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Wednesday, March 6, 2013

Hubei for the Holidays - Thanksgiving Part 2


This holiday business is now a little ridiculous, I understand, but I feel a need to finish what I have started.   Thanksgiving Part 2!

We hosted!  We may have had more people at our house for Thanksgiving than you did at yours (12 at it's peak, 10 who stayed for dinner)!  We didn't have turkey (chicken had to do), but we had just about everything else: mashed potatoes, sweet potato casserole, green bean casserole, homemade rolls, etc.  Yours truly even made her first pumpkin pie ALL.BY.HERSELF.  I had no idea moving to China would make me so domesticated!  Move over Emily Richardson.  Next holiday season I'm bringing a pie to your dinner party and I'm NOT going to buy it from a store.

Apps: Brad's homemade salsa and avocado dip.  YUM
DINNER!
Kevin, Amber, Charlene, Lesley, Watermelon, Camille
In this photo Brad shows how using a small plate is the trick to not overeating.
Not quite as pretty as my mom's, but equally as exciting and HOMEMADE!

 Meanwhile, Back at San Zhong - #3 High School
It turns out that no one is too old for the traditional and ever so labor intensive turkey hand.   After the usual warm-up and a brief history of Thanksgiving (during which time I mimicked being tossed from side to side on a ship, then grieved the loss of 1/2 of my fellow pilgrims to the terrible winter of 1621),  I wowed my students by creating a perfectly drawn turkey with the help of my little left hand. 

I explained that on Thanksgiving people eat a big feast (key vocabulary word), spend time with family and friends, and think about what they are so thankful for and happy about in their own lives. 
As the bell rings, a few students jump up
to get another good look at my family. 
Jeff rocks the turkey.
Perfect Man rocks the turkey.








Saturday, January 26, 2013

Hubei for the Holidays - Thanksgiving Part 1

2011 Thanksgiving - JUST ENGLISH SCHOOL:
Reflecting back on last year I realize I have mixed emotions.   I loved the school where we taught and the people with whom we worked, but we were in a small city and were the only two Americans. (There were two Ghanaians that Brad met, of course, when I was home to have Leila.  CRAZY!) We were the 'test run'  as to how this foreign teacher thing worked.   Sometimes our Western culture and ideas weren't totally embraced.  It was a great year, but it was hard as well. 

For example, we had been told that we were completely in charge of the Halloween party, but then ended up being handed the itinerary for the party by Amy, the school's head manager.  We were kindly allowed to give our input, but not much was modified.  Brad had an MC type of role, though I was not given a job because being pregnant, I obviously was very tired. 

Right after Halloween things got rolling for the Thanksgiving party. Again we were told that we would have complete control.  About 90 kids came to the Halloween party so I wanted to try to break that large group up into smaller sections.  I designed a party plan that would have groups of students doing things in different classrooms.  After 15 minutes they would change rooms so that all students would do all activities.   

In the initial meeting with the teachers my plan was met with some hesitation.  It felt like a lot of hesitation.  I was confident that it would work so I positively pushed forward.  After a few more meetings and  some negotiations, Brad and I got our way.    There would be three classrooms of games and then a (whole group) feast in the dining hall.  Everything in the plan, including all transitional procedures were typed, printed, and given to the teachers. 

The day of the party Amy made modifications to the plan.   Those changes weren't mentioned to me ahead of time.   I didn't understand why our ideas weren't being trusted.  I wanted JUST to see that western ideas could work in a Chinese school, but was worried that would never be possible since our original plan kept being adjusted.

All in all it was a fun party and the students really had a great time. In one room Emma and I taught Thanksgiving vocabulary and then had students try to race their competitors to put together a turkey while being blindfolded.  It was hilarious and fun.  The winner received candy.  In another room students made Native American headbands and then reached into a box turned stuffed turkey (created by Brad) and tried to feel around for a directed item (ping pong ball, apple, etc.).  In a third class the traditional turkey hand was drawn and colored after which students participated in a quick round of Pin the Feather on the Turkey


Blindfolded Turkey Assembly

Competitors sat down one side of the table
while the others cheered from behind.
  
Making Native American Headbands
Proud Artist
My sample turkey hand and
Stick the Feather on the Turkey
Post-Activity, Pre-Feast Wrap-Up in Dining Hall

Sweet Lucy.  Mentioned aloud to others
 that she was "Thankful for Dana." :)


A FEAST IT WAS!
Included: pumpkin pastries - supposed to be pumpkin pie,
corn on the cob, fried chicken legs, fruit, popcorn, chips, candy.
They GOBBLED it up!! (comment made by Brad)

Best part of the night. 
Brad and I bought a couple apple pies
from an American restaurant in Wuhan.
We cut each teacher a piece after the party.
 I was so excited!
Lisa was the ONLY teacher who liked it!
BOOOOOO to the other teachers!
More pie for ME!
2012 Just English Thanksgiving:
So this year the deal is that every Saturday I go back to teach at JUST School.  It was actually something that helped me feel better about returning to China this year, the chance to continue those relationships.  Amy is currently on pregnancy leave (her beautiful baby girl was born in December) and Lisa has taken on her leadership role.  

On the Saturday before the 2012 JUST Thanksgiving celebration, our school's headmaster and my boss whom I love, Mei, sat me down to explain the details of the party.  She wanted to make sure that I understood the teacher's plan step-by-step.  She said that they had worked very hard and had done a very good job planning.  She explained that the students would be divided up into groups and that each group would be in different rooms completing different games.  (My initial emotional reaction was to stop her and let her know I already knew all about it because I designed it!  Instead I kept my mouth shut and let her finish.) 

After explaining all the details she wanted to know if I had any questions.  

"I got it," I said with a smile and a softened heart. 

I guess our ideas had been embraced after all.   


Hoping everyone's Thanksgiving was equally as meaningful. 


















Wednesday, January 16, 2013

Hubei for the Holidays... Halloween, Part 2


Our high school classes at San Zhong 

(translated #3 Middle School):

Dana's classes:




One of Brad's classes hosted a vey special guest:




After LC's assistance in teaching the lesson she went out into the crowd to greet her fans.


  

Sunday, January 13, 2013

Hubei for the Holidays... Halloween, Part 1


Just English School in Daye City, China opened up last year,  but we wouldn't have known that with all the hoopla and excitement over Halloween!  The halls were decorated with ghosts, skeletons, and witches and almost 90 students attended the party.  YIKES!   


English training schools in China love Halloween and think it is such an important American holiday! 

Here are some pictures from JUST school's party last year:


Pumpkin Carving was a HUGE hit!
Team games: Three legged-race
bobbing for apples
Just gave these out to all party-goers.  Brad and I tried to explain
what 'dressing up' was, but this was as far as it got.
 All masks had to be returned before leaving.

Teachers at JUST English School during the adult-only party. 
Everyone loved carving pumpkins!

This year JUST ENGLISH SCHOOL limited their numbers, added a talent show (very culturally Chinese), and a couple kids actually wore a costume!






Friday, December 21, 2012

And the Greatest of These is Love

China is currently 13 hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time.

Last Saturday morning we drove to Wuhan to attend our Zhong Relations Christmas Party.  It was super fun and Leila looked super cute in her red Christmas sweater from Gram.  I kept thinking I should get her picture, but never did... there's still time!

It was at the party that I first heard the terrible news about Sandy Hook Elementary.  It was mentioned and was prayed for specifically, but we didn't yet have much information about it.  

We drove back to Huangshi that night and started exploring internet news.  It was too much.  I wanted to know more but couldn't bear it.  It wasn't as much the articles that we were reading, it was the pictures.  I couldn't bear to see people so distraught, so grieved.  As a new mother, an aunt of elementary school boys, and especially as a teacher, the pain hit me hard. 

The next night I tried again.  I read articles.  I found out that the principal had just completed her first paper for her doctoral course.  It was an on-line program.  (This also was so real to me as Brad and I JUST finished our Master's degree.  All of our classes have been on-line.)  I heard an excerpt from her professor.  The students had turned in their papers earlier that week.  The topic had been about facing one's fears.  Friday morning the professor heard about the shootings, but then turned her attention to her work.  She read Dawn Hochsprung's paper the morning of the shooting.   

Understanding first hand the time, attention, and emotion needed in order to write a powerful paper, I was convinced that Mrs. Hochsprung's paper in some way prepared her for the fear that would ultimately take her life.    

I continued searching the news sites.  I wanted desperately to know more.  I spotted several pictures of the children.  My stomach turned and my heart ached.  I couldn't close my computer fast enough.  Again, I was sick for the rest of the night. 

Monday night I finally looked at the pictures.  The pictures of the children were so cute and their bios were so sweet.  I loved each of them.  But it was the pictures and bios of the teachers that pierced my heart the most.   

They sacrificed their lives to protect their students.   

What if I had been a teacher in that situation.  Would I have known what to do?  Would I have been able to be so brave?  The fact that I even had to ask myself that question made me weep. 

It has been the faces and stories of these teachers that have continued to capture my thoughts.

The teachers died defending many students, but they would have died to defend just one.

I get that.  I understand that love.  I feel that love.

A couple mornings ago it finally struck me that the love these teachers had for their students was the same as Christ's love for us.  He died for many, but he would have died to defend and save just one.

I had never quite understood that before.  Christ died for humanity to be saved, but would he have died if humanity was only me?  I never could comprehend that before.

But because of the heroes at Sandy Hook I get that.  I understand that love.  I feel that love.




Saturday, November 17, 2012

sunshine and yellow butterflies


feel like watching a video?
all you need is love.

i often struggle in knowing if i should share what god is doing in my life, or rather what i am doing in honor of being in his, because of the verse, “do not let your right hand know what your left hand is doing.”

i don’t want to sound haughty, am fearful to find personal pride in what good god has done or has allowed me to do, and would much rather have a heavenly reward than an earthly one.  i do wonder if i should share more and am trying to figure out a balance.  this story though, is not about me at all, only god and his love for me.  

my huangshi girls (leslie and camille) and i have been reading captivating by john and stasi elderidge in our small group study (thanks to camille who brought the books from home).  we meet every wednesday for dinner and discussion.  this book has rocked my heart, mind, and soul.

what’s so crazy about this is that a couple of months ago i started to realize that although i have sung, jesus loves me, since i could speak, 36 years later i am still not convinced that i truly know what it means to love him.    i’ve attributed this unfortunate case to the fact that i’ve done so many things in my life of which i am not proud.  i’ve sinned against people, made terrible choices, and sinned against god.  i reasoned, i was the reason for this disconnected love.  i prayed and hoped god would restore me.  

aaron, one of the guys in our group, and i were engaged in a discussion one day after church (which is at our house) and he mentioned something like, “i can tell that you really love jesus.”

really,” i thought to myself?  do i?  i don’t think i even know what that means.”  or rather, “i don’t think i even know what that feels like.”

so i started the mission to find out.  how would i enable my heart, mind, and soul to truly love jesus?

turns out it wasn’t about me.  turns out it was about how much he loved me.

and by love i mean in love.  definitely seems a bit weird, even for me, a lifelong christian.  but as the book so poignantly explains, the god of this universe IS LOVE and loves us deeply, not because he is god and he has to, but because he is our father in heaven and wants to.  

the beginning of last week was busy.  we had been away with our zhong relations friends in wuhan the previous weekend and in the commotion i never received the week’s small group reading assignment and questions.  camille kindly typed up everything i needed and sent it to me in an email on monday. 
but there were so many other things going on!  i had graduate school stuff that needed to be done.  i had to prepare lessons for my english classes.  i had a baby who seemed to be awake whenever it was my turn to be home.

by wednesday i had yet to get started.  leila charis so considerately fell asleep for her afternoon nap and i started reading.  i wanted to make sure that i did not hastily try to get through the chapter.  i really wanted to focus and thus be impacted, so i decided to take notes in my journal. 

30 minutes later lc woke up, but i wasn’t finished.  i tried to squeeze in a few minutes here and there when i could.

the book mentioned that we needed quiet time, alone with god, away from kids, telephones, distractions.  brad got home from his afternoon of classes around 5:15 and i asked him to take leila out to wherever it was he was going to get dinner.  i let the girls know i would be late, and i finished as much as i could in the next 45 minutes.

the chapter was entitled, “romanced.”  stasi was writing.  she shared a story of her husband.  one time when he was out-of-town for work he needed to get away.  he went to the beach by himself for prayer and time alone with god.  as he was alone, sitting on the sand, he saw a massive amount of water shoot up into the sky and a huge humpback whale appeared right before him, very close to shore (this was after the annual whale migration time had passed).  he knew instantly this was a gift from god.  he returned home and shared his story with staci.  she was so happy for him, but wanted a gift as well.

stasi went on to say that soon thereafter they were speaking in northern california.  she snuck away to the beach and asked god for a whale.  “I know you love John, Jesus, but do you love me too?  That much?  If you do, may I have a whale too?” (pg. 117) 

after a while of waiting she got up to leave, rounded a corner, and saw a beautiful orange starfish.  she stopped, appreciated, and thanked god for her personal, perfect gift.  then she rounded another corner. 
                “There before me, behind me, surrounding me, were hundreds of starfish.  Zillions of them.  
                 There were purple ones  and orange ones and blue ones, all sizes.  I burst into joyful laughter,
                 my heart exploding inside of me.”

He Loves Us - John Marc McMillan
amazing, right?   how he loves us so. 

at the end of the chapter she told her readers to get some “worship music that moves you” and then went on to say that “one friend just told [them] that her current favorite [was] ‘All I Ask of You’ from Phantom of the Opera” (pg. 126). 

as i was still journaling, i tried to think of a christian song i really loved.  i came up with “your love oh lord” by ThirdDay, and then felt challenged to come up with one outside of the christian music box.  by this time i was starting to rush a bit.  i didn’t have much time left and i still needed to get to the questions. 

i had a song in mind that i had heard recently a few times on pandora.  i wanted to get that song again.  i knew that god would give it to me immediately, because that’s how i’ve found god to work.  in the past, when i’ve done my best to get all my things done in an honorable way, he has helped me out a little in the 
end.   i knew that he would help me out this time by giving me the song immediately. 

but he didn’t.  he gave me something better.  and as pandora was displaying the lyrics, I had those too:

I Won’t Give Up On Us – Jason Mraz
When I look into your eyes, it’s like watching the night sky
Or a beautiful sunrise, there’s so much they hold
And just like them old stars, I see that you’ve come so far
To be right where you are, how old is your soul.

I won’t give up on us, even if the skies get rough
I’m giving you all my love, I’m still looking up


i stopped there and cried.  i truly believed those words were from jesus just to me.  he hadn’t given up on me and he knew that i “had come so far” to be right where i was with him.  i also liked that he called me an old soul.  i sometimes wonder if i am a sort-of old soul - i really love 70s music and because of that feel a little different from many others in my same generation.   just as the book was trying to tell me, jesus knew me and loved me perfectly.  

i quickly got through what questions i could and went off to the girls’ apartment.  through our discussions it was revealed that i was not the only one who had received a special gift. 

lesley was at her school, sitting outside on a bench while she was doing her study.  she asked god to give her something special, something for her.  just then the sun came out from behind the clouds (it was a rainy and cold week).  “is that it?  that’s for me, isn’t it god?  i am always cold, and hate being cold, and that sunshine is just for me, isn’t it?  thank you so much!”  but, like stasi’s experience, it wasn’t over yet.  she got a ride home from school that day (about a 20 minute drive – her school is far away from the city’s center) and it seemed the sun kept following her in the car – shining through the passenger side window, shining down and playing with the view in the distance.

and camille.  she has a special story.  she sees yellow butterflies.  once when she was going through a difficult time she asked god for something special, to let her know he was there.  god gave her a yellow butterfly.  she still sees them, even in china.  whenever she is having a rough day, god sends her a yellow butterfly. 

i can’t tell you the last time i’ve seen a butterfly, no less a beautiful yellow one.

amazing, right?


Want to listen???
that sure is something beautiful.













now for a little home video....

A song story.  Check it out on vimeo.