Leprosy Clinic!

Today, the 22 of Feb, I traveled with some of my teammates to the Leprosy Clinic. It was the first time I have been back out there since my vision trip in 2007. It was really great. I was asked not to take any pictures but the time was really precious. We were able to sit and spend some time with the patients who were there for dressing changes. Then we traipsed up to the farm (future training farm for leprosy affected men) to measure for additional buildings and check on the walnut trees. After that we went to one of the doctor's home for tea and to hear the Miao choir. The Miao choir is a famous choir in China comprised of the singers of the Miao people group. 70% of the Miao people are believers in Father's only Son. The choir does a beautiful rendition of Handel's Messiah. The trip was really encouraging to me. I listened to people speaking Chinese all day and on my own understood some of it and was reminded that there is so much more to learn. So my brain got exercise and I was spurred on to study more diligently.

School Begins Again!!

Please Please Please ask Father for a good strong beginning at a new semester of Language learning!! For me to be self controlled and disciplined. Thank you all for your continual support and love. :)

Picnic on the Great Wall.

While I was in Beijing the first week of Feb I was able to go to a secluded part of the Great Wall. I went with Teammates of mine. One family and one other single woman. We had a blast. The best part was that due to the time of year and the place we only saw 5 other people the whole time we were on the wall. So fabulous!!! We ate lunch in the middle of the Great Wall. Wow!

The small hostel/hotel at the base of the Great Wall. We paid the owners 2 kuai ( 40cents) per adult to traipse through their back yard to get to the Wall.

The small river and dam below the Wall.

The view from the hike up to get on the Wall.



Right next to the Wall.

Self taken photos are so tricky.

These are our Senior Pictures on the Great Wall!!

Goodbye Wall!! So good to see you again!!

2011 Year of the Rabbit!

This Feb 3 began the Year of the Rabbit. The year of the rabbit includes people born in these years: 1905, 1915, 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, and 1999. "People born in the Year of the Rabbit are articulate, talented, and ambitious. They are virtuous, reserved, and have excellent taste. Rabbit people are admired, trusted, and are often financially lucky. They are fond of gossip but are tactful and generally kind. Rabbit people seldom lose their temper. They are clever at business and being conscientious, never back out of a contract. They would make good gamblers for they have the uncanny gift of choosing the right thing. However, they seldom gamble, as they are conservative and wise. They are most compatible with those born in the years of the Sheep, Pig, and Dog."

The new thing that I have recently learned about having a year that belongs to you is that when it is your animal year the custom is to wear red every day of the year. Sometimes this custom is only associated with certain age groups depending on what part of China you live in. This custom could be very difficult for some people. Although most people may not have enough red articles of clothing to wear something red everyday of the year, I know that for Nebraskans it shouldn't be hard at all!!! For those of you who are not from or live in Nebraska the Chinese have come up with the perfect solution. RED UNDERWEAR!!

In December and January the streets and shops were filled with them. To an extreme level that I asked someone about it and discovered that they sell so many red underwears (both men and women) so that those who are supposed to wear red everyday can. My favorite part of this story is that the packages of the red underwear actually had pictures of bunnies on them just to make everyone aware that it was for the year of the rabbit!!!

One of the things I find most interesting about the Chinese Zodiac Calendar is that when someone asks me what animal I am and I tell them I am a monkey, they just know that I will get along with someone who is a dragon or a rat. For example: My friend asked me what year I was and I told her monkey and her arms flew up into the air in surprise and excitement as she exclaimed "That is why we get along so well!! I am a Rat!!" I on the other hand still have no idea who goes with who or even what my personality is supposed to be like according to the Monkey. Sigh. Somethings are just over our heads.





Sources: http://www.c-c-c.org/chineseculture/zodiac/Rabbit.html, http://gochina.about.com/od/chinesenewyear/qt/RedUnderwear.htm

Pictures of Chengdu!!

We, Faye and I, went to the Chuan Ju (Sichuan Opera) while we were in Chengdu.
It was a delight to almost all the senses. These first three pictures are from the traditional mask changing performance. Where the dancers had colorful masks on that would change at a moments notice.

These next four pictures are from the comic drama of the evening.

It was a physical comedy with lots of tripping, falling, face pulling, and acrobatic feats.

There was a storyline that had something to do with a husband who likes to gamble and the wife who wants him to stop.

Next were one of my favorite acts!!

The young man who performed these hand shadows looked to be about 12 years old.
The hand shadows fluidly flowed from one subject matter to another with no story but the music played while he performed just set the tone of each subject matter.
It was really marvelous to see his hands appear to be animals or other forces of nature.

The next three photos are from a warrior play that had actual singing during it. I don't really know the storyline at all. Sorry. The costumes and face paint were quite colorful.

Okay so these next two pictures are hard to describe.
The woman is actually an elaborate hand puppet. But she was so intricate that each of her fingers could move and function like a real hand. The man's head in the corner of the first picture is the man orchestrating her dance. She sang and danced.
I believe that the singer was off stage but her body movements and face movements were so detailed and amazing it was like watching a small person really dancing. So Crazy!!!

These are a villain and king story that had some sword play.

These elderly men were the ones playing all the music for the entire event. They got to be in front for about 10 min at the very beginning of the performance so that we as an audience could "meet" them. Are they not the cutest little orchestra?

On our travels in Chengdu Faye and I came across the trusty YMCA!!!

The Old Navy prices were almost double what you would pay in the United States!!
Bu Hao!! Not Good!!

The Fashion Strip was in full form in Chengdu.
Here are just some of the bright and shiny stores!!

I ate a foot long Subway sandwich every single day while I was in Chengdu!!!
Even now I wish Kunming had one. Sigh!!