Curtain Call

Well, I am back on American soil for the first time in a year. People in Beijing had warned me of reverse culture shock after being gone for this long. First impressions? Well, ordering coffee is easier in English than it was in Chinese, but I paid almost as much for a 16 oz cup ($ 3.69) as I did for my last dress shirt at the cotton market (Y 30.0 = $3.90).

I slept the entire way from Tokyo to Detroit – I finally got lucky this time and had a window seat with an empty seat to my right, so I could stretch out a bit without having a massively overweight man’s gut rubbing up against me (happened twice, see previous blogs.) So now, on the three hour flight from Detroit to Houston, I am awake enough to do a little writing and a lot processing.

“How was Beijing?” How can I answer that question? Maybe I aught to just describe the concrete things. Beijing was great – I learned the value of hard work: 60 – 78 hours worth every week. And in my free time I learned to love Chinese food and chop sticks, to speak a little of the language, and to just smile and nod when communication completely breaks down. I became a skilled bargainer and bike-rider, and I learned to hack and spit like a local (a habit I need to break again very soon.) I hiked along a Great Wall, toured the forbidden city, jumped planes and trains all over China, and loved every moment of it. I made good friends too – and made connections (guanxi) which may last a lifetime.

But inside I know there is more to it that that. I couldn’t have lived apart from everyone and everything familiar for a year and not return a changed man; there was a growing and maturing process which I can’t really describe. This kid left home for a year, got his first full-time job, and lived among a people in a culture which doesn’t speak, eat, or even think like those he grew up with. I learned to adapt quickly and to be flexible and forgiving with people who are so different and a society that was so foreign; to the point that in my mind now Beijing is home, and home is estranged, but that should also change with time.

“What are you going to do when you get back to Texas?” is a much easier question for me to answer. It is raining in Houston right now, a good strong Texas rain – not the Beijing drizzle I grew used to. I know that when my plane touches down and the humidity hits me like a wet blanket, I will take a deep breath of air that feels fresher than any I have tasted in months. My family will be waiting for me after I claim my bags. I’ll give each a big old hug; then we will talk and laugh as we load up the car and drive down familiar highways and neighborhood streets past office buildings, churches, schools, and shipping centers I have seen a thousand times before. We will pull onto the street where my parents live, where I grew up; the maple tree we planted fifteen years ago is now taller than our house, and the leaves will be rustling in the wind and rain. My dog will bark as we pull into the driveway, and then shy away when I first step through the back gate, but she will recognize me and lick my shoes, hands, and chin as I bend down to stroke her. The back door squeaks as it opens, unless dad oiled it, and I’ll throw all of my bags into the middle of the living room. I’ll wash my hands, and then we’ll eat a home-cooked meal – only my third of the year, and for the remainder of the evening I will show off my souvenirs and tell tales of strange faces and faraway places until I collapse on the big leather sofa and fall asleep.

...

Well, That’s pretty much what happened. Life at home is more predictable – a good transition for now – but it won’t be this way for long. From this pilgrim’s perspective, living is an adventure down a long and winding road, and I haven’t a clue what might be just around the next bend.

This is the End of the Chronicles of Beijing Ag. Blogging was fun; I'll have to keep another travel log next time I leave the country - until next time!

“Home is behind, the world ahead, and there are many paths to tread.” - JRR Tolkien

Return to the Wall

Great Wall, Take II:
Jinshanling, Hebei Province
Monday, May 28th, 2007

Men In Black

Saturday evening was freakin' sweet! I helped out at the American Chamber of Commerce Beijing Charity Ball. For the price of being a crowd plant in the mini-show (me in costume, see right,) I got to hob-nob with the affluent of Beijing while eating complimentary food and sipping complimentary drinks. For a guy who gets a kick out of meeting new people, networking, and eating, this was the party of parties!

I was not alone, my friend John (cone-head on left) was the star of the mini-show, and three other friends are members of the feature band.

The event was fantastically organized - they really went all-out! Our theme was Men in Black, so everyone showed in black suits and tuxes.










Here's the band. That's Rich on the trumpet and Joe on the mic. Tanya also sang backup female vocalist. These guys are very talented - I was/still am very impressed.

Friday night was the Regen Formal – our closing event of the year for youth group before the kids all leave for vacation this summer. Most will travel back to the states or their respective home countries for a while to visit family and friends. We had a great time!

The youth leaders (that’s me) might have enjoyed the formal even more than the kids. Most of us used this event as an excuse to get new dresses and suits tailored, (fitted dress cloths are the norm for us in China) so everyone was looking beautiful that evening. We had great food, catered by Peter’s Tex-Mex, great fellowship and even a little dancing (at a church formal!) All around, this was a great way to end the youth-group year. This uniqe group of students and leaders has defined my Beijing experience in so many ways. I am blessed to have been a part of their lives for this short season.

Urban Tribe

From Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urban_tribe

"Urban tribes are groups of people in urban areas who have some kind of close association based upon similar lifestyles or activities. Subcultures, such as urban tribes, are more common in larger cities where the enormous size and complexity of the society create a sense of alienation or isolation on the level of the individual. This, in turn, can lead to the (official or unofficial) formation of urban tribes in which people effectively unite behind a common interest to create a smaller-scale community within a larger, overall society.

Although the phrase urban tribe implies nothing about age or marriage, Ethan Watters defines urban tribes as groups of never-married's between the ages of 25 and 45 who gather in common-interest groups and enjoy the urban lifestyle."

So I've gone tribal. Cool, huh?

Saying Goodbye

Two of my friends left for the USA this weekend, and there will be more and more following. I know of several guys leaving next week, even more the week after that, and then it is my turn to return to the USA! My time in Beijing is running out.

Saying goodbye to Rahman at "The Tree"Resteraunt

Billy's farewell dinner at T.G.I.Fridays

Let's go Fly a Kite

Baseball is to the USA, as kite-flying in Tienanmen is to Beijing. It’s pretty much a national pastime. If you live in Beijing for a year without flying a kite is Tienanmen Square, well, you aren’t getting the full China experience. Seriously.

The weather was PERFECT. This whole week has been unusually nice, but Wednesday evening is one of the prettiest I have seen this year. Sunset over the Chinese capitol building was just right.

I will miss this city. I never thought that Beijing would become home; I have been content living here. But I know that this season of life is coming to an end and I'll be back in school soon. One day, I think I will return to Beijing.

More things I never thought I'd pick up in China...

1. Snowboarding
2. Salsa
3. Guitar
4. Chinese Folk Dance
5. Chinese Cooking

Things I Never thought I'd do in China...

Something I never expected to pick up in China:

Skateboarding - aren't those kneepads awesome???

But I guess that's what happens when I befriend the owner of a snow and skateboard shop. Tuan is a really cool guy - he's an avid boarder on all turfs - snow, surf, and pavement.

So on Monday I learned how to stand on a skateboard, then how to go straight, then how to turn. I picked up a couple of simple tricks as well - maybe next time I'll learn to grind...

We went out for Korean afterward - not a bad way to spend an evening, huh?

It is Well

Have you ever been completely at peace? I'm not just talking about the kind of contentment that comes after eating a good meal, or relieving yourself after a long car trip, or from napping in the grass on a sunny day after finishing a stressful exam. To be completely emotionally and spiritually at peace; no anxiety, no nagging ambition, no worries. A moment of this kind of peace – to be really satisfied with what is – is a gift from above.

My time in Beijing is nearly finished - I expect to return to Texas June 16th, and I am content with the way my time has been spent. My expectations for this year were not met - they have been exceeded a thousand-fold! This has been an incredibly full year, I could never have guessed that I would do the things I have done, see the places I have seen, and met some of the most incredible people there could possibly be. Life is full of surprises - you just have to be open to guidance from the one who directs our paths, and be ready for an adventure!

Day 3: Rainy Li River Cruise

And still it rains...Not at all discouraged, Rahman and I signed up for an early morning river cruise. Adrianna opted to continue sleeping until 10:00 again! The scenery is ridiculously cool, the mountains look especially magical in a misty rain, but I do wish we could have seen the countryside in full sun at least once. I’ll just have to go back sometime!

There is one thing you should know about traveling in China. Most of the Chinese tourists have never left their own country, and many have never even seen anyone who is not Chinese - so they wanted pictures with us. The blond-headed Polish and German girls we met were also very popular with Chinese tourists.

These are the two best pictures I captured from the river cruise. (Above and Below)

This village’s architecture is much different from Beijing. Many of the buildings on this street are made of wood – while in Beijing all of the older buildings are of mud bricks or concrete. Makes for great pictures!
Life in busy, glitzy, polluted Beijing can be a love-hate relationship, but I really fell for sleepy rural China.

Beautiful

Yangshuo is one of the most beautiful places on earth. This is the only place I have come while in China which I really want to go back to. I love these mountains.

This place is even on their money!

Spelunking

Cooking kept me occupied all morning, but the rain still wouldn’t stop! So Rahman, Adrianna, and I went cave-diving – good in all weather, yea?

Chinese Cooking Class

So the three of us are in a Chinese wonderland and the weather will not cooperate. I love rain; it has a very soothing effect on me – especially in the morning when rain drops are falling against the window and among the leaved in the trees. However, we were all really hoping to some hard-core biking and hiking on day two, so what do three travelers do on a rainy day in Yangshuo? Well, Adrianna and Rahman slept in until ten-o-clock and I spent all morning learning to cook Chinese food from the chef across the street.

Cooking class was loads of fun! First, we took a trip to the local outdoor market to stock up on ingredients. Chinese markets are not for the faint of heart! In addition to fruits, veggies, and spices, they merchants sell live animals and fish, which they slaughter for their buyers on the spot. I saw a dog die, I didn’t take pictures because it turned my stomach and somehow, snapping photos of the dying animal seemed immoral at the time.

Rats on a String!

All in all – the market was fascinating. I hope I don’t gross you out too much!

Back at the hotel, I and a few other eager tourists learned to make fried dumplings, a Chinese salad, a pork stir-fry dish, and a duck dish. The food was excellent, and the company was good as well.

If we are lucky – I might have a chance to cook Chinese food for you sometime!

Sojourn in Yangshuo, Day 1

Three (consecutive) days off!!! What is a man to do with so much time on his hands? A. Catch up on some much needed sleep. B. Go out to chase women and get drunk for three nights straight. C. Grab two buds and fly to southern China for the weekend. Knowing me, which am I more likely to choose? (Answer C.)



Rahman, Adrianna, and I vacationed in Yangshuo which is known for its unique, and beautifully verdant mountains. This "backpacker's paradise" is one of the most gorgeous places in all of China.

I have been itching to get outside of the city for a while now. Yangshuo is terrifically rural - rice farmers work the land between the mountains and quaint little villiages line the Li and Yulong rivers. Rural China is beautiful, and much more what we traditionally think of as "China" and "Chinese culture." No tall flashy buildings, gaudy neon signs, traffic jams, or Mongolian hookers here - Yangshuo is not preparing for the Olympics or trying to attract foriegn investment. Everything feels refreshingly genuine and muhch more relaxed.



Even the air is clean there! Breathing has never been so enjoyable - for one weekend we exchanged smoggy, dry, stench-filled Beijing atmosphere for cool, moist, southern mountain air. It was euphoric.



I found the black and white setting on my camera, so I thought I'd give it a go. Toward the evening my color pictures were coming blurry or dark because of the evening light. All of the pictures from this post are taken outside of our hotel in the mountains.

Me and a cute kid striking a typical Chinese picture pose.

Rahman demonstrating what we hoped to get from this trip: rest and relaxation!

Camp(s)

During the weekend, I am usually seeking out new adventures in new places, fratenizing with friends, or just kicking back to relax and recover from a long work week. Call me crazy, but this past week I volunteered my time to be a youth camp counselor. Looking after high school and middle school kids is full of adventure, but definately not relaxing!

My high school kids, two weeks ago.

My middle school kids, last weekend

What youth camp would be complete without... face painting?

Girls look cuter with face-paint than guys.

Case-in-point: me, Sam, and two of my boys.

John and Joe, the BICF youth pastor, and inspiration for the famous JOreo flurry.

Keeping with the food theme, these are some kids at my workshop with un-labeled cans of food. The lesson was that you can't judge a person's value by looks, skills, or social grace (outward appearance.) These cans of various shapes and sizes contained condensed soup, tomato paste, fruit, carrots, and cat food. The kids had the option of eating whatever was in their can. : )

Dinner!

I can eat ANYTHING with chopsticks. Finger-food is no more!

Texans in Beijing

The great outdoors

This is what happens when you make a group of kids eat without their hands...

Aren't they cute?

Susan (forground) and Jay being expressive for the camera

Conner, my craziest middle schooler, being subdued by Rich, our Englishman.

Blocked!!!

I complained once about being blocked from seeing my own website, and it has happened again! I have been able to post, but not to view my blog for the last month. I don't know what the problem is, but the government does still have very strong control over information and media in this country. If any pictures seem out of place, or any words misspelled, please forgive me, I can't see them

Best wishes to all!

The Iron Chef

It is the little things in life. : ) On Wednesday, I arranged to cook a meal - for the first time since I left the USA - at my frend's apartment. The end product actually turned out to be a very good bowl of Northern-style Italian Spaghetti with olive oil instead of tomato sauce. I impressed even myself, and my three friends liked it well enough to allow me to cook again this coming Wednesday. The requested cuzine for the evening is... Greek! I have eaten plenty of it but never cooked in Greek before. Should be fun, and if things turn out badly, we can always order Chinese delivery!

That's me in a apron re-discovering how fun it is to wield a meat cleaver!

I and my host, my meal served four eventually, but the other two didn't show up until late.

Sunday, April 1st: Remember the Sabbath Day...

My day of REST! After church and a youth leader’s meeting in preparation for the spring youth camp, I have been blogging all day at the hotel and that, my dear reader, is where you find me now. I hope you have enjoyed the pictures and stories from the past week. I’ll try to blog more regularly so I don’t have to spew out weeks worth of events all in the same afternoon. I just didn’t have a single spare hour this week! Peace and God bless, may your life be full and your friends close!

- Nathan

PS - Just for the record, I'll most probably be back in Texas this June!

Saturday, March 31st: Passover Sader

Monday is Passover, but for convenience sake, the Schultz household celebrated Passover Sader yesterday, Saturday evening. Everyone was invited (really!) There were more than thirty people plus all of the food and drink we could want packed into that one apartment. Gabriel and Julie (our hosts) did a terriffic job demonstrating and teaching us the significance of the traditions of the passover meal. A picture is worth a thousand words, and I have a thousand pictures from the night (leant Simon my camera, and he went wild with it) which means I shouldn't have to write anything more about last night. Enjoy the pictures!

That's Simon and his girlfriend, Joy.

Five of us went to a local bar where our friend and co-worker DJ's on Saturday nights. His pay? Free food and drinks for him and his friends!

The artist at work.

Friday, March 30th: Of Joe and Ice Cream

“Re-Generation” and Peter’s Tex Mex Again! The Youth Leaders are well known at Pete’s. I had was a J-Oreo flurry (pronounced JOE-reo and named after Joe Johnson, the church youth pastor / smoothie genius.) The J-Oreo is basically an Oreo flurry with Butterfinger and pistachios. “J-Oreo Flurry” is not on the menu, but they'll make it and every time I or my friends order one the little Chinese waitress breaks out into a big grin! Guanxi is so much fun!

Thursday, March 29th: Fast Friends

Thursday night home group Bible study is great. Everyone changes so fast here. I’ve had the privilage of seeing many of our girls and guys grow by leaps and bounds. We’ve had some deaths in the family, a baby was born, several engagements, and couples growing closer to each other as they grow in faith. There have been prolongued sicknesses, career changes, business and family trauma, and Chinese language finals to pray for. We have become quite a tight-knit group and the guys especially are a huge encouragement and a terriffic example of Christian businessmen and family-men living abroad.

Wednesday, March 28th

Rode my bike to the Beijing University of Chemical Technology to meet up with a friend of a friend who is studying there. I really enjoyed being on a college campus again - the atmosphere is not much different from campuses in the states, only the students are all speaking Chinese. My friend and I ate dinner on campus at the dining hall and hung out in his dorm room looking at pictures and telling stories all evening. I promised him I'd take him out for Texas food next weekend, at Tim's Texas BBQ. Should be fun!

Tuesday, March 27th: We be Jammin'

I am taking guitar lessons every Tuesday and progressing quite well! A friend from church, Daniel is teaching me. He is a teriffic teacher, and quite a slave driver sometimes too. I'll be rockin' by the time I get back home!

Monday, March 26th: Get Ziggy With It!

Went to an awesome concert with some of my buds from work. Ziggy Marly was in top shape preforming his and his dad’s best all night.

Wes was all punked out for the show...

And pimped out!

Sunday, March 25th: Forbidden Friends

Today was the most beautiful weather of the year so far! I took full advantage by biking all the way to the Forbidden City to meet up with Sam, my new friend I had just met on Friday. I needed a Chinese guide in the Forbidden city, or I would not have appreciated it nearly as much. Once I've seen one old Chinese building, I feel like I've seen them all, but the history of the place is quite interesting. So Sam and I wandered around talking Chinese history, politics, and more reigion.

Sam's perspective is unique because he grew up in China, but worked in America for more than a decade. He has a local's insider's view of Chinese history, culture, and politics, but he has also picked up a little Western perspective and is willing to think critically about his country. Most other Chinese I've talked to are still very slow to critisize anything Chinese, wether politics, cultural nuances, or even the food. : ) Chinese are very nationalistic that way, and especially if they have never left China, seem to think in the backs of their minds that everything they have (including the political system) is, or soon will be, the best - or at least better than in the USA...

So Sunday was an awesome time, and going out with Sam's friends for Xian soup dinner was a terriffic end to the day. Enjoy the pics!

Mass Transit in Beijing

"Hey! Look at the American with a camera on his bicycle!"

Pi zi hota

Old School

Golden Years

Mao is watching You...

So is this (very bored) Chinese guard

This is one big chunk of jade

Lots of gold and pearls on these daggars

Two guys hand-washing thousands of roof tiles one by one...

Kites in Tienanmen Square

Saturday, March 24th: Birthdays!

On Saturday I helped to celebrate late two of my co-workers' birthdays with Mexican food and Margharitas late into the night. Pictures coming soon, hopefully. : )

Friday, March 23rd: "Re-Generation"

I’ve been helping out with my international church’s youth group, “Re-Generation,” for over a month now. This has been by far the most rewarding of my endeavors in Beijing. The kids are awesome – a hodge-podge ex-pat crowd of middle and high schoolers from all different countries. These guys are so cool because they are able to adapt to new situations and make new friends very easily. They have opened up to me quickly and made me feel needed and included as a part of the group. Though the kids may not realize it, I often feel like I am the one being ministered to instead of the other way around! This is why youth group is so rewarding.

All of the other youth leaders are way beyond cool. You have seen pictures in previous blog postings when we hung out on Chinese New Year and Valentines Day. They all have such clear values and vision for their immediate futures. My values are solid like a rock, but vision? Psshh! I couldn’t even tell you what I will eat for breakfast tomorrow, much less what continent I will be on three months from now...

Anyway, the “Re-Generation” of Friday, March 23^rd, was really cool. Joe Jackson, the youth pastor, gave a good, really deep lesson to the kids and we all had lots of fun besides playing games and hanging out, etc. I went out to eat Italian food afterward with one of Joe’s friends who had come to visit “Re-Gen” that night, and got to talk/defend “religion” with one of Joe’s friend’s friends, Sam. We actually hit it off quite well, and I ended up hanging out with Sam again all afternoon on Sunday!

Coming Soon...

I realize that the last post left y'all hanging a bit, so I'll try to make up for my virtual silence over the next few days! My week has definately not been quiet - this has been THE most eventful week thus far. I will have to report on every single day... but I don't have time right now. : ) Prepare for a blogging torrent tomorrow - I am off to celebrate Passover Sader with a Messianic Jewish family this evening!

- Nathan

Coming Home?

On Friday, the Employee relations guy called me into his office and gave me an ROF notice (ROF stands for Reduction of Force.) This means that my contract was being cut short – because rebar is almost done, not because I am a poor worker – and I would be returning home 45 days after recieving the notice. Now there are three dates at work here: my end of contract date (EOC), my 330 days tax exemption milestone (330), and my ROF date. My ROF was set for April 14^th, My 330 is May 10^th, and my original EOC is June 15^th. Going home before my 330 would disqualify me for the overseas tax exemption (which is bad,) but I would get to go home much earlier than originally planned, (which is good.)

So on Saturday evening I got to call the fam and tell them that I was coming home in April, exciting, huh? However, today my superintendent (my boss’ boss) told me that they ROF’d me without his knowing and he managed to get it reversed because he wanted to keep me around, so I would definately make it all the way until my EOC. I had just gotten kinda excited about going home, and now I have to stay in China again! See what I get for being such a dependable worker? So now I have to call mom tonight and tell her to scratch all of the vacation and study abroad plans we had come up with two nights ago – I’m going to stay in China! (Maybe.) Which, after all, isn’t really that bad – I do make a lot more money this way, I get to learn a new trade, and I have more time now to invest in what I wanted to accomplish before I leave here. Haven’t really learned much Chinese yet...

I’m still having fun in the Far East, and still making the most of every moment! See you... well, I don’t know when, but sometime!

It’s (Still...) Chinese New Year!

Ok, so these are pictures taken of the lantern festival, which is the last stage of the Chinese New Year celebration, which is now well into its third week. Fireworks are still going off! But I think that last night was the grand finale (we’ll see tonight.) I went to the festival with Matt, from work, and my old Chinese teacher, who is his new Chinese teacher! The lantern festival, in theory, would have been a really fun time, but winds were gusting around 40 miles an hour, and it was sooo cooold!!! We did have fun, but it was a kind of hurried fun. We walked briskly through the sights, took some good pictures, and then went to Peter’s Tex-Mex for dinner and hot chocolate. Here are the results of my trip to the lantern festival. Brrrr!!!

Let it Snow!

I’ve told you before that Beijing is a crazy place... December and January were freezxing cold and very dry, but February was really pretty decent weather. Then Saturday was somewhat warm and rainy all day and in the evening a freak cold front moved through and turned all of that rain into snow! The snow fell all night and through Sunday morning. I had the second, and biggest, snowball fight of my life in front of the church yesterday! I’d like to think I gave better than I got, but this Houston Texan is about as good in a snowball fight as he is at any other winter sport.

So our first real snow finally came in March. It’s still on the ground in most places, but some of it has melted away. I discovered that working in the snow is much more fun than in the rain, but working in the sun when it is 90 degrees outside is best of all!

Enjoy the pictures! Some are taken in the park across from my hotel, and some are taken of a Chinese neighborhood I rode my bike through on my way to church. The Chinese kids are my favorite – some are bundled up so tight it looks like they can barely move!

Seeing Red

Let me clarify: Saturday was Chinese New Year’s Eve and Sunday was New year’s Day. Unfortunately, my employer has no respect for the local cultural holidays – we worked Saturday and Sunday. But I’ve never been one to let work get in the way of life. : )

As I said in the last entry, I stayed out all night Saturday watching fireworks and just went into work Sunday morning without sleep. I was suprisingly functional all day: after a productive morning’s work, I went to church, then to lunch, then to a New Year’s festival at Ditan Park (the temple of the moon) then back to a friend’s apartment to watch Madagascar. Since waking un on Saturday morning at 5:40 AM, I didn’t crash until 10:30 Sunday night.

Loosing a little sleep was definately worth it though. These two days were some of the most fun I have has since I arrived here. Of course fireworks were awesome, but the festival at Ditan was also lots of fun – even more than I had expected. This festival was nothing extraordinary – not much different from a county fair back home, but it was a great excuse for a group of twenty-something adults to all act a little silly together (see pictures below.)

Dressing the Part

Didn't quite taste as good as it looked...

Carnival Games!

My Prize: Little Bubu!

Happy New Year!!!

Chinese New Year’s Eve is just about the biggest party in this hemisphere. I had a blast!!! Traditionally, Chinese will return to their hometowns to reunite with their families for a few weeks during the new year. To celebrate, besides downing lots of rice wine and eating lots of dumplings, they also shoot off loads of fireworks everywhere, even in the cities. I have never seen a display like that night, and probably never will again. Even as I write this, I can see fireworks outside of my window: Chinese New Year lasts more than a week, and constantly every night, (and day) fireworks are exploding all around.

Chinese fireworks are awesome! For one, they are real cheap by American standards – I payed 380 RMB (USD $47.50) to fill a duffel bag with sparklers, roman candles, screamers, missils, black cats, and a few middle sized rockets. These fireworks were more than worth it! I set them off with some friends from church near the hotel and then some of us bummed around the city all night just watching the incredible display. Enjoy the pictures!

I will Serenade You!

I was roped into celebrating Valentines Day last week (it was actually quite fun!) I’ve got a good group of young singles friends at church, and the girls planned a girls’ night out on Wednesday. Well, long story short, the guys crashed girls’ night. We made a grand entrance – boquets of roses and random seranading were quite popular with the ladies. So Valentines Day was great! Good food and great company go a long way for me.

The Barber-shop Quintet in action!

Rich and I trying our damdest to look cute.

Yea!

"Real China"

What is real and what is fake? This is a question that every visitor asks when they first come to China. Are the watches real? (no) Are the Northface jackets real? (no) Is the shoe leather real? (probably not) Is the Jade real? (probably not) The movies? (definitely bootlegged) The food? (most cooks don’t have a license.) The mixed drinks? (You ever tasted rubbing alcohol?)

Most name brand and copyrighted merchandise is ripped off here, but what about the history and culture, the people, and the national spirit – surely these are more representative of what is “real” in this country. Well, my friend’s chauffer complains that professional beggars make more money than he does (and have better cell phones.) The wealthy drive brand new (always black) Mercedes, Mazzarattis, and Beamers and the not so rich drive hand-me-down bikes which look 100 years old. Official policy levies fines against public spitting, but I still see small children crapping on the sidewalks. Official policy also bans prostitution, but scores can be found outside our hotel (and inside) on any given day. The weather is awful, except when the government shuts down its factories and regulates traffic to reduce pollution when important foreign dignitaries come to visit (best weather I have seen so far was during the big Sino-Africa economic conference here in Beijing.) Flashy, modern commercial buildings, apartments, and restaurants line the main streets of Beijing, but one has to wonder how many years these hastily constructed structures will last. Only a little way off of the beaten path, modernity gives way to much dingier streets with ancient houses crowded together, or, becoming more and more common, tall and efficient economy housing complexes.

So what is “Real” China? Is it the bustling modern city or the traditional neighborhoods? The politics, the economy, or the traditional culture? My answer is: I don’t know. Reality in China for the Chinese people cannot be defined in terms of wealth, because there are many thousands of wealthy who have very much, but countless millions who have almost nothing of material value, and these classes experience two completely different worlds. Likewise, China cannot be defined simply in terms of culture because there are so many people groups here with such radically different histories and traditional values. China does not even have a unifying language (though this is changing.) The common man in Beijing cannot communicate with the common man in Shanghai, or Hong Kong, or Xian, or Lhasa, or anyone outside of the Northeastern provinces. The political system cannot even show us what “Real” China is, because an un-representative government does not necessarily reflect the desires and needs of the majority of Chinese.

What is “Real” China? It’s funny; I found out that some of my Chinese friends are also wondering the same thing! To answer the question, I dunno, and I guess the Chinese don’t either. Only time will tell what role this still relatively newly independent nation, and even newer economic giant will play on the world stage, and also which roles its people will play and what their values will become.

Beijing itself reminds me of an impatient adolescent child. The city is growing and modernizing very quickly, but in many ways its people have not all quite caught up, and there are still quite a few rough spots: this adolescent has acne, its voice cracks sometimes, and it even smells funny. But acting as a witness to this growth is fascinating, and I am glad to be here to see Beijing’s awkward stage as it prepares for summer ’08.

Groovy

I just got back from the most awesome two-day weekend ever! We had two days off for the Super Bowl, which showed at 7:00 AM Monday morning in China, but I didn't watch the game, I went snow boarding instead!

Me, Stephen, Chris, and Jason (left to right) headed for the slopes of Wan Lan, one of China's finest ski resorts, about 4 hours outside of Beijing. Wan Lan has nothing on any of the resorts in Colorado, or New Mexico, or Utah, my friends tell me, but it was still beautiful and tons of fun! The time I went boarding on Christmas day I spent more time on my arse than on my feet, but now I feel much more confident and I made most of my runs on Monday without wiping out once.

Snowboarding is counter-instinctive. Nothing was clicking when I went on Christmas day. This is what happened: When I am sliding down a mountainside on a piece of plastic I cannot control which might flip me at any second, I want to start off slow. I also want to keep from being flipped, or at least when I do, to keep it from hurting very much. Instinct told me to lean backward, so that I fall to the rear an not flat on my face, but in order to go slowly I have to be able to cut in and out by turning, and to turn a snowboard, I has to keep my weight on my front foot, but I was afraid of falling on my face, so I leaned backward, and just kept sliding faster and faster, until I either lost control and wiped out, or gave up trying to control this piece of plastic with a mind of its own, and sat down to stop of my own accord.

This weekend though, I finally started to trust my board to do what it is supposed to when I do what I am supposed to... and snowboarding is so much fun! I don't know when my next opportunity will be, either here or back in the states, but I can't wait to get out there again!

Afterward: Taking it all in

I needed this trip to Israel. The country is a very exciting place, in a much different way than Beijing. Those ten days were fast paced and eventful, but in spite of the rush I left physically, mentally, and spiritually restored. I feel more alive now than I did before

Em and I enjoyed Greece at a much slower pace, the way that country ought to be seen. Those days in Greece gave me a chance to rest and reflect like I have not been able to in ages, maybe since before my college years.

Now I am re-charged and ready to make the most of the rest of my time in Beijing. I do not know what these next five months will bring, but somehow I do not think it will be more of the same. So come what may, the night is still young. Life, I'll have another round!

Speaking of which... as soon as I came back I found out that my crew will be working mandatory overtime and Sundays. This is more than 75 hours a week. (In seven days, there are only 168 total hours.) My uplifted spirit is going to be tested by an unrelenting daily grind for the foreseeable future. However, every cloud has a silver lining - I'm making pretty good money.

Five months 'til Texas. Can't wait!

Yeehaw!