Grass!

Grass - Oh how I have missed you!

Listening to Tim McGraw eloquently sing, “Where the Green Grass Grows,” has a whole new meaning in China. With over 4 million people in Kunming, space is limited and grass is nonexistent. Don’t get me wrong, Kunming is a beautiful city with luscious flowers and lovely landscaping, but there are few areas with enough grass to even have a picnic. Hence, my excitement upon seeing grass for the first time! I visited a National Park outside of Kunming called the Stone Forest. It is an incredible place, with limestone rocks that protrude from the ground in stunning formations. As you can see, it is a beautiful place. However, I (shamefully) admit that the grass was ever more beautiful than the rocks. The grass was so green and soft and perfect! I literally saw a huge grassy area, ran over to it, and just laid and looked up at the sky for twenty minutes. All I could think was, “He created the earth to be green, not concrete!” haha. I brought several blades of grass back to my apartment with me (dorky I know) just so I can remember what it looks like. And, when I return home, if anyone needs their grass mowed –call me! : )

Stone Forest

Buy a Desk ... Check!

Several items have been on my “To Do List” (see “Add it to the List” blog post to understand my obsession with lists) since I first arrived in China. One such thing was to buy a desk for my room. I had been putting it off because I didn’t feel confident enough to barter with a salesman at the used furniture store. I knew I would end up paying way over value for a desk, which is like blasphemy in the Heins family. (Mom taught my sisters and I many things – one of the most important is bargain shopping!) Luckily, my CWEF colleague offered me a desk from the office. The catch was I had to transport it to my apartment.

My initial thought was, “Oh, no problem! I’ll just shove it in the backseat of a taxi.” (For the record: I have terrible spatial recognition and always think there is a way to shove furniture into a car. Even better, I’m completely shameless about the measures necessary to transport a piece of furniture. Case in point: I once shoved a recliner from a Goodwill store into the trunk of my car. The trunk wouldn’t shut, so the recliner was left half hanging out of my car all day long because I didn’t have time to go home and unload it. But it was totally worth it!)

Anyways, my coworkers quickly shot down the taxi idea, saying the cab driver would refuse to take me anywhere. Instead, they suggested that I get a san lun che, which is a person with a bike that pulls a small cart behind it. Anna (my roommate and coworker) was so sweet to find an available san lun che for me. The lady was a 30-year-old woman who was so nice and helpful. Anna arranged all of the details in Chinese, and then filled me in on the plan: the lady knew where my apartment complex was, but she wanted to go a different route home than we normally walk. Anna told me to just walk alongside her as she rode the bike to our apartment. We strapped the desk onto the cart (see picture) and my new Chinese friend started riding towards my apartment. I strolled along next to her, enjoying the beautiful day. Everything was great for a couple of blocks, until we reached a busy intersection. There were 4 lanes of traffic and a railroad to cross. Literally, cars and buses were speeding by every direction; they were honking and slamming on their breaks and passing people, par usual. I looked at the lady with pure terror as she got off the bike and marched deliberately into the oncoming traffic. My only thought was, “Now I know how the chicken felt when he crossed the road… he had no choice to get to the other side.” Haha. We made it across safely, barely.

The next obstacle included a large hill that a bike could not be ridden up. The only way up the hill was to push. The lady grabbed the handlebars to push and steer, and I got behind the cart to push from the back. With lots of pushing and hard work, we eventually made it up the hill. Once on level ground, she hopped on the bike and started pedaling. I once again strolled beside her. As I was busy daydreaming, she managed to get about a block ahead of me. My initial thought was, “oh that’s nice, she can ride ahead, and I’ll just meet her at home.” I continued walking and singing along to my ipod, when all of a sudden I realized that I didn’t know how to get home because we were taking a different route! Not only that, but my bag and cell phone were in the cart. If I got lost, I didn’t have any money or a cell phone! AH!!! I started off in a dead sprint to catch up. I was pumping my arms, trying not to lose my flip flops and looking like a giant fool. Thankfully, I was a trackstar in my former life so I was able to catch her. (haha- I know Mrs. Kammeyer will laugh at that statement. Dev seems to have gotten the track genes in our family).

Well after I caught up, I think the lady felt sorry for me because I was so winded and could hardly breathe – definitely a result of the pollution, not me being out of shape. As a reward, the lady insisted that I climb in the back of the cart to ride the rest of the way (see picture). We couldn’t communicate, but she wouldn’t start pedaling until I sat down. The next thing I know, I’m sitting in the cart, straddling the desk that is strapped to the top, as my new Chinese friend is pulling me with her bike while simultaneously weaving in and out of traffic. She was working this bike! I mean, we were flying down the street. All I could think was, “Where’s my seatbelt?!?” To give her credit though, we did make it home in record time, with myself and the desk safely in tow. And I’m happy to report, the desk looks GREAT in my room! (I’ll post pictures once my room is completely decorated).

I think the desk transportation story highlights several things: A. Life in China is an adventure. You never know what will happen next (running down the city street terrified of getting lost, or riding in the back of cart narrowly dodging the oncoming buses and cars). B. Every task here is a challenge that forces you out of your comfort zone and requires much thinking. Nothing here is easy because it is all so new… No wonder I’ve been going to bed exhausted at 9pm! and C. Even in China, I love marking things off of my To Do List! … Item #3: Buy a desk --- Check! : )

Names

Isaiah 43:1  - "I have called you by name, you are mine."  

 One’s name holds much significance.  A name provides individualism, family association, and a sense of identity.  We mourn those whose names are unknown by graciously referencing them as John/Jane Doe; and we rejoice when a baby is born and becomes the family namesake.  While I was interning for Congressman Ike Skelton, he once asked me what I believed was the most beautiful word in the English language.  After I had pondered his question for a second, he responded by saying that a person’s name is often the most beautiful word to them.  As I thought about it, I realized how much truth there is in this statement; everyone loves to hear their name stated.

   Names have a whole new dimension in China.  Foreign names are often difficult to pronounce.  However, I have been incredibly lucky in this department.  When I meet a Chinese person, I say, “Hi, my name is Whitney.”  And every time, I mean EVERY time, their eyes light up and they say, “Oh, like Whitney Houston?!”  And I say, “Yes! Exactly like Whitney Houston; we even have the same initials!”  Truly, I have had this conversation verbatim at least fifteen times.  It is so sweet and makes me so happy because they are trying to relate to me, but I can’t help but get a huge grin on my face because it is so amusing to be compared to Whitney Houston.  (I’m not African American; I’m not a recovering addict; and I’m not attempting a comeback…and the list goes on).  But it has been a great lesson on how your name helps to form your identity. 

   Interestingly enough, I have also been given a Chinese name in my language class.  My Chinese teachers decided to name me, “Hán huì ní.”  Hán is my surname, or last name, and huì ní is my first name.  They chose this name for me because the combination of huì ní resembles Whitney (so they say), and because huì means “grace.”  I was SO EXCITED to discover the meaning.  It is always amazing to see how His timing works.  I was given my name on a day when I was feeling a bit overwhelmed.  As soon as my teacher shared that my name means grace, I instantly thought of Him saying, “My grace is sufficient for you.”  I just sat back in my chair and thought, “Wow, He knows exactly what I need to be reminded of today.”

   Names and titles are obviously important to identify and describe a person; and everyone loves to hear someone say their name.  However beautiful an individual’s name may sound though, I can’t think of any names that sound more beautiful than these: Wonderful Counselor, Bread of Life, Prince of Peace, Light of the World, and so many more.  What joy, peace, and comfort these names bring!

Am I Dreaming?

There are times in life when you look around and think, “Is this real? Or am I dreaming?” I definitely had several of those experiences this weekend. My Chinese roommate – JianJuan, invited me to go home with her on Saturday, spend the night, and come back on Sunday. She is from the Chinese countryside – about 1.5 hours from Kunming. I was excited for the opportunity to get out of the city and see how everyday Chinese citizens live. That being said, I didn’t realize the journey in store for us. There were several legs of the trip: first, we took the city bus 30 min to the bus station. Next, we traveled on a greyhound-like bus for over an hour. Once we arrived at the destination, JianJuan told me that because she lives in the countryside, we must take another small bus to get into the village. Well, by small bus, she must have meant an incredibly small van (like the little European vans). The van was already full – all seven seats were taken, but they decided that we could squeeze in. Funny thing was, I was the last one in the van. I sat on the floorboard between the middle bench seat and the sliding door. Because I was next to the door, it was my responsibility to close the door. I tried to slide it shut, but my hips were too wide and it wouldn’t budge. Everyone starts laughing! I blushed (go figure!) and wanted to say, “It’s not my fault I’m American, have hips, and weigh more than 100 lbs,” but I didn’t. haha!

Anyways, the van twists and turns for twenty minutes into the country. It was so beautiful! Rice paddies were completely surrounding both sides of the road and the mountains were in the background; the people were out working in the fields. It was truly picturesque!

After the van dropped us off, we got into a cart that was pulled by a bike. This was our final mode of transportation to get up to the village. JianJuan’s village is amazing. Her whole family lives here – and it is a true community. Many of the homes are very old and made of mud and clay. There are dirt roads that may not even be able to be classified as roads. They are basically alleys that wind between all of the houses. There is no indoor plumbing, so there is a community bathroom instead. The house did have a water faucet outside though.

Pictures of the village

The village only has rice paddies that stand between it and the base of a mountain. If you stand on JianJuan’s doorstep, you look directly out over the rice paddies with the mountains in the background. It is breathtaking. I had one of those, “Am I dreaming?” moments as I stood and looked out over the rice paddies. I was so moved by the fact that all of this is His creation. The world seems so big to me right now – with all new experiences and a lifestyle and culture that I never knew existed. But as big as the world seems, He is bigger than all of it! He created it, and He has the “whole world in His hands.”

Once arriving in the village, I met all of JianJuan's family. They had never met a foreigner before – so they took lots of pictures and were very curious. They were so warm and friendly and welcoming! All the girls in the family (mom, aunts, cousins) and I had dinner together. We sat around a table that was metal and had hot coals underneath it. We cooked all of our food on it.

Dinner?!?

The main entrée was roasted duck – the village is famous for this dish (see picture) – and we had tofu, potatoes, squash, and the infamous chicken feet! (I respectfully declined). We sat around the table for almost two hours, everyone laughing and having a great time – even though the language barrier was difficult at times. The community of women is so interesting because you can tell how deep the bonds are. The men are all out in the fields (rice paddies) for multiple days at a time, so the women truly stick together. It is almost as if they become their own family and raise their children all together.

Eating dinner together - Cheers!

JianJuan's family

JianJuan's Aunt and Me riding into town on the cart

The next morning I woke up to roosters crowing (at first I thought it was Katie’s cell phone alarm clock – haha!). We all got ready and walked to the village market. Here we purchased everything for lunch that day and saw more of the family. After the market, JianJuan took me out to the rice paddies. The labor and work that goes into harvesting rice is phenomenal. It was incredible to watch these people cut all of the stalks by hand and bundle them together. All I could think was, oh my goodness this is such hard work and must take them forever. Next, we had lunch with the family, and then we headed back to Kunming.

Working in the Ride Paddies

The trip to the countryside impacted me in several ways. First, it was so eye opening to see the way these people live and their hard work ethic. They lead a challenging life, yet they take it all in stride. Secondly, being in the country and around all the farmland made me miss Missouri! I didn’t realize how much I associate home to open land and crops and hard work. Once again, I thought, “Am I dreaming?” With the exception of the fact that the crop was rice, I could almost see Uncle David and Neal out combining in the fields. I also realized that the work ethic and dedication it takes to farm is universal, regardless of the country or the crop.

Needless to say, I am so thankful to have had the opportunity to gain further insight into the way of life in China. I am blessed to have a wonderful roommate who is welcoming and sweet, and who has a very gracious family!

Hello from Kunming, China!

Today, I have officially been in China for two weeks, and what a whirlwind of experiences!  When I first arrived in Kunming, I felt like I had reverted back to a two-year-old child.  I couldn’t speak, I had no idea where I was, the city is huge, and I was completely dependent on my coworker to show me how to do things.  It was such an interesting realization to be starting at square one with endless things to learn: language, food, public transportation system, customs and culture, and so much more!  Although it was incredibly exciting to see the opportunities to learn and grow from this experience, it was overwhelming to feel so helpless.  I had no choice but to jump right in – sink or swim; and two weeks later, I am excited to report that did not sink, haha!  My routine is starting to take shape and everyday I feel more comfortable. 

To give you a better idea of a few of the things I have learned so far, I have made an outline of my successes and failures.

Success #1:  Apartment and Office.  Both are beautiful and welcoming, with Western qualities.  My apartment is owned by American expats who love renovation projects.  They have put plenty of TLC into the place, and it shows in every room.  I am so thankful to have a nice place to call home.

Failure #1:  Playing Badminton.  One of my colleagues asked me to play badminton with her and some friends last weekend.  I humiliated myself (and even that is being generous).  I stepped onto the court with three other Chinese people, and I couldn’t even hit the shuttlecock.  Literally, we tried to play for ten minutes, but I couldn’t hit the thing – every time I whiffed it.  My friend comes up to me and says, “Um, Whitney, I think maybe you should practice against the wall first.”  So I had to be removed from the game I was so terrible!  The entire time we played (3 hours), I only got one serve over the net.  Not only that, but I had a ten-year-old boy speaking to me in Chinese trying to explain how to play.  I think he was astonished at my lack of skill.  

My Badminton Teacher

Success #2:  Coffee!  I have found three coffee shops that I love.  One place, Chicago Coffee is right by my office.  It is owned by Americans, has incredible coffee, and even serves American food like pizza and sandwiches.  The other two cafes are close to my apartment.  One is owned by an Australian man, and the other is run by a British man.  They each have great atmosphere and are perfect places to sit and read and relax.

Failure #2:  Riding the bus.  Haha.  I am getting much better at navigating, but in the beginning I had no idea where I was going (and I am usually good with directions).   The bus stop signs are often written in characters, and I got lost several times because of it.  In one day, I spent five hours on the bus because I missed my stop going two different places.  Both times after I realized I missed the stop, I was afraid to get off the bus because I didn’t know where I was.  So I rode the route all the way to the end and back.  Hence, five hours on a bus.  It was great to see so much of the city though!

Success #3:  The Chinese friends and colleagues I have met.  My CWEF coworkers are so great to me!  They have helped me to get settled; they invite me to do things with them; and they are just good, quality people.  They are such a great link into the culture here also, and they are just so helpful.  My Chinese roommate – xiao wang, is also a blessing.  She and I have been able to communicate in English surprisingly well, and she is so sweet!  She and her boyfriend made dinner for me one night.  (see pictures)  They made all of it from scratch, and it was delicious!  There are two potato dishes, chicken wings sautéed in coke, pork with vegetables, and soup.  The food was excellent – although spicy (I drank 5 glasses of water!)  I really enjoy spending time with her.

My Roommate and I eating the dinner she cooked in our apartment

Failure #3:  Walmart.  Just as can be expected at home – Walmart on the weekends is a BAD idea.  My roommate and I stood in line for what seemed like five hours.  Look at all the people in line in the picture!  Of course, I was excited about my purchases: Pantene Pro-V shampoo and conditioner, Oreo cookies (!!), Peanuts M&M’s; I would argue that these comforts may be worth standing in line for so long – although, I’m not sure shia wang agreed, lol. 

The WalMart Line!

There are many more stories to come; however, they will have to wait for another day.  And, I apologize that this update took so long.  The delay in blogging resulted from my inability to access the website.  Restrictions here are a part of life, but luckily I am able to log onto my blog now.  I look forward to posting updates more frequently!

I hope that you are all doing well! I miss and love you!