Today, my dear friend and college roommate, Katie, was interviewed live on NBC’s Today Show.Katie was asked to be a special guest on the Today Show because in November 2007, she donated bone marrow to a complete stranger; by doing so, Katie saved the woman’s life.
Our friend Kristin Noe was the first journalist to report Katie’s story.She published a fabulous article while writing for the Mizzou Newspaper. Click HERE to read Kristin's Article
The national media (obviously ten steps behind Miss Noe) picked up the story a few months ago.Self Magazine just published an article in their December issue.It does an incredible job of describing both Katie’s perspective on the situation and detailing what Anna (the bone marrow recipient) has endured in her fight against leukemia. The article is absolutely amazing, but reader beware, it’s a tear-jerker! Click HERE to read the Self Magazine Article
And finally, here is Katie’s Today Show interview:
Katie didn’t agree to donate bone marrow for the recognition. When she agreed to help this anonymous woman, only a few family and friends knew about it.To this day, Katie doesn’t want praise.She just wants you all to register to become a potential bone marrow donor.DKMS is the donor registry organization that manages the database that matched Katie and Anna. Please click HERE to visit DKMS and learn how to register!
After hearing Katie & Anna’s story, it is impossible not to see His hand at work in all of it.Today, praise Him for the gift of life he has given Anna through Katie’s donation. But more importantly, praise Him everyday for the gift of ETERNAL LIFE that he freely gives to us all!
Last night, I had my first official Chinese business dinner with a few of our local partners.The individuals that my colleague and I went to dinner with are influential in many of the projects we plan.It was a bit overwhelming because I was the only foreigner and don’t speak Chinese.My boss assured me that I would be fine; she emphasized that it was just important for me to attend the dinner and meet everyone.
Relationships are the foundation of work in China.In order to do business, you must develop a friendship with people first.Hence, the importance of me attending dinner – to begin developing a relationship with our partners.Relationships are important in all aspects of life in China.For example, last week I learned that if I want to be sure all of my mail is delivered, I need to be friends with the postman. I had told my co-worker that I asked the postman if he had any letters for me.He looked at me and didn’t respond – even though I know he understood me.My colleague told me matter-of-factly, “Well Whitney, you’re not friends with him.He probably won’t help you.You need to start saying hi to him everyday, and then he will help you find your letters.”What a cultural difference!
Dinner was just as interesting of an experience as you would expect it to be.We arrived at the table and all of the men stood up to greet us.Introductions were friendly, with many handshakes and smiles.After everyone was introduced, we all sat down and drinks were brought to us.The men all drank baijiu, a white distilled liquor that looks like vodka with a really high proof.(Men in China drink baijiu often, and usually they end up drinking way too much of it at once.When a person is socializing, it is a sign of friendship to drink a significant amount because it shows that you are enjoying the people around you and you trust them.The more you drink, the better friends you are.And in a business context this becomes especially important because you are trying to establish a relationship with your dinner guests.NOTE – we do not take part in this.Our partnership is well-established, and we politely declined all alcohol).However, our alternative drink wasn’t any better.They served us a hot corn smoothie... Eww! It was really disgusting.(Disclaimer to my farmer friends: don’t get me wrong, I love how versatile corn is, and I believe we should use it to make as many things as possible.But I don’t think corn is intended to be a smoothie).
To make matters worse, our partners kept making toasts so I had to drink it.Someone would raise their glass like every three minutes and look at one of the people sitting at the table and say something nice about them (well, I guess it was nice – I couldn’t understand it, but I would assume it was a compliment of some sort, haha) so then we would all clink our glasses together and take a drink. (I SO BADLY wanted to shout Cheers! But decided that was impolite).Toasting to someone is a sign of respect and reverence, so our main partner had like twenty toasts to him.After about a million “cheers,” my stomach decided there was no way I could drink any more of my repulsive corn smoothie.As a result, I pulled out the bartender trick – I acted like I was taking a drink; but I actually only let it touch my lips, and then I fake swallowed.The whole time I was thinking – Never in my life did I think I would have to fake drink a corn smoothie while having dinner with some Chinese businessmen… I guess you never really know where you’ll end up in life.So surreal.
Unfortunately, dinner didn’t bring many dishes that were any more appetizing.There was some melon that tasted good; and a mushroom and beef dish that was delicious.Everything else was pretty unusual – meaning I have no idea what it was and don’t really want to.Usually, I just try to steer clear of those dishes and act like I’m busy eating something else.However, one of the gentlemen looked at me and signaled for me to try several of his favorite dishes – including, cow’s stomach, and some type of liver (?) in this red blood-looking sauce.I smiled and ate a bit of it.The worst part was that all I had to wash it down with was my corn smoothie, which actually made it worse haha!The food didn’t taste all that bad, but it was much different than the Chinese food I enjoy.
Chinese meals are almost always served with rice.However, because we were at an expensive restaurant, the rice didn’t come until we were halfway done with dinner.The idea is that you have enough money that you do not need to fill-up on rice.Instead, you should enjoy the delicious food and eat a small amount of rice later if you would like.
My favorite part of the meal came when the waitress brought the teapot to our table.Tea glasses hold approximately two sips of tea, so the teapot is often left on the table.Well, because it was placed by me, I, by default, became the tea-pourer.I think my eyes got really big as my mind started screaming, Danger! Danger!I immediately thought of the Disney movie, Mulan (See the movie clip below).Mulan is a Chinese girl who goes to meet a matchmaker and tries her best to impress the lady, but she ends up spilling tea all over the table, starting a fire, and completely humiliating herself.I was terrified my teapouring experience was going to end up along similar lines.And then, I just kept thinking that Kelly should be the one here- she is the expert waitress.With all the coffee pouring she did at Cathy’s she has had plenty of experience.But no, here I was, in the middle of a Chinese business dinner, expected to pour tea (aka- steaming hot liquids) to these really important people.After mustering up all the confidence I could find, I very carefully began pouring the tea.And, I am happy to report that I did a fine job.: )
Overall, dinner was a really nice experience.Our partners were great to be around and were very warm to me; and my co-workers, of course, are great.I was thankful for an inside look into how business partnerships and relationships are established and maintained in China.It was an eye-opening cultural experience.And don’t worry, after dinner I was still starving, so I came home and ate a peanut butter sandwich : )
Yesterday, I was taking a taxi back to my apartment, and the taxi driver took an unusual route home.He drove down a block that I didn’t recognize.I was sitting in the back seat and realized that he wasn’t going to my apartment entrance.I leaned forward and told him in Chinese that he needed to turn right.He muttered something quickly in Chinese that I couldn’t understand.So again, I said in Chinese– mister, you need to turn right to go to my house.And his response was the same, meaning he said something really fast that I didn’t understand.(I am sad to say that at present this is how much of my communicating in Chinese goes… I can say something, but I can’t understand what people say back in response).I was getting frustrated, because I knew that I was saying the correct words and using the appropriate tones.Obviously, he was just being difficult (and being a man, teasing!) and not listening to my directions.I told him once more – please turn right!He turned around in his seat, gave me an exasperated look, and pointed out the car window.My eyes followed his finger only to find a Do Not Enter, One-Way Street sign glaring at me…. The taxi driver couldn’t follow my orders to turn right because it was a one-way street.I immediately blushed and bashfully told him I was sorry like a million times.After I got out of the cab, I laughed and thought to myself, “Oh, that poor taxi driver, he has to think that I am a crazy American!”
I tell you this story for several reasons:first, it is a prime example of what it is like to live with a constant communication barrier.Bless his heart, the taxi driver explained to me three times that he couldn’t turn down the one-way street; but because I had no idea what he had said, I just kept ignoring his explanation and continued to instruct him to turn right.We were both doing our best to solve the situation, but we couldn’t understand each other and just kept going in circles. Secondly, this story is great for comic relief.Laughing at myself is something I have become quite good at.In fact, if you ever want to hear a funny story, just email me – I have plenty more to share : )
Modern technology truly is a marvel.On Sunday, November 8, I was able to meet with my home congregation via skype.Being able to see everyone and share in their evening was such a blessing. Thank you all for your support! And thank you to P. Hagan and Strahan Larsen for planning the skype convo.I look forward to seeing you all on skype again soon!
Grandma's reaction to seeing me on skype
Talking to Grandma and Thanking her for the cookies she sent me!
I just returned from CWEF training in Hong Kong. I had a wonderful four-day trip! Among the highlights were:
Visiting with friends: I stayed with Megan, the new Communication Specialist in Asia.She was so gracious to let me stay with her. She rolled out the red carpet for me and even made breakfast every morning!It was so great to see her and catch up.I was also able to visit with John & Susan.How wonderful to see familiar faces from home.We had such a nice time visiting.I have other friends from orientation this summer that are working in Hong Kong; I loved seeing them and hearing about the work they are doing.There is such a great community of ppl that are working for Him in Hong Kong. It was rejuvenating to spend time with everyone and reconnect.
Satisfying my Caffeine Craving:I pumped myself full of my favorite caffeinated beverages that I have been struggling without in China.In a matter of four days, I drank 10 Diet Cokes, 2 cups of Starbucks Christmas Blend Coffee (my favorite kind! served black with a packet of Splenda), 2 Carmel Frappuccinos , and a Gingerbread Latte… Oh it was glorious!!My body and my mind finally worked at full speed again.But alas, now I have returned to Kunming and have to go cold turkey again.(Don’t worry, I brought 6 bottles of Diet Coke to satisfy my craving).Which brings me to my next point.. All I want for Christmas if for you each to write a letter to the Coca Cola Company, asking them to start marketing Diet Coke in China.They currently sell Coke, Coke Zero, and Sprite, but NO DIET COKE.There is a Coke bottling plant in Kunming, so all they would have to do is make one special batch for me, and I could go pick it up.They wouldn’t even have to deliver.Thank you in advance for helping me lobby for Diet Coke in China : )
And Most Importantly - Learning more about CWEF and the work people are doing all over Asia:There are three CWEF offices in China, an office in Cambodia, and one in Thailand.Each office was represented at the meeting and shared about how they are helping the people in their region.It was incredible to hear the work that is happening in Southeast Asia! CWEF sponsors water projects, scholarships, health and hygiene training, distributes health kits, leadership classes, daycare work, rebuilding in the Sichuan Province after the terrible earthquake in 2008, and much more.I was so encouraged to hear how He is working all over Asia.
Here are a few pictures from the trip:
A street festival on Saturday night
Part of the skyline from the ferry
A street in Hong Kong (Note the awesome Coach store on the right...)
We went hiking on Llama Island. A view from the hike.
Fishing boats on Llama Island
Friends on the hike
Seafood restaurants on the island where we ate dinner.
The sunset during dinner at the seafood restaurant.
Yes, Halloween is celebrated even in China!(Although one has to be careful because there is a fear of ghosts, demons, and spirits here. Last year someone dressed up as a ghost and had bricks thrown at him…)
Regardless of how you feel about Halloween, it’s always entertaining to see people dressed up and looking silly (myself included).I provided pictures for your entertainment.Among the highlights of this year’s Halloween:someone wearing a Scream mask – a sign that globalization does exist; a random group of Chinese children dressed up and saying “trick or treat” and forcing me to give them all of the gum that I had in my purse (it was the only candy I had); and all of the Chinese people laughing and saying “grrrrr” whenever I walked by.
Whitney served as the Service Coordinator with the Concordia Welfare and Education Foundation (CWEF) in the Yunnan Province of China. For two years, she served the region by planning and implementing fresh water well projects, school health programs, and scholarships.
