preferrably this week.

Love you all!

Okay, do you see that countdown . . . it’s getting pretty close!!!! Yeah!!!! We had a little scare when my mom thought my sister had a detached retina and my brother thought she had eye cancer and I guessed it was just roaches that had laid eggs in her eye while she was sleeping, but really it was just a really bad case of pink eye, so the trip is still on.

At this moment, I would like to say I love Becca Fleming . . . about a week ago I opened the box she and her mom sent me with the referee shirts and some other stuff, and I was much envied by all those present. The referee shirts are cool, but the coolest was the Cats t-shirt, Cats mug, and Cats newspaper clipping!! Everyone’s jealous of my very cool referee shirts and red/yellow cards . . . etc. So, for today, Becca is my favorite person. If you would like to be my favorite person, send packages (i.e. my birthday is July 30th!!!)

Camp planning is getting a little crazy, but it’s going to work out. It’ll be extra great since my sis is coming!!! I can’t wait!!!! Oh, and Becca, since you are my favorite student (and your mom’s my favorite mom who’s not my mom), I’ll try to send something Chinese your way. I may send it back with my sis to save on shipping costs, but while I’m in Beijing, I’ll try to think of you. If you have any requests, you should let me know.

Love you ALL. Domico

Today, I got to go to Jilin city with some of my colleagues at the Taxation College. It was great. One of the funniest parts was that I was the only native English speaker along with 3 Japanese teachers, a Greek teacher, and a Korean teacher and of course my boss and her office workers. When we wanted to communicate we ended up using a mixture of Chinese and English that was pretty amusing. I even ended up translating for the Korean friend . . . Lucy, one of my boss’s office workers would say something in English but the Kim, the Korean teacher, wouldn’t understand, so I’d have to re-explain it in English using simpler words and my native English accent. It was fun. Here’s some pics:

First, we went on a boat for FOREVER to get to this special mountain to see a view of the city and lake . . . it really was worth it. This is (from L to R) Lucy Wang (my supervisor), me, Eo (the Greek guy), Kim (the Korean) and Eo’s girlfriend

Cool dragon we passed on the way to where we were going . . . it threatened to rain the entire day but managed to hold off until we stopped for lunch/dinner and then it really poured.

This is my driver to takes me to school every day. He went with us here too. He insisted we have our picture taken together. He’s pretty good at teaching me Chinese too. We had fun.

A view of the hills/mountains/whatever you call them from our boat. It really was breathtakingly green and beautiful.

We climbed 5000 steps and almost fell off the side of this hill/mountain and then finally got to the top. It was absolutely gorgeous!!!!

My driver, triumphant!! He kept yelling at me to hurry up even though I thought my legs were going to fall off. They didn’t, of course, but he was pretty excited when he got to the top.

I had to go to the bathroom while I was here . . . after all, we’d had a 2 hour ride to Jilin, a 2 hour boat ride, and a good 45-minute hike up this hill . . . well, the bathroom . . . how do I describe it . . . it was the “coolest” one I’ve been to yet. It was a cement room with three stalls separated by a wall about as high as my waist with no door. You straddled a 6-8 inch wide opening (about 2 feet long) and went to the bathroom. The opening goes straight down to the ground below outside (about 3 ft down). Luckily it has been raining the past few days, so the view and smell weren’t too bad, but the experience was great!

This is everyone, minus the picture taker, that went with us on the trip today. This is at Five Tiger Island in Jilin. It’s kinda a park. Left to right: driver, Lucy Wang, Eo, his girlfriend, Ms. Tao (my boss), me, Japanese teacher, Kim, Japanese teacher married to the first Japanese teacher, Hope (one of the foreign affairs office workers), and the other Japanese teacher. There’ll be a quiz on that later!!

Yes, that’s me in a traditional empress’ costume in a traditional empress’ carriage. Ya know the ones the people carried on their shoulders when they carried you around. It’s also a marriage carriage. Coincidentally, we (Lucy, Kim and I) we tossing coins into this “wishing well” of sorts when we first arrived at the Five Tiger Island. You stand on different Chinese characters to determine your fortune and if you get the coin into the fountain, it’ll come true. I tried standing on the marriage one first, but I didn’t get it in . . . Kim did. Then I tried the lover one, got it in! So I guess that means I’m destined for a boyfriend this year!!! Woohoo! Yeah right!

This was a pagoda tower we climbed up to get another view of the island. Inside they have animals too . . . peacocks, bears, monkeys, birds . . . etc.

This was the view on the way back home. There was a FULL rainbow and it even doubled . . . you can’t see it in this pic, but it was there, I promise. I love rainbows!

Overall, a fun-filled day. I think I’ll go to sleep now and dream of my soon coming boyfriend.

Love you!!!

Well, it seems that we’ve hit the rainy season in Changchun. It’s rained almost every day for two weeks. I’m supposed to go on a trip to nearby Jilin, but the rain is threatening to ruin the day, so we’ll see.

Yesterday, I hosted a dinner for six of my students. They were chosen as the winners of a travel brochure contest we had in my writing class, so I treated them to pizza, tacos, salad, and garlic bread. It was a pretty good time. Of course, we took some pictures, so I thought I’d share them with you.

In case you’re wondering . . . I miss home, and my students, and lots of stuff, but as you can see I’m having a great time. Love you!!!

That’s Daphne (on the left), me, Jessica and Grace.

Then, the girls from the other class from left to right, Nicky, Deanna, me and Lisa

And me, as my usual self, CRAZY!

You know, some days just take your breath away. You’re just overcome with the intricacies of life . . . how is it that in such a big universe, the head teacher can arrange such intricate and minute details that work together in this beautiful masterpiece? Today, I saw a small part of the masterpiece come together and I was moved to tears. I got to be a part of it, some of you got to be a part of it, and the head teacher saw fit to use stupid ole me, of all people. I know I’m normally talking about life in China, and that’s the purpose of this blog, but today REALLY WAS breathtaking . . . over and over I found myself with tears welling up in my eyes as I thought about how much the head teacher loves me, how much he loves this new masterpiece, how much he’s used even YOU to create the very masterpiece born today! I’m SO undeserving. WE’RE so undeserving. Today, I know a glimpse of how much He loves me, and let me tell you, it’s humbling. It’s overwhelming. It’s awe-inspiring. It’s just too much but yet exactly what I need and what everyone needs to become his masterpiece. Words can’t express how thankful I am for one who sees fit to love me . . . thank you, each of you, for your thoughts you send to the head teacher on my behalf . . . they do have power and they are being heard. I know because I saw the answer today. Part of today’s masterpiece belongs to you, and one day, I know you’re going to see that your thoughts turned into Chinese masterpieces of beauty created by the head teacher, and you’ll know and feel what I felt today. Anything I thought I gave up when I came here was completely worth it for what happened today even if it’s the only masterpiece I see in my entire time here. I hope you know my heart and can rejoice with me over today’s creation. Just wanted you to know my happiness from above.

I love you.

Rain and Rain and Rain . . . at least it waited until I finished my class to really start pouring. There’s something about rain that’s peaceful . . . is that an oxymoron? In the midst of the worst storm rain has this calming effect . . . maybe its the sounds, kinda like the ocean or something. It also makes me want to do nothing but curl up under the covers and sleep. It does cool things off and get a lot of the pollen out of the air . . . we have this cotton-like stuff that floats around everywhere in the spring. One of my friends calls it spring snow. It’s some sort of pollen that blankets everything like snow. Kinda like a dandelion seed . . . you know those flowers you blow and the seeds fly everywhere. Except these are really EVERYWHERE!!! and they blanket everything, and my allergies DON’T like it.

Well, I hope you’re having fun. I have English corner at the new cafe today. We’ll see how many show up . . . especially if it keeps raining. I think I’m going to make some chicken nuggets for lunch . . . hmmm. . .

Talk at ya later. Love ya, Domico

Okay, so yesterday, I saw something a little weird . . .

We were driving to my friends house for a meeting and in the next lane was a guy on a motorcycle with his German-shepherd size dog RUNNING on a leash behind his cycle!!! AHHHH!! That’s really taking your dog for a walk.

Saturday I went to quite possibly the best restaurant I’ve been in since I got here. One of my students took me to a South American Barbecue restaurant . . . Oh, WOW! Hard to describe how yummy it was. You pay 30 yuan and get 20 different kinds of meat that are roasted on these huge skewers . . . Mmmmm! On the downside, I discovered that I don’t like ox tongue and octopus (2 of our choices), but the rest was divine . . . I was stuffed to the gills.

Oral English exams start next week!!! Writing exam not until July 5!!! BOOOOO!! But whatever.

Have fun while I’m still sitting in a classroom teaching! Love ya.

Sorry that I’ve taken so long to update. I was booted out of Internet land for about 3 days for some system change over they were doing on our server, but I’m back now . . . obviously. . . we’re still in classes for about 4 more weeks. The good news is that my sister will be here in just 27 days!!! I know that makes her a little nervous, but I’m super excited.

Well, I have some pics for you, as promised, of our picnic at Nanhu park with my English corner. Enjoy.

This is the crew at the front of the park. A memorial to the liberation of China from Japan.

This is all of us (me included) with some foreign friends we met there. They were in Changchun for a survey trip so they can inform teachers stateside about the options available in China.

Same group with our best crazy faces!

I miss you all . . . but mostly I miss sleep, so I’m going to get some.

Love you, Me

Okay, so Foreign Language Festival is FINALLY over!!! As you can tell, I got behind and didn’t post the last few days, so here’s the recap:

Wednesday: Food and Culture day. Classes are asked to make dishes representative of certain foreign cultures. I was also asked to cook and made garlic cheese biscuits. Other games and talents of other countries were shared as well. My friend Judi and I dressed as cowboys and sang “Red River Valley.”

These were the hosts dresssed in tradition Japanese, Western, and Korean garb (L to R)

Some of my students before the show . . . aren’t they cute?

We had some “karate” guys . . . I’m not exactly sure what branch of martial arts, but pretty cool stuff.

Great Korean game. Similar to chicken, but you have to keep your one foot up, while trying to knock the other person off balance. Fun to watch.

Judi, me and my student Bob right before we went on to sing our song.

Me with the hostess (on my left) on one of my students on my right.

Thursday: Bilingual Speech Competition. Students have to give a speech in the language of their major and minor. For example, my students are English major, so they prepare an English speech, but they’re Japanese minors, so they must also prepare a speech in Japanese. It’s pretty intense. We also have Japanese and Korean majors at my college as well. I was a judge for the English portion.

As you can see, it was highly exciting, and I chose to match the upholstery as well!

My student Alexander trying to explain in an impromptu speech, why I should buy this very real looking toy snake from him.

The final winners: the one on the far right, my student Talia. The others were Japanese majors.

Then came Friday, the final celebration. I prepared to sing “When You Say Nothing At All” and prepared a slide show as well with pics of the week in it along with pics of my students and stuff. They loved it, and maybe I’ll post the video of me singing later. We’ll see. Mostly this was just a talent night with just a little competition.

Me preparing to be a very serious judge and my student Yolanda behind me!

Me singing my song with, yes, bubbles floating around me!

Me with some students . . . L to R Grace, Snow, and Crystal.

Me and Rain (my student) I’m trying to look gansta, but I don’t think I’m pullin’ it off.

Went on a picnic today . . . of course, took pics, so you may be plagued with seeing those as well.

I miss ya and love ya . . . Domico

To my dear Northside Drama Children,
Words really can’t reflect how much my heart hurts for you. As I told others, I wish I could be there and wrap you in a hug that would erase all the hurt, pain, guilt, and questions that arise when someone so close to you dies. But, I do know that my Father’s love is with you and around you, and his love is far greater and far more powerful. My thoughts have been always with you and will continue to be with you. May you run to the Father’s arms and find perfect peace and comfort during this time. I love you.
Always your teacher, Bochinko

__________

Okay, DAY ONE of the Foreign Language Festival is DONE!!! Yippee! For me, this was the most intensive day. I had to host the event which meant speaking in Chinese a good bit (for me anyways), keeping the program going, and singing “Take Me to Your Heart” too. Well, enough of me telling you what I did, how ’bout I show you?

Me and my co-host, Donovan (He Liang) before the show. He also happens to be one of my freshman English students. As you can see he was a little nervous.

This is me performing my very “serious” Chinese poem, Jian ke. It’s about a guy who hasn’t used a sword in 10 years, but on this night he will show his most excellent skills. It got a good laugh.

Me and Donovan, obviously having a good time hosting.

I have no idea what I was doing here, but the look on Donovan’s face is priceless.

This is us singing, “Take Me To Your Heart.” Quite possibly the most popular English song in China.

Yeah, it’s over!!!!!!

Me, with one of the organizers of the Festival. He’s the president of the Student Union, I think.

Some more of the organizers of the event. The one on the far right was the head organizer and my student, Yoyo (Zhang Xinxin)

Two of my favorite guys . . . their best buds . . . Donavan and Rain (Wang Libo) I just really like the picture. Rain did all of the backstage stuff: organizing format, adding scores, making sure I knew what everyone was saying in Chinese. . . that kind of stuff.

Overall, a good night. I slept in till almost noon today because I was so tired. Have night 2 ahead tonight . . . Translation competition. I’ll fill you in on the details later.

Love you . . . Domico