Two main things I want to focus on here. One China names, two what people wear to the gym. Both are incredibly interesting.
So when a Chinese person begins to learn English, they usually pick a name out for themselves or ask someone to give them a name. Some names I have heard that should give you a straight up belly laugh, or at least a little giggle. Birthday Cake, (yes I said Birthday Cake, that is not a typo), Rock (as in pebble or boulder? I never got a chance to ask), Panda, Shinning, Flower, Coco (which is not bad in my opinion, but still unusual), Easy (all I have to say is poor girl, please change your name!), Eleven (she thought a number would be VERY original....so I guess she got what she wanted out of the name) and Fish. Now I should state, in Chinese, names like this are not unusual (well Eleven and Birthday Cake are, but that's besides the point). My own Chinese name means art (like painting type art, not Art is short for Arther type Art). The girls who were Fish and Panda, took the meaning of their surnames and just directly translated to English. I have also heard of a girl names Fiona, who insisted spelling her name with a double F....Ffiona.
Now onto gyms. It's always a surprise to see what people will wear to the gyms. Always a little interesting. Jeans are not unusual at all. So I almost always see at least one person running, cycling or doing weights in jeans. One time while I was running a girl got done with belly dancing class (yes that is a class we hold at my gym, along with some other interesting ones), she was in this flowing outfit and then began to run. Which I honestly don't know how she could, it was so distracting! Sleeves and pants legs swooshing everywhere! But the thing that topped it off for me was seeing a man in his tie. I guess he came to the gym after work and decided it wasn't worth taking off the tie.
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Influences
Today we have more influences than we can count, media is one that we often blame or praise. But do we ever think of our own influences? I ask because a couple months ago I would have said the influences I have over people is quite small. I could count them on one hand. But today I realize that's not true. I influence more people than I realize. Not influence in such a way where I could convince them all to jump off a cliff, but I have such an influence that they will stop and listen to what I have to say. Maybe they won't agree, maybe they will strongly disagree, but nonetheless they will give me the time of day to pass my message along. That is a huge influence.
Why do I bring this up? Because I want us to be inspired to do something more with our lives. To take a stand in what we believe in, to move forward, to better the world. Example, when I decided to get my act together and work towards becoming healthier, I was surprised at how many people took note! Some decided to change too, some didn't, but the fact that they noticed! I have influence to share my ideas. I heard that its our responsibility to share and the others to decide whether or not they will follow, so we can't take responsibility for what they choose after we shared, but we need to take a step towards that.
Take Invisible Children for example. A group of people went to Uganda saw what was happening with child soldiers, came back to America and tried to get the American government involved. But my government wasn't interested because it didn't involve America. So this group of people began to advocate everywhere they could, they used their influences and their influences used their influences. Once the American people took note, so did the Government. Makes sense, ours is a government of the people, so THE PEOPLE wanted to get involved and help something beyond their own boarders. Can you see the chain affect? I watched a video (http://kony2012.s3-website-us-east-1.amazonaws.com/) and was influenced. Now I'm sharing with you. Everyone who reads this will be influenced. Maybe not to change, not to do anything, but you took your time to see what I had to say. Maybe you even took your time to watch the video (maybe you have already watched it). And those who believe in the cause will then use their influence to tell others.
It's amazing. Stop and think who you influence. Now ask yourself, what kind of influence do you want to be and how do you want to influence the world to become a better place for the future?
Why do I bring this up? Because I want us to be inspired to do something more with our lives. To take a stand in what we believe in, to move forward, to better the world. Example, when I decided to get my act together and work towards becoming healthier, I was surprised at how many people took note! Some decided to change too, some didn't, but the fact that they noticed! I have influence to share my ideas. I heard that its our responsibility to share and the others to decide whether or not they will follow, so we can't take responsibility for what they choose after we shared, but we need to take a step towards that.
Take Invisible Children for example. A group of people went to Uganda saw what was happening with child soldiers, came back to America and tried to get the American government involved. But my government wasn't interested because it didn't involve America. So this group of people began to advocate everywhere they could, they used their influences and their influences used their influences. Once the American people took note, so did the Government. Makes sense, ours is a government of the people, so THE PEOPLE wanted to get involved and help something beyond their own boarders. Can you see the chain affect? I watched a video (http://kony2012.s3-website-us-east-1.amazonaws.com/) and was influenced. Now I'm sharing with you. Everyone who reads this will be influenced. Maybe not to change, not to do anything, but you took your time to see what I had to say. Maybe you even took your time to watch the video (maybe you have already watched it). And those who believe in the cause will then use their influence to tell others.
It's amazing. Stop and think who you influence. Now ask yourself, what kind of influence do you want to be and how do you want to influence the world to become a better place for the future?
Why I love Tithing
Tithing is something I've struggled with and I'm sure many others have. I never used to tithe, but then I started to feel a little guilty about not giving. So I started out giving a couple dollars off of each paycheck. Literally, just a couple dollars. While that was a good start, that began to wear thin and I knew I should commit more. So I plunged and started to give about 10% of my income. (It should also be noted here, that nobody "forced" me or even spoke to me about it, it was simply discovery of my own habits). I've waned since then and even stopped giving at one point. My reasons behind stopping were I didn't really believe in what I was doing. I read a book about giving tithe is not about giving 10% of your income, but doing what you feel is right, doing it out of your heart. I think everyone should give, but I also agree that it needs to be out of our generosity (our heart) and not out of a guilt-stricken conscience.
So how do we get there?
Like I said, at one point I stopped giving because I didn't believe in what I was doing anymore. For about a year I gave, but not very consistently. During that time I was struggling with finances as well, which helped play into my excuse for not giving. Then I read something "Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and try Me now in this...If I will not open up for you the windows of ...and pour out such a blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it." and it changed my mindset. I was reminded that giving needed to be out of the heart, not out of obligation, but that I NEEDED to give. That by not giving I was holding out on someone else, I was holding out on making this world a better place. So I started to give, knowing that what I was giving to would positively effect those people's lives and would hopefully ripple out from there. Since then my love for tithing has grown. I am so excited thinking about all the causes I've been able to assist because I gave a small portion of what I had.
So I said my love for tithing grew and today I realized I love tithing. So you may be wondering what has changed my mindset? I think its exciting to be part of something larger than just me and what I'm doing. Example since coming to china there are 4 big things that I have supported.
1. I helped a couple afford to get married and continue their "career" in HK
2. I helped a friend go back home to support and share with her family during a tragedy.
3. I'm supporting the adoption of an HIV infected child.
4. Kony 2012 (if you don't know what this is, look it up at http://kony2012.s3-website-us-east-1.amazonaws.com/)
Now I'm not trying to tell you what I've done so you can think highly of me, but I want to share what has helped me learn to love to give, so you can learn to love to give too. You should know what your giving to and why. You should support the cause. Many people say when someone donates money, don't ask for anything else, but I think if you give more than just money (ie time), then you can appreciate why your giving. And by time I mean, if you are going to give to a person, meet that person for lunch or coffee so you can be excited about what your giving to. If you are going to donate to a cause or charity, use a few minutes of your time to read/watch what that charity is doing, so you can be excited about what you GET TO BE PART OF!
Many people have given to me and this could sound like another appeal, it is not. Those who give/given, thank you. I want you to be excited for what you get to be part of when you give to me. If your not excited, find out what I'm doing. If your still not excited, stop giving to me and find something you believe in! I would rather have you give to something you feel part of and lose all support than have you feel obligated to give. Blessings!
So how do we get there?
Like I said, at one point I stopped giving because I didn't believe in what I was doing anymore. For about a year I gave, but not very consistently. During that time I was struggling with finances as well, which helped play into my excuse for not giving. Then I read something "Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and try Me now in this...If I will not open up for you the windows of ...and pour out such a blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it." and it changed my mindset. I was reminded that giving needed to be out of the heart, not out of obligation, but that I NEEDED to give. That by not giving I was holding out on someone else, I was holding out on making this world a better place. So I started to give, knowing that what I was giving to would positively effect those people's lives and would hopefully ripple out from there. Since then my love for tithing has grown. I am so excited thinking about all the causes I've been able to assist because I gave a small portion of what I had.
So I said my love for tithing grew and today I realized I love tithing. So you may be wondering what has changed my mindset? I think its exciting to be part of something larger than just me and what I'm doing. Example since coming to china there are 4 big things that I have supported.
1. I helped a couple afford to get married and continue their "career" in HK
2. I helped a friend go back home to support and share with her family during a tragedy.
3. I'm supporting the adoption of an HIV infected child.
4. Kony 2012 (if you don't know what this is, look it up at http://kony2012.s3-website-us-east-1.amazonaws.com/)
Now I'm not trying to tell you what I've done so you can think highly of me, but I want to share what has helped me learn to love to give, so you can learn to love to give too. You should know what your giving to and why. You should support the cause. Many people say when someone donates money, don't ask for anything else, but I think if you give more than just money (ie time), then you can appreciate why your giving. And by time I mean, if you are going to give to a person, meet that person for lunch or coffee so you can be excited about what your giving to. If you are going to donate to a cause or charity, use a few minutes of your time to read/watch what that charity is doing, so you can be excited about what you GET TO BE PART OF!
Many people have given to me and this could sound like another appeal, it is not. Those who give/given, thank you. I want you to be excited for what you get to be part of when you give to me. If your not excited, find out what I'm doing. If your still not excited, stop giving to me and find something you believe in! I would rather have you give to something you feel part of and lose all support than have you feel obligated to give. Blessings!
Saturday, March 3, 2012
Coming Back Home Feels Good
Sorry for such a long break between posts! I had midterms about 2 weeks ago, then went to Hong Kong. So my time was spent preparing and since coming back readjusting. Although now things are starting to get in a grove again. Chinese New Year is over, all my friends are back, I have a reliable home to return to each night, I know when I work, when I have class and have a fairly steady schedule as far as working out goes. That leaves my extra time to hang out with friends and do online school.
Let's start with Hong Kong. I'm sure you all would ask "How was it"....yes I can read minds. Well I really enjoyed myself, it was so refreshing to get away, have no responsibilities, eat what I want (yes I know bad Natasha!) and see old friends. One down side, rain and cold. Everyone blamed me, said I brought it from the north, but I had been hoping for some sun which I never got! No, I did not go tourist seeing, Hong Kong isn't really a touristy place for me anymore, more like a second home. While there I had a small realization ... lost English. One friend (who has been to China alot) told me I spoke like a Chinese person now. Another guy didn't even think English was my first language...that's embarrassing.
Coming back from Hong Kong, I started my Marathon running Training schedule, so that has been exciting. I keep talking about cycling class, which I finally went to! First time no class, second time broke bike, third time late instructor...but at least it happened. And it put me on such a happy high. But its cool cuz the people who work at the gym are really nice, don't speak English, so I use my Chinese a lot and have even had conversations! Although one time I was asking one guy about something (in Chinese), he interrupted me and asked if I spoke Chinese. How do you respond to that? "Well, if you don't think this is Chinese, then I guess not." Another time I told someone I was American and studying Chinese. He then asked me (in Chinese) "Do you speak really good English?" HAHAHA!!!! Now I really don't know how to answer that one....yes?....Compared to you, probably.....or Not anymore.
Let's start with Hong Kong. I'm sure you all would ask "How was it"....yes I can read minds. Well I really enjoyed myself, it was so refreshing to get away, have no responsibilities, eat what I want (yes I know bad Natasha!) and see old friends. One down side, rain and cold. Everyone blamed me, said I brought it from the north, but I had been hoping for some sun which I never got! No, I did not go tourist seeing, Hong Kong isn't really a touristy place for me anymore, more like a second home. While there I had a small realization ... lost English. One friend (who has been to China alot) told me I spoke like a Chinese person now. Another guy didn't even think English was my first language...that's embarrassing.
Coming back from Hong Kong, I started my Marathon running Training schedule, so that has been exciting. I keep talking about cycling class, which I finally went to! First time no class, second time broke bike, third time late instructor...but at least it happened. And it put me on such a happy high. But its cool cuz the people who work at the gym are really nice, don't speak English, so I use my Chinese a lot and have even had conversations! Although one time I was asking one guy about something (in Chinese), he interrupted me and asked if I spoke Chinese. How do you respond to that? "Well, if you don't think this is Chinese, then I guess not." Another time I told someone I was American and studying Chinese. He then asked me (in Chinese) "Do you speak really good English?" HAHAHA!!!! Now I really don't know how to answer that one....yes?....Compared to you, probably.....or Not anymore.
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