Kit718's Xanga

I miss Xanga...

Tue, 10 Jun 2008 09:26:27 GMT

... and I wish we could access it from China. Grrr.

Tuesday, April 10, 2007

Tue, 10 Apr 2007 08:42:02 GMT

Hey guys... my blog has officially moved (for the time being) to http://catherineinchina.spaces.live.com. Xanga has been hard to get to lately from our corner of the world, so I had to change servers. Hope to see you guys over there... :)

Just Some Thoughts...

Tue, 27 Feb 2007 06:05:11 GMT

Hi! It's been awhile.

I got back a couple of weeks ago from our midyear conference in Thailand, where I learned a lot, rested a lot, and (unfortunately) joined about 3/4 of our group in getting sick a lot! Stomach bugs (or food poisoning, or bacteria... no one really knows what the deal was) are definitely not fun. We all survived, though, and made it back to our cities in one piece.

Yesterday our semester officially began with a sort of reorientation back to language school. I have to admit that, while I'm excited about studying this semester, my heart kind of sank when I first walked into the office yesterday morning. Playtime's over; the work is about to begin.

This semester, I feel like I have a completely different perspective on things than in the past. I have to, I guess--I only have a few more months left in this place before I'll move on to where I'll serve next year. In many ways, I'd kind of started to feel like Changchun was home, which is dangerous when you live a nomad-style life like we do. You really have to watch your heart, otherwise you'll get too attached to places or people and just... cave in.

To be honest, there are many times when I'm just not sure I was cut out to live a life like this. Some people thrive on change and constantly facing new situations; I'm not one of them. I've definitely gotten better with change since moving to China, and I do get excited about new things, but my heart still breaks to pieces whenever I have to say goodbye to people-- which happens a lot.

With all that in mind, I've been trying to find the answers to some pretty confusing questions lately, like... how in the world do I live this life, and love the people in my life well, when I feel like I'm always about to leave? More specifically, how do I live this last semester in CC and pour into the relationships I've been given, knowing that I'll be gone in four months? How can I "be all here" while preparing to go away? And how in the world will I say goodbye?! I just don't know.

I can already see some of the relationships in my life changing on their own, which kills me, but which I also know must happen. Maybe everything will just naturally take its course. I hate goodbyes, though, and this is going to be a big one. If you guys think about it, please lift me up about this... I'm really just not sure how to handle it yet. I need grace, and an attitude that reflects Him, not my own melancholiness. Thanks!!

And now, on a lighter note, here are some pictures from conference...

"The remnant" of our '04-'05 Hui Jia team

'04-'05 CTFers and team leaders

Karen and Kristi, my ATC roomies...

Harmony, um... dancing with my arm....

Precious kids from a migrant school on the border of Thailand and Myanmar. (I had the chance to visit a refugee camp after conference... wow. A very eye-opening experience. Let me know if you want to know more about it...)

These sweet girls are part of a fellowship in the refugee camp. We got to spend some time teaching English to them.

Ok, that's all I've got. Have a happy Tuesday... I'm off to study. Hope everyone out there is doing well!

A few of the things I am thankful for tonight:

Wed, 22 Nov 2006 11:53:21 GMT

- Friends who give me hugs just because they know I like them.

- Holidays, and entire tutor times spent playing Settlers.

- Learning interesting things from Chinese friends, like the fact that most Americans blow their noses alternating one nostril at a time (which apparently is very "cute" to Chinese people, who tend to blow both nostrils all at once); when talking about hair color, there are different shades of black-- black black, yellowish black, and brownish black; and finally, white rice apparently has nutritional value... well, I'm not sure about that one, but that's what I've been told.

- Phone calls from home.

- Baomu dinner night--especially the potato noodles and stir-fried eggplant!

Really... I'm just so thankful in general for the life I get to lead here. I'm so blessed to be where I am, studying what I am, getting to be a part of world that's completely different from the one I grew up in. What a privilege it is to be here!

Have a great Thanksgiving!

Which muppet are you?

Wed, 25 Oct 2006 07:51:37 GMT

You Are Kermit

Hi, ho! Lovable and friendly, you get along well with everyone you know.
You're a big thinker, and sometimes you over think life's problems.
Don't worry - everyone know's it's not easy being green.
Just remember, time's fun when you're having flies!

The Muppet Personality Test

Thanks, Bits! Ironically enough, this goes right along with a conversation a bunch of us had at dinner the other night. What do you guys think... am I Kermit?

Ahem...

Tue, 19 Sep 2006 04:07:53 GMT

... yes, "falsity" is a word.

fal-si-ty:
–noun, plural -ties.

1.	the quality or condition of being false; incorrectness; untruthfulness; treachery.

2.	something false; falsehood.

[Origin: 1225–75; ME falsete < AF < LL falsitās. See false, -ity]

And thanks, guys, for lifting my friend up... her situation wound up being completely resolved the next day! Dad is good.

In other news, my tutor and I have officially gotten hooked on a Chinese TV show called "Goodbye Vancouver." The show is on DVD, so we can watch as many episodes as we want at one time... fun! She's even started staying at my house past tutor time just to watch with me. I guess TV isn't all bad.

I have to say, though, that the Canadian (or maybe American?) actors and actresses in the show are a little goofy. Obviously, the people making the show weren't too concerned about an English-speaking audience, because some of the English is just... funny. In one scene, an actress botches her line, but did the director have her do another take? No! She just backs up right there, corrects herself, and then keeps on talking! In another scene, where a Chinese character has just died as the result of a car accident, the Canadian doctor says to the person's Chinese friend very bluntly, "I'm sorry, but your friend didn't make it through his injuries. He just died." That's it? He just died? Do doctors really talk like that? Yikes.

But anyways, getting to hear the Chinese characters dialogue with each other has really helped my listening a lot. My tutor and I have also bonded over the show's tragic plotline... the death of Si Mabo in the aforementioned car accident, the plight of poor Ren Xiaoxue, the dealings of the manipulative Ma Fen... who knew a Chinese TV show could do so much for a friendship?

I hope all of you are doing well over in Texas and Tennessee and Georgia and the Rooftop and Xikang Lu. Take care and have a wonderful week! Leave a comment if you get the chance...

Preview of things to come...

Thu, 07 Sep 2006 09:32:36 GMT

This week has been a lot of fun. Yesterday I had the morning free, so I went to a Company Image Design class (pretty much the same as Marketing) with a Chinese friend of mine who's studying at a local university. I've never taught university students before, so it was nice to be able to see things from their perspective before I have to start teaching again next year. Since I could only understand maybe 20% of what the teacher was saying (accent + specialized vocabulary = Catherine has no clue what's going on), I had a hard time paying attention and wound up just observing everything around me for a while. Here are some things I noticed about Chinese students:

1) Those that want to learn, will, and very enthusiastically.
2) Those that don't want to learn find no shame in sleeping, talking, or playing with their cell-phones in class.
3) Class attendance in general is very, very optional... about 1/2 of the students on the roll actually showed up for class, which my friend said was about normal.

So, at least I kind of know a little bit about what to expect when I start teaching again. In many ways, I'm really looking forward to it, even though I still have a whole year before I'll actually get there. Something to think towards, I guess!

In other news... I would really appreciate it if you guys would lift up a good friend of mine here. She's a sister, but a relatively new one, and lately the leader of her group has started teaching things that stray far from what is right. My friend has already recognized the falsity of what's being taught, but she has no confidence to approach anyone about it, since she's so new to everything. Also, the people she'd have to stand up against are people she loves and respects, and she's pretty discouraged right now with the whole situation in general. My heart really just breaks for her. Please think about her if you get the chance! Ask that the falsity of what's being taught will be revealed for what it really is.

Ok, that's about all I've got for now. Here's a quote to leave you with, though:

My tutor to me: "You know, the first time I saw you, I thought you were awfully small, and very different from everyone else. They all looked like adults."

The Chronicles of Asiana: My Journey Back to the Middle Kingdom (Part II)

Mon, 14 Aug 2006 00:47:54 GMT

After a 1 1/2 hour flight from Seoul to Changchun, my third and final leg of the journey (woo-hoo!), we landed at the Changchun airport. My luggage got there with me just fine, which is always a huge blessing, and something I was extra thankful for considering all of my plane changes this time around. I piled all of my stuff on one of the free luggage carts and made my way out to the line of airport taxis.

Now, several of my teammates have stories of being pretty badly cheated by the airport taxi drivers in recent weeks, so I was a little nervous taking a taxi home. I wound up with a good one, though (there really are a lot of good taxi drivers in Changchun). In fact, my taxi man-- who was very honest and didn't even try to take me a roundabout way through the city to my house-- kept me entertained for the 40 minute ride with a variety show VCD he had playing from the dashboard of his car. Beijing Opera, anyone?

Once I got to my apartment, I dragged my suitcases inside the outside door, and was left at a loss as to how I'd get them all the way up to the sixth floor by myself. Grabbing the smallest one, I bear-hugged it and lugged it up with me, suprised to find our apartment door open when I got there. After spotting the pair of tiny, black velvet Mary-Janes sitting in our entryway, I knew right away that our landlady was there (gotta love China fashion!). She'd had no idea I was coming in that day, but proved to me such a blessing to me as she helped me carry my bigger suitcase up to the apartment, and then took me out to eat after I'd gotten all my stuff in. Afterwards, I unpacked and slept for a long, long time.

This past week (good grief, have I really been here a week already?) has really been life as normal here in Changchun-- minus the classes. I've gotten to meet a lot of the new students coming in, which has been fun, and just rest before the fall semester officially begins. I feel like I'm getting refocused on things, too, which is good.

So, I guess that's the end of my Chronicles of Asiana... and the theme of the story would definitley be that He is faithful always. He got me here safely, and even provided friends to be with me and help me along the way. Even when I feel alone, and like I'm doing this all by myself, He shows me in great ways that I'm not. He is good.

The Chronicles of Asiana: My Journey Back to the Middle Kingom (Part I)

Tue, 08 Aug 2006 21:10:56 GMT

After the marathon o' traveling from Atlanta to Changchun, I'm finally back safe and sound at my China apartment, and though my head is still spinning from the cultural and language changes of the past couple days, I'm no worse for the wear. Dad is good.

My journey back to The Chiner began about 48 hours ago at the Atlanta airport, where my lack of a paper ticket to LA (it had been accidentally ripped off when I'd come from LA a few weeks earlier) nearly cost me (or my dad, rather) upwards of $700 for a last-minute ticket. The ticket-counter-man, however, had mercy on us, and basically credited us for the missing piece of paper. Again, He is good. I said goodbye to my parents at security and boarded the plane for the first leg of my journey.

Once on the plane, I found myself sitting next to Doug, who has a son about my age and works as a stage manager for The Price Is Right (did you know Bob Barker is 82 1/2 years old?! Dang!). Super, super nice guy who made good use of the maps in the little plane magazine to tell me about the trip he'd just take to Spain and Italy. It was nice to have a pal on the plane... usually, when I travel by myself, I really feel like I'm by myself, so I was glad to have someone to talk to.

Then came LAX... and I just have to say I really, really appreciate just about every other airport in existence after having to go through LAX. Efficiency is just not it's strongpoint. I mean, when you have to walk outside for 10 minutes to change terminals... there's just gotta be a better way.

So anyhoo, I walked all the way around to my terminal, went through security again, bought a Coke (energy was getting pretty low at this point... it was around 2 am Atlanta time), and hung out at my gate for an hour and a half or so before my next flight took off. This part was probably the hardest part of the whole trip-- I was left with way too much time to think about what I was leaving and what I'd be going back to. It was really, really hard to leave America this time around, and I'm still feeling a little weak in the knees about it. Once I finally got back to Changchun, things felt much more normal, but still... it's hard.

But anyways, we got on the plane for leg 2 of the journey from LA to Seoul, and I found myself sitting between an older Korean lady and a cute little Chinese girl who had really good English and had been studying at UT Arlington. By this point, I felt pretty whipped, and actually slept for a good 5 hours or so on the plane. Not bad for someone who never gets any sleep on airplanes! The movies were pretty decent, too... one of the things I love about Asiana is that they have the little personal TV screens in the back of every seat, so you can pick which movie you want to watch. I wound up watching She's the Man (cute, but very teeny-bopper) and Take The Lead, which is a dance movie (the SYTYCD obsession lives on!!).

We finally got into Seoul at around 5:30am Korea time-- just in time to see the sun rise. The Korean airport is one of the few airports that closes at night, I think, and when I got there things were just beginning to open up again. Everything was unbelievably quiet and still. I decided the Seoul airport is the polar opposite of LAX-- it's beautiful and modern and clean and quiet. Plus, it has nice, sleep-conducive benches for those of us that happen to wander through before 6 am.

Finally, the time came to board flight number three, which would take me back to Changchun and my crazy China life. Stay tuned for part II of The Chronicles of Asiana...

Saturday, August 05, 2006

Sat, 05 Aug 2006 17:56:01 GMT

I can't believe I'm going back to China tomorrow. This summer has gone by incredibly fast! My stomach has already been doing nervous flip-flops for a couple days now, and my pre-flight crankiness has officially come on full force. My poor family.

In some ways, though, I think I'm kind of ready to go back. I haven't had too much of a life these past few weeks, and although I've had all kinds of time to rest, I'm looking forward to having some kind of purpose to every day. Even if that purpose wears me thin and makes me cry and... well, I'll just stop there.

This summer has been eye-opening for me in many ways. Things have really changed here, and I don't really feel like I belong at all anymore. I know my parents would beg to differ, and I do always have a physical place to stay with them, which is a huge blessing. As far as a purpose and friends, though, I really don't have too much. My life has officially begun to transition, and I have no idea where or when I'm going to land. It's kind of scary.

I know that countless people in the Word were sent wandering like this, without being given any idea of when they'd be home. And we're told over and over again that we shouldn't claim any place here as "home" anyway, since we have our inheritance waiting for us elsewhere. For some reason, though, that just makes life here feel all the more long and lonely to me, knowing that we're never really going to be able to put down roots.

That's what His strength is for, though, right? Getting us through the long-ness and loneliness of things.

Ok, enough depressing stuff. So, you guys know that I've been slightly obsessed with So You Think You Can Dance this summer. I don't know exactly why, but I just love that show... it makes me wish I grew up in the dance studio instead of the gym. This past week was especially good, and I loved the opening dance that Mia Michaels choreographed. Beautiful! I do have to say that I'm still slightly grieving the loss of Allison, but seeing Natalie and Ivan go with such grace this past week eased the pain some.

I'm thinking, though, that maybe I need to stay away from reality shows in the future... because really, I'm starting to get a little ridiculous (which I'm sure you can tell). While I was watching the show with my aunt last week, I caught myself reciting facts like, "Did you know Ivan was born in Russia?" and "Travis and Allison knew each other before the show, which is why he was so sad to see her go," and even "Yeah, four of the dancers came from Utah, which is apparently a huge state for dancing." Good grief. If you ever hear me start telling people what kind of cereal the dancers eat for breakfast, make sure I go get some help.

Gotta love guilty pleasures, though.

The opening dance...