First week back

We finally started the second semester this past week. I know, I know, with only 8 weeks off during the winter, you wonder how I do it, right? ;-) One of the activities I did during class this week was 2 truths and a lie. It had to be about their vacation (since the chapter was about returning from vacation). After giving them an example, they understood perfectly and went to work. It went pretty well. When they were done I had them stand up and read their three sentences. My favorite "lies" were from students who in broken English would say something like, "Over vacation, I study English" That always got a big laugh from the other students, and depending on the student's sincerity in saying it and their personality, from me :-) In one class, the student read, "I play basketball everyday. I play computer everyday. I get a girlfriend..."(pause) and then a wise-cracking student yelled out "everyday!" The whole class just erupted in laughter. Maybe you had to be there, but it was really funny :-)

A trip to downtown Xinzheng

Last month was the biggest holiday in China, Spring Festival. I made several trips downtown during the holiday just to look around and see what was going on. Some of the things I saw are usual to see, while others were not. So let me walk you through a trip downtown. The first step is to get on the Number 1 bus. Most of them look like this:

I generally get off at "Two-head Park" as the foreigners call it. Its usually filled with people, but this time of year it had more than normal I think. It may be hard to see in the far away shot, but in the close up shot, you can see why we call it two-head park.
There were many things to do in the park. They had similar games as in America as you can see:There was also many types of food to be eaten, such as some eggs on a stick...Or maybe you would prefer the Tang hu lu...I don't know what it is in English exactly. But it's really good! The eggs I haven't tried before, and don't plan on doing so! There were also many other types of foods out.What else might you see in Xinzheng? This scene is fairly typical. I think that its Chinese Chess they are playing here. I also see groups of men or women playing other Chinese games or cards outside, very often.
Or you may also see people playing a game of pool on the sidewalk.This was a first for me, I had never seen anything like this before. I guess this is how the mother and her daughter make a living. The girl is so young, but she did very well.Other sights you may see during Spring Festival especially (but also during other parts of the year) are houses and stores decorated like so:
Apparently they do it for good luck. I am very curious where the tradition originated though, because you can't help but think of the Passover, when you see the red around the sides of the doors. Of course that wasn't for good luck, but rather for safety from the wrath of G! And where would you buy such decorations?
Why at the red decoration store of course! There are many such stores, most of which are grouped together in a certain section of town. Well I hope you enjoyed your quick tour of scenes from around Xinzheng!

What a week in the world

Living in China, the only time I hear about the news is through the internet, generally. I had heard about a few of the horrible things that happened in America over the past week, but I had no idea it was as bad as it was until I read this article. I actually read part of it from DesiringG's blog. It was very fitting that it was the first thing I read after watching the first of a 7 message series on Suffering and the Sovereignty of G that John Piper and 5 others preached in 2005. The tragedies in America, in addition to all the problems in China and in other places all over the world make it comforting to know that G is in complete control. It is comforting to know that JC suffered and died to absorb all the wrath that I deserve for my sin, because that is the only thing that can sustain me in suffering. But if I ignore the news and the suffering all around, how can I identify with the suffering of others? How can I give them the hope of the Suffering Servant? Here are the words to an old hymn by William Cowper:

G moves in a mysterious way
his wonders to perform;
He plants his footsteps in the sea,
and rides upon the storm.

Deep in unfathomable mines
of never failing skill,
He treasures up his bright designs
and works his sovereign will.

You fearful saints, fresh courage take;
the clouds you so much dread
Are big with mercy
and shall break in blessings on your head.

His purposes will ripen fast,
unfolding every hour;
The bud may have a bitter taste,
but sweet will be the flower.

Blind unbelief is sure to err
and scan his work in vain:
G is his own interpreter,
and he will make it plain.

Crazy English!!

Last weekend 5 other teachers from SIAS and myself went to work at a Crazy English camp in Chongqing. Crazy English is fairly famous in China. The guy in the background that I am immatating is Li Yang, the founder of Crazy English. While his English speaking ability is great, I don't think his methods are very effective, especially considering the cost of the camp. They barely utilize the foreigners at the camp, which I think is a bad use of money and resources. They pay us a lot to be there, but our main job is to look foreign so kids will want to go. During most of the day we would sit in the big teaching sessions and listen to the Chinese teachers teach. Then every so often, they would ask us to pronounce a word or a sentence. Of course, hearing us say the word one time is hardly going to do anything for the kids. The only time we were actually doing anything was at night. Some nights they divided us up and we would go around to the students' classroom and talk in small groups with them, letting them ask us anything they wanted. Other nights we were actually supposed to create some sort of lesson for them. Another thing that was painful about the camp was listening to the chants that they would teach the kids to say. Some of them, in fact, most of them were filled with complete garbage about how amazing they are and how they need to believe in themselves. But I did meet some cool kids there, so I was glad for that.

SIAS in the snow

This is actually from several weeks ago, but I thought it was beautiful. This being China's worst winter in 50 years, there has been a lot of snow fall this year. The winter and snow particularly is an interesting thing. It is so beautiful, but look at all the damage it has caused not only in China, but all over the world. Just another reminder that creation is groaning for it's redemption (Romans 8).

Luoyang

This was the third city on my journey. Wang Peng and I stayed in a small hostel which actually ended up being in someone's house...while that's not what we expected, it still ended up being nice and cheap. We also met up with the girl you'll see in the pictures, Wang Xia Yi. Her and her brother showed us around parts of the city and treated us to some really good food. As you can see, there was still a lot of snow covering the ground, creating a beautiful landscape. I had a good time on this trip. Besides enjoying the time with my friends, it continued to feed my desire to really learn Chinese. It's frustrating only knowing the language at a beginner's level. I want to be able to communicate with them in their native language. I know that will require an intense amount of study, discipline and time.