So as some of you may know this is the last week of my school. I will be moving to my new home on Friday! The rest of my school will also visit China, but a different part. In a couple months I may join them for a couple weeks and come back to HK for graduation with them (it will also be good timing for visa run). This school has been very wonderful and I'm so happy I did it. I feel it helped prepare me for this big move (which is very important) and I learned so much. I feel very prepared in many aspects.
This last week is just orientation on China and some of the big Culture differences to be ready for. Life has been really wonderful and I am so excited for more things to come. Someone gave me a Ukulele, so now I have an instrument which is fabulous and during this time someone gave me their laptop, so that will help in keeping in touch with people and more possibly.
Even though Hong Kong is technically part of China, Hong Kong and China are very different, including the people. Because of the British rule Hong Kong is a little more similar to the western world (although still distinctly Chinese). While Mainland Chinese thinking and lifestyle are quite different. One example of a difference is in China if someone is a little bossy and tells you what to do, they do it cuz they care (even if it's a stranger). The Chinese don't drink cold drinks in cold weather (often times it's lukewarm) cuz they believe it will freeze and harm your insides). For a meal Chinese will often drink tea or soup (or both) before the real meal to “protect” their stomach. One thing I find interesting is that girl/boy touching is really not appropriate (not even looking into eyes for too long), but when it comes to travel (like getting on a bus), it is one of the few places in the world where it is appropriate to grind a stranger because the bus is so packed full. I've heard stories of people being able to lift their legs and let go of any bars because they were so packed in. because I’m a foreigner I will get a lot of stares (not many foreigners travel there, it's beginning to see more, but still not a lot). So sometimes on bad days the crowding or the stares might get a little frustrating, but I'm so excited to move there. The Chinese people I have met are so kind and sweet and I can’t wait to meet more. The next couple years of my life will be quite wonderful.
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Saturday, August 6, 2011
Finally Updated!
So as you read or skim or don't read the last couple posts, you may notice the last two posts and this post were all posted on the same day. That is because our internet went down for like 3 weeks and I wasn't able to communicate much. So the last two posts were written one and two weeks ago. I had good intentions even if I wasn't able to send them out!
Right now life is good, someone from my school blessed me with a macbook! Which is wonderful, cuz now I will be able to keep up communication and stuff when I move. This last week's teaching “Business as M” has probably been my favorite and the one I was most looking forward to. Through business we can get so many opportunities and our speaker talked about the 7 mountains in life (business being one, along with family, media, arts/entertainment, education, government to name some of them) and how many of these things have gotten a little out of hand and we should be influencing them. Business is what funds most if not all of these areas in major ways. So if we can influence business then we can effectively start to influence many other areas of life. I know I still have a lot to learn in this area, but I will definitely keep my eyes and ears open for business opportunities.
This last week's culture night was Figi night, we had coconut fish, so now I know how to make a Fijian dinner!
We leave to cross the border and head north in about 3 weeks, I am so excited!
One other thing I want to share about my life right now is something that has been passed on from my mother. As some of you may know, my mom has been cutting hair for 20+ years, so basically my whole life I've seen it. Last year I had to start cutting my own hair cuz I couldn't afford to go to anyone, well when I started to cut my hair people began to ask me to cut theirs, but I didn't know how to cut hair! So this last time I was at home my mom taught me the “family trade” and since being here I have been able to gift many people with my new hair cutting abilities.
Thank you, hope you all are well!
Right now life is good, someone from my school blessed me with a macbook! Which is wonderful, cuz now I will be able to keep up communication and stuff when I move. This last week's teaching “Business as M” has probably been my favorite and the one I was most looking forward to. Through business we can get so many opportunities and our speaker talked about the 7 mountains in life (business being one, along with family, media, arts/entertainment, education, government to name some of them) and how many of these things have gotten a little out of hand and we should be influencing them. Business is what funds most if not all of these areas in major ways. So if we can influence business then we can effectively start to influence many other areas of life. I know I still have a lot to learn in this area, but I will definitely keep my eyes and ears open for business opportunities.
This last week's culture night was Figi night, we had coconut fish, so now I know how to make a Fijian dinner!
We leave to cross the border and head north in about 3 weeks, I am so excited!
One other thing I want to share about my life right now is something that has been passed on from my mother. As some of you may know, my mom has been cutting hair for 20+ years, so basically my whole life I've seen it. Last year I had to start cutting my own hair cuz I couldn't afford to go to anyone, well when I started to cut my hair people began to ask me to cut theirs, but I didn't know how to cut hair! So this last time I was at home my mom taught me the “family trade” and since being here I have been able to gift many people with my new hair cutting abilities.
Thank you, hope you all are well!
In between Update
North American Night went well, our food was completely devoured. We made Mexican rice, enchiladas, 7 layer dip, salsa and tres leche cake. No leftovers. Here at the base we have work duties for a couple hours each day. My work duties are dinner prep, so I'm usually in the kitchen, but once or twice a week we get a break and only have to do clean up (which takes less time). So on the day we made our food I pretty much ran the kitchen, kinda funny cuz I walked in and sense I knew what needed to happen the leader told me, “OK your directing today” It was hectic, but it all tasted delicious and got out on time.
Some more interesting things about the village, we have “village dogs” which just basically means they don't have an owner. It's kinda funny cuz they are mostly all males and have their sections of territory marked out. There is Scrappy who lives by my house, he's nice, but I would never really want to touch him cuz of ticks and fleas. There is a dog named “Scruff n' Stuff” because it refers to the dog itself as well as everything that might be living on him (he looks like he's in pretty poor shape). There are some more that I don't know as well, although there is a dog who lives down the road, he has an owner, but he is not so nice. They call him “Chuckles” because when you pass by he growls and barks in a sort of chuckle type sound.
Friday my school along with a Nepali Youth group went and had a program in a park and got to do some e-work. It was really great. We got to share with so many people and P for a lot of people. At the beginning we got some words of knowledge and met the people who they were for (someone with pain in their leg and someone with a lot of fear). Some people came to know Jman that night and it was really wonderful! I hope we are able to do it again.
This weekend has been nice, I've gotten out more, but not to new places. I went to Starbucks yesterday with the other students, which was so important because we hardly get to talk and hang out sense were always doing Hw and studying. So, it was fun to chill and talk about non-school related topics for once. Then I went over to a staff house and played dutch blitz for 2 and half hours with 7 people! It was intense, but very fun. I made a come back from -54 to positive 52!!!!! Woo hoo! Went from last place to 3rd. So, that was good. Today I'm going into town today to hang with my Small Group leader (a person who is there to help keep you accountable and is available if there is anything I want to talk about), it's part of the school to meet at least once a week. Then tonight we are celebrating someone's bday and going to watch a movie.
This last week's topic was “Character and Community”, it was really great. We mostly talked about Character, but it ended up being a very powerful teaching. This week I am really excited for is....... Business as M work! The guy who teaches it has been teaching it for years, so I'm looking forward to it.
Some more interesting things about the village, we have “village dogs” which just basically means they don't have an owner. It's kinda funny cuz they are mostly all males and have their sections of territory marked out. There is Scrappy who lives by my house, he's nice, but I would never really want to touch him cuz of ticks and fleas. There is a dog named “Scruff n' Stuff” because it refers to the dog itself as well as everything that might be living on him (he looks like he's in pretty poor shape). There are some more that I don't know as well, although there is a dog who lives down the road, he has an owner, but he is not so nice. They call him “Chuckles” because when you pass by he growls and barks in a sort of chuckle type sound.
Friday my school along with a Nepali Youth group went and had a program in a park and got to do some e-work. It was really great. We got to share with so many people and P for a lot of people. At the beginning we got some words of knowledge and met the people who they were for (someone with pain in their leg and someone with a lot of fear). Some people came to know Jman that night and it was really wonderful! I hope we are able to do it again.
This weekend has been nice, I've gotten out more, but not to new places. I went to Starbucks yesterday with the other students, which was so important because we hardly get to talk and hang out sense were always doing Hw and studying. So, it was fun to chill and talk about non-school related topics for once. Then I went over to a staff house and played dutch blitz for 2 and half hours with 7 people! It was intense, but very fun. I made a come back from -54 to positive 52!!!!! Woo hoo! Went from last place to 3rd. So, that was good. Today I'm going into town today to hang with my Small Group leader (a person who is there to help keep you accountable and is available if there is anything I want to talk about), it's part of the school to meet at least once a week. Then tonight we are celebrating someone's bday and going to watch a movie.
This last week's topic was “Character and Community”, it was really great. We mostly talked about Character, but it ended up being a very powerful teaching. This week I am really excited for is....... Business as M work! The guy who teaches it has been teaching it for years, so I'm looking forward to it.
This post is late in Coming
I'm so sorry about my lack of posts the last couple weeks. I don't remember if I mentioned, but this last Friday we had this huge project due about Chinese ethnic groups. It pretty much consumed my time and mind through the last two weeks. But now (YAY!!!) I have part 1 turned in and completed. And if I do say so myself, it looks pretty good (I did my project on the Mongol People group in China, so if you ever become curious about them I will gladly email you the information I discovered). Other then this task the last couple weeks we had teachings on “Singing (W) on the Frontier” and “S-Mapping Basics”.
W on the Frontier was an interesting topic. I think what I mostly got from it was the diversity of it. The diversity in which we can sing and dance. We can use different ethnic forms and through W time can create so many other opportunities.
S-Mapping was a look at how we can take hearing from Dad about strongholds in a city, and looking at geographical important places and p-ing about them, so we can effectively reach people in the city.
Other then this and the homework, I haven’t gotten out much. Although one thing that I never commented on was my trip to Victoria’s peak. The trip up in itself was beautiful, me and my friends took the bus which was a lot of fun. In Hong Kong, especially in the city it's mostly just double Decker buses. So we went to the “upstairs” of the bus and got to see the city at varying heights. It was a pretty clear day, so beautiful. It's hard to describe it to you, so I will post some pics as soon as I can.
Also every Thursday I've taken up going to the Red Light District with one of the staff here. Every week she bakes something then goes down and passes them out to the prostitutes, lady-boys, madams, homeless and just builds relationship. It's really neat because passing out baked good is a great opening to go up so someone and sometimes from there she will be able to talk or P for someone and she built up a lot of great relationships and seen lot of neat things come from it. So, I decided that it would be beneficial to join while I was in Hong Kong.
Other than these few things I haven’t gotten out much because of my project. And also on the weekends I’ve been so tired (probably because I'm still not used to the heat), but maybe next weekend if I get a spurt of energy I can go experience something for you all, so I can then share it.
This week Tuesday we are having a “North American” culture night. I very unofficially got put in charge of it, so we decided to make Mexican food! Which is humorous because as of now we don't have any Mexicans on base, only Americans and Canadians (as far as North America goes), but we figured Mexican is something both cultures eat, and it's honoring the other third of North America that is not here yet. So that should be fun.
W on the Frontier was an interesting topic. I think what I mostly got from it was the diversity of it. The diversity in which we can sing and dance. We can use different ethnic forms and through W time can create so many other opportunities.
S-Mapping was a look at how we can take hearing from Dad about strongholds in a city, and looking at geographical important places and p-ing about them, so we can effectively reach people in the city.
Other then this and the homework, I haven’t gotten out much. Although one thing that I never commented on was my trip to Victoria’s peak. The trip up in itself was beautiful, me and my friends took the bus which was a lot of fun. In Hong Kong, especially in the city it's mostly just double Decker buses. So we went to the “upstairs” of the bus and got to see the city at varying heights. It was a pretty clear day, so beautiful. It's hard to describe it to you, so I will post some pics as soon as I can.
Also every Thursday I've taken up going to the Red Light District with one of the staff here. Every week she bakes something then goes down and passes them out to the prostitutes, lady-boys, madams, homeless and just builds relationship. It's really neat because passing out baked good is a great opening to go up so someone and sometimes from there she will be able to talk or P for someone and she built up a lot of great relationships and seen lot of neat things come from it. So, I decided that it would be beneficial to join while I was in Hong Kong.
Other than these few things I haven’t gotten out much because of my project. And also on the weekends I’ve been so tired (probably because I'm still not used to the heat), but maybe next weekend if I get a spurt of energy I can go experience something for you all, so I can then share it.
This week Tuesday we are having a “North American” culture night. I very unofficially got put in charge of it, so we decided to make Mexican food! Which is humorous because as of now we don't have any Mexicans on base, only Americans and Canadians (as far as North America goes), but we figured Mexican is something both cultures eat, and it's honoring the other third of North America that is not here yet. So that should be fun.
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