Once upon a blog

Tonight I wanted to share with a young friend, an aspiring poet, some of my old poetry to encourage her along. So I decided to look up The Old Blog. The old blog is where I used to post things, before I broke it while trying to give it a new format (long story involving technically difficulties). When I found the old blog, I found several years of my life that I'd not exactly forgotten, but definitely put out of mind. I remembered that I used to be a writer. I was able to see the preserving Providence that has guided and sustained and led me. While I'd love to somehow move all the old archives from The Old Blog to here, I know that wouldn't be wise to re-send that stuff across the web from my current location. But if you want to get to know me or remember how much He's done, you're welcome to read The Old Blog yourself.

Just in case I was worried...

I know for sure I am loved! Deb made this unbelievable pumpkin for the annual WW contest in honor of me. She says the characters say, "Karyn, I miss you!" Amazing.

Questions My Students Ask

I've been here three months now. As expected, it's about time for a little bump or two in adjusting. It's the time when your mind seems to say, "Wow, that was fun. Now it's time to go home." And you tell yourself, "No, this is home." I haven't experienced as much struggle with this as I thought that I would, but lately I do find myself struggling a bit inside and recognize it as this phase of adjusting. I am very thankful for past experiences (hurrah BYWAV!) that help me to understand a little of what I'm going through and to deal with it better.

On the lighter side, I often each lunch with different groups of my students. They ask me lots of questions. Here are some that are very common:

1. Why did you come to China?
2. How long have you been in China?
3. How long will you stay?
4. Do you like China?
5. Do you like Chinese food?
6. Can you speak any Chinese?
7. Are you married?
8. What are you looking for in a man? (girls always ask this one)
9. Would you marry a Chinese man? (this is often the follow up to #8)
10. Are you a Chr?
11. Where have you traveled in China?

Less common but actually asked:
1. Do you go to ch every week in America? Why?
2. Why do Americans celebrate Chr-mas?
3. Do you believe in Santa?
4. Do you think Chinese people are beautiful?
5. Would you vote for Obm since he is black? Aren't all black Americans dangerous? (I about fell over with this question. After asking questions myself, I found that this view came from what this person saw in American movies/ hip hop music videos.)
6. Do all American students have sex before marriage "like on tv"? (when I answered "not all", they actually didn't believe me. "Are you sure?" "Yes. I'm pretty sure," I said. "Many do, but not all.")

Another question my students often ask, since I teach freshmen video English, is if I could recommend any good movies for them to watch. So I'm compiling a list of clean and interesting movies that I can recommend when asked. Let me know if you have any suggestions.

A Letter to My Teacher

Dear Dr. _________,

I'm wondering if you remember the conversation we had earlier this
year when I visited Northland. I told you that I often use things
about culture that I learned in your World Geography class in my job
in long term care. I was there at Northland to meet with someone
about teaching in China. The years I spent working in long term care
were part of my preparation, I think. I've been here in China for
three months now. It's overwhelming to me how each little step on the
long road from Northland to here, even the steps that I believed were
detours, was necessary and important.

I was reminded of you this afternoon. I was invited to be part of an
extra-curricular English language club on the campus of a university
nearby the one where I teach. Today was the first meeting, and the
organizers and myself were all surprised that several young men from
Xinjiang province joined us. They are Chinese by nationality, but not
by race or custom. They're from the Uygher minority and are Muslim.
These guys today have only been learning English for one year but had
better oral English than most of my students who have been studying
for many years. After the meeting, one of the young men was talking
with me and some other Chinese students. The Chinese students were
discussing how Chinese people choose their names for meaning while
Americans do not.

"Most Americans choose a name based on how it sounds, and if they like
it," I said.

"We are like that, too, where I am from," the young man from Xinjiang
said. "We choose our names from a book." He looked at me. "It's an
important book." I don't think he knew the name in English. "Do you
know this book?" he asked me.

I took a guess. "The Koran?" I said.

"Yes! That is the book. Do you know it?"

Right then I just wanted to jump up and down and say thank you for
Middle Eastern History class, but I stayed cool.

"Yes, I've read it."

This was so shocking to him, but he was really excited. I left out
the part where I was forced to read it for a class and just felt so
thankful for providence.

"You have a book, too," he said.

"Yes, the B-----. Many of the people mentioned in the Koran are
talked about in it."

We talked for a few minutes about different stories that are mentioned
in both books.

"I have always wanted to read the B," he said, "to find out what
things are same."

Our conversation continued. The young man and his friends exchanged
contact info with me and with the other American guy teacher who was
there. He invited me to eat with them at a Xinjiang restaurant and
talk more. Perhaps in the future this young man will read the similar
Book. Perhaps a door has been opened.

I wanted to write you to say thank you for the time you invested in my
life. Thanks for the work that went into each class, especially
Middle Eastern History. I hope that the lessons I learned so long ago
will continue to become more and more relevant in my life.

Sincerely,
Karyn

Changbai Shan Trip