Long time, no posts!
I've had quite a busy year since my last post. Heart surgery with multi-valve replacement, trip to NYC, New Hampshire, Boston, and family trip to Sequoia Nat'l Park. Getting very proficient at the reloading bench has been fun... Also expecting child number two late next month... all the while teaching as a full-time sub and part-time Daddy Daycare. It keeps me busy!
Will flesh out this post more in the coming days. With so much stuff to write about I'll try to avoid the politics and stay on happy subjects (eek, nasty election year).
Shalom!
In April of last year (2015), I had a complex heart surgery. Technically it was a redo-redo-Ross Procedure to fix my torn valve leaflet. Sadly, this was goodbye to my Melody Valve. When you have a valve leaflet tear, it is totally painless and unrecognizable except for an onset of fatigue and tell-tale "cooing" sound where you should hear a tick-tick.
Tuesday, June 28, 2016
Monday, March 16, 2015
CT with Contrast (warm iodine)
Steps in a fun 3D imaging of the heart and it's coronary arteries:
1. Paperwork, filled out neatly
2. Drink plenty of water
3. Check vitals (heart rate + BP)
4. Insert IV
5. Take Metoprolol to lower heart rate
6. Lie down on table
7. Breath as prompted
8. Feel the spicy taste of Nitroglycerin under tongue
9. Feel the warm rush of iodine coursing through body.
10. Wait for pictures to develop and doctors interpretation. >"<
1. Paperwork, filled out neatly
2. Drink plenty of water
3. Check vitals (heart rate + BP)
4. Insert IV
5. Take Metoprolol to lower heart rate
6. Lie down on table
7. Breath as prompted
8. Feel the spicy taste of Nitroglycerin under tongue
9. Feel the warm rush of iodine coursing through body.
10. Wait for pictures to develop and doctors interpretation. >"<
Saturday, November 29, 2014
Black Friday and Iron Bowl Victory
Rammer Jammer Yellowhammer! The University of Alabama, my Alma Mater, beat Auburn 55-44. That's the highest scoring Iron Bowl in living memory. Part of enjoying fatherhood and holistic healthy living means we don't have cable. So this instant classic which was broadcast on ESPN in prime time was completely unavailable to me as I am on Daddy Duty tonight. Oh well. I'll watch it later with a family member who TiVo'd it.
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As I've mentioned in this blog before, I am employed in retail sporting goods. Yesterday, the day after Thanksgiving, was what we've colloquially termed in America, Black Friday. Retailers mark down a few items to draw in huge crowds, in return for their advertised 'loss leaders' they hope to reap huge profits by having shoppers purchase more high margin items while buying only one or two items in their ad. Being the busiest day of the year for department stores and retail chains all across the US, we expect it to be painful as sales associates. However this may be my last Black Friday as a worker bee, so I sallied forth with equal parts jaded professionalism and detached optimism.
I had never given the day much thought when I was growing up. We always went hunting and left the shopping to women folk. It wasn't until I began work at a large retail sporting goods store that the day seemed to loom large. In my Hunting Department we sell guns, optics, knives, and safes as well as a full line of ammunition and hunting accoutrements. On the busiest day of the year we seem to sell more safes and knives than any other time in the year, and an above average amount of firearms.
Our gun counter is quite popular, so much so that we get customers to 'take a number' and wait for service much like the DMV. Our store opened at 5am with many "Door buster specials" like .22LR ammo, $10 dog beds, and ammo cans, not to mention a ton of deals on clothing. I arrived at 6:30am for my regular shift. At that point we were over a hundred numbers behind on the gun counter and the store looked like a peaceful riot. Since there is nothing one man can do except for his very best, I quickly strode to the counter and started calling numbers. Before I knew it, 9am had rolled around and it was time for a break. I checked the area we had ammo cans for sale ($10 each) and was amazed we had sold through seven pallets already. With 144 cans to the pallet, that's 1,008 cans! Before the end of my shift we sold through another 5 pallets and ran out of dog beds.
Trying to make sense of how busy our store gets or how crazy the lines are is a bit tricky. It would be like asking a guy to describe what happens during a shipwreck. All he can tell you from the great noise and confusion is what happened in his vicinity, and then offer you a sip from his flask while bobbing along in his raft. I don't drink much at all besides a glass of red wine for cardio health. But Friday afternoon I did treat myself to a nice cool Heineken.
I pray future Thanksgiving weekends will be spent far from work. I would prefer to devote this time to reflection on God's blessings and share it with family. I hope you had a fabulous Thanksgiving weekend, and are able to spend more time out in the woods than in the concrete jungles or shopping malls. Good night & Shalom!
---
As I've mentioned in this blog before, I am employed in retail sporting goods. Yesterday, the day after Thanksgiving, was what we've colloquially termed in America, Black Friday. Retailers mark down a few items to draw in huge crowds, in return for their advertised 'loss leaders' they hope to reap huge profits by having shoppers purchase more high margin items while buying only one or two items in their ad. Being the busiest day of the year for department stores and retail chains all across the US, we expect it to be painful as sales associates. However this may be my last Black Friday as a worker bee, so I sallied forth with equal parts jaded professionalism and detached optimism.
I had never given the day much thought when I was growing up. We always went hunting and left the shopping to women folk. It wasn't until I began work at a large retail sporting goods store that the day seemed to loom large. In my Hunting Department we sell guns, optics, knives, and safes as well as a full line of ammunition and hunting accoutrements. On the busiest day of the year we seem to sell more safes and knives than any other time in the year, and an above average amount of firearms.
Our gun counter is quite popular, so much so that we get customers to 'take a number' and wait for service much like the DMV. Our store opened at 5am with many "Door buster specials" like .22LR ammo, $10 dog beds, and ammo cans, not to mention a ton of deals on clothing. I arrived at 6:30am for my regular shift. At that point we were over a hundred numbers behind on the gun counter and the store looked like a peaceful riot. Since there is nothing one man can do except for his very best, I quickly strode to the counter and started calling numbers. Before I knew it, 9am had rolled around and it was time for a break. I checked the area we had ammo cans for sale ($10 each) and was amazed we had sold through seven pallets already. With 144 cans to the pallet, that's 1,008 cans! Before the end of my shift we sold through another 5 pallets and ran out of dog beds.
Trying to make sense of how busy our store gets or how crazy the lines are is a bit tricky. It would be like asking a guy to describe what happens during a shipwreck. All he can tell you from the great noise and confusion is what happened in his vicinity, and then offer you a sip from his flask while bobbing along in his raft. I don't drink much at all besides a glass of red wine for cardio health. But Friday afternoon I did treat myself to a nice cool Heineken.
I pray future Thanksgiving weekends will be spent far from work. I would prefer to devote this time to reflection on God's blessings and share it with family. I hope you had a fabulous Thanksgiving weekend, and are able to spend more time out in the woods than in the concrete jungles or shopping malls. Good night & Shalom!
Ferguson Mayhem, Rioting Detritivores, Disparity of Force
I will attempt to keep this post brief and concise as possible. Following months of overt race baiting by Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, and other detritivores, the pre-planned riots in Missouri left 12 commercial buildings burned, several dead, and hundreds arrested. All this mayhem because a white policeman shot a black man who had robbed a convenience store of one box of cigarillos. Don't forget this suspect was engaging the officer physically and had been violently grabbing for the officer's gun prior to being shot to death. According to Grand Jury eye witness testimony, the suspect DID NOT have his hands up nor shout "Don't shoot!", however the court of public opinion has been tainted with this oft repeated lie.
As one layman interpreting the facts, Officer Darren Wilson was merely protecting his life when he fired into an attacking 292 pound Michael Brown. The Grand Jury was correct to not indict. But what about the "18 year old kid" not having a weapon? In self defense trials there is an issue of disparity of force. Disparity of force could be a man vs. woman, multiple attackers against one, or having complete freedom of movement and leverage against one who does not (on the ground or confined in vehicle). Officer Wilson most certainly lacked the range of motion to defend himself as he was in the driver's seat of the police car. Similar situation to George Zimmerman being flat on his back as Trayvon Martin controlled the fight, pummeling his head repeatedly and knocking him against a concrete sidewalk.
While these two cases aren't exactly identical, there are some key parallels I'd like to illustrate. If the totality of circumstances leaves you, a weaker individual, with an 'unarmed' strong man lunging towards you with clenched fists, not responding to your shouted instruction of "STOP, I will shoot!" then most jurisdictions will find you acted in self defense. A reasonable person wouldn't violently rush up on an armed policeman or private citizen. If the larger 'unarmed' party closed in to grappling distance, nine times of ten the 'unarmed' strong man kills you with your gun. Keep that in mind next time someone breathlessly whines, "Oh, but he was unarmed!". As an aside, 21 feet is the furthest a knife wielding attacker needs to be to rush in with a fatal strike. That is why my pistol range sessions start at seven yards.
The saddest part of this story is the church attended by Michael Brown's parents was amongst the burned out edifices. Also a minority owned bakery that had given free meals to protesters got torched during the anarchic spree. Why burn down the neighborhood when things don't go your way? I'll never understand the need for looting, rock throwing, burning police cars and other riotous behavior. This is America; why does our society and law enforcement tolerate such foolishness? Pants up. Don't loot!
As one layman interpreting the facts, Officer Darren Wilson was merely protecting his life when he fired into an attacking 292 pound Michael Brown. The Grand Jury was correct to not indict. But what about the "18 year old kid" not having a weapon? In self defense trials there is an issue of disparity of force. Disparity of force could be a man vs. woman, multiple attackers against one, or having complete freedom of movement and leverage against one who does not (on the ground or confined in vehicle). Officer Wilson most certainly lacked the range of motion to defend himself as he was in the driver's seat of the police car. Similar situation to George Zimmerman being flat on his back as Trayvon Martin controlled the fight, pummeling his head repeatedly and knocking him against a concrete sidewalk.
While these two cases aren't exactly identical, there are some key parallels I'd like to illustrate. If the totality of circumstances leaves you, a weaker individual, with an 'unarmed' strong man lunging towards you with clenched fists, not responding to your shouted instruction of "STOP, I will shoot!" then most jurisdictions will find you acted in self defense. A reasonable person wouldn't violently rush up on an armed policeman or private citizen. If the larger 'unarmed' party closed in to grappling distance, nine times of ten the 'unarmed' strong man kills you with your gun. Keep that in mind next time someone breathlessly whines, "Oh, but he was unarmed!". As an aside, 21 feet is the furthest a knife wielding attacker needs to be to rush in with a fatal strike. That is why my pistol range sessions start at seven yards.
The saddest part of this story is the church attended by Michael Brown's parents was amongst the burned out edifices. Also a minority owned bakery that had given free meals to protesters got torched during the anarchic spree. Why burn down the neighborhood when things don't go your way? I'll never understand the need for looting, rock throwing, burning police cars and other riotous behavior. This is America; why does our society and law enforcement tolerate such foolishness? Pants up. Don't loot!
Thursday, October 23, 2014
Roll Tide! Bama 59, Aggies 0
Some games are blow outs. Saturday at Bryant-Denny Stadium we did more than beat a ranked SEC opponet; we stomped their face with a hob nailed boot. It was a glorious win, much needed shot in the arm for Bama faithful, and an indicator that we are still in the hunt for a playoff berth. When the updated rankings placed us at #4, behind Mississippi State, Florida State, and Ole Miss I was very happy. I think my Alma Mater works better as the underdog. We have a history of winning championships against highly favored #1 teams. Let's just hope those other three teams lose a game and we keep winning! Below paragraph from Al.com
59 Point margin of victory for Alabama over No. 21 Texas A&M on Saturday - the largest for the Crimson Tide in a game against a ranked team. The 59-0 victory eclipsed the 55-point margin established in Alabama's 61-6 victory over No. 14 Syracuse in the Orange Bowl on Jan. 1, 1953. Saturday's game had Alabama's largest margin of victory in any contest since the Tide beat Tulane 62-0 on Oct. 12, 1991.
135 Games between shutout losses for Texas A&M. The Aggies' 59-0 loss to Alabama on Saturday was their first blanking since a 77-0 loss to Oklahoma on Nov. 8, 2003. That game is the worst loss in Texas A&M history. Saturday's loss is the second-worst.
Ok, nice factoids. The wonderful part of this story is that I was an eight year old kid at the game against Tulane back in '91. I distinctly remember the win and chanting "It's great to be from ALABAMA!" as my dad and I walked out of the stadium. We went on to defeat #1 Miami in the Sugar Bowl that season, winning the first Nat'l Championship in my lifetime under coach Gene Stallings. Hard to believe that was twenty-three years ago... time flies. Rammer Jammer!
Tuesday, September 16, 2014
The Art of Gratefulness
Ever sit around thinking how messed up the world is? It doesn't take more than a passing glance of TV news, online, or print (I get most news online) to see there is a bunch of crazy sad stuff going on: ISIS lopping heads off in Iraq, West Africa (mainly Liberia) suffering the worst ebola outbreak since 1976, Russia claiming land that belongs to Ukraine, and epochal drought gripping Southern California. That laundry list of problems is enough to make the happiest person get a lump in their throat and feel blue about future prospects.
Aha, but there have always been and always will be problems! Don't panic. If you take a quick look in the Old Testament, there's a sad story told by the wealthiest man in history. Two sections earlier the author's father writes poems that range from super joyful to gut wrenchingly sad. I'm of course talking about Solomon's work Ecclesiastes and Psalms by David. Without going into great detail, "there is nothing new under the sun."
Fast forward a couple thousand years back to now, present time. If I were to count my blessings, it would take more than a couple blog posts to list them. I have a wonderful family: healthy, smart, beautiful, good dental coverage, two cats... things folks in developing nations dream about. My wife and child are the greatest gift God could bestow on me and I thank Him every day for it. We have a comfortable little house and cars that are paid for. Our refrigerator has lots of food in it; there's some popsicles in the freezer, and I have a healthy supply of venison jerky... again, the aspirations of many!
You must be thinking "Well everyone in America has that stuff; those are basics." True. I'm sitting in a pleasantly cool, well air-conditioned home (it was 108 F yesterday, 95 F today). As a reader of this post, I take for granted that you have a computer with internet access. Usually that also means climate controlled living quarters and plenty of food in your kitchen. But what of those folks in my opening paragraph? Do you realize how awesome your life is to NOT be stuck in a war zone or face deadly disease? Again it is about our perspective and attitude.
If I read about the latest greatest ________ and feel less happy for not having this (phone, car, vacation, toy), all it takes to get happy again is sitting in the floor with my daughter. She redefines my wants. Would it be cool to have an iPhone 6 or Caribbean cruise? Sure, of course. But I'd rather play another round of peekaboo and watch her eyes widen when a cat cautiously approaches. Am I interested in a Jeep Wrangler or Porsche 911 Turbo... hmm, is the Pope still Catholic? I'm more proud that I can efficiently buckle her into the rear-facing car seat. I dare you to race me changing diapers in the dark (with the aid of a night light). Twenty bucks says I'll win.
So what besides my family am I grateful for? Oh, being gainfully employed and having cars that work. Living in an age where I can have corrective heart surgery and buy 81mg aspirin in bulk is pretty cool. One of the most recently gratifying activities was cleaning up our living room. I took two full trash bags worth of stuff to be donated and another two bags to our dumpster. That means we literally have an overabundance of material possessions.
When I lived in China, another teacher and I discussed the American habit of collecting "stuff" to the point that it becomes unhealthy. This was before TV's show about hoarding; we mainly were considering how Chinese folks limited their possessions to the bare necessities and travelled light. Do you have anything in your closet that hasn't been worn in 8 months? Do you have clothes with tags still on-- not yet been worn or washed? Do you pay monthly fees to store your stuff at an offsite location (not due to being in military or school)? I think we could all do with more joy and less stuff.
This post sums it up well with a famous George Carlin sketch at the end. Find joy in little everyday blessings; that's the art of gratefulness. Shalom! :) >"<
Aha, but there have always been and always will be problems! Don't panic. If you take a quick look in the Old Testament, there's a sad story told by the wealthiest man in history. Two sections earlier the author's father writes poems that range from super joyful to gut wrenchingly sad. I'm of course talking about Solomon's work Ecclesiastes and Psalms by David. Without going into great detail, "there is nothing new under the sun."
Fast forward a couple thousand years back to now, present time. If I were to count my blessings, it would take more than a couple blog posts to list them. I have a wonderful family: healthy, smart, beautiful, good dental coverage, two cats... things folks in developing nations dream about. My wife and child are the greatest gift God could bestow on me and I thank Him every day for it. We have a comfortable little house and cars that are paid for. Our refrigerator has lots of food in it; there's some popsicles in the freezer, and I have a healthy supply of venison jerky... again, the aspirations of many!
You must be thinking "Well everyone in America has that stuff; those are basics." True. I'm sitting in a pleasantly cool, well air-conditioned home (it was 108 F yesterday, 95 F today). As a reader of this post, I take for granted that you have a computer with internet access. Usually that also means climate controlled living quarters and plenty of food in your kitchen. But what of those folks in my opening paragraph? Do you realize how awesome your life is to NOT be stuck in a war zone or face deadly disease? Again it is about our perspective and attitude.
If I read about the latest greatest ________ and feel less happy for not having this (phone, car, vacation, toy), all it takes to get happy again is sitting in the floor with my daughter. She redefines my wants. Would it be cool to have an iPhone 6 or Caribbean cruise? Sure, of course. But I'd rather play another round of peekaboo and watch her eyes widen when a cat cautiously approaches. Am I interested in a Jeep Wrangler or Porsche 911 Turbo... hmm, is the Pope still Catholic? I'm more proud that I can efficiently buckle her into the rear-facing car seat. I dare you to race me changing diapers in the dark (with the aid of a night light). Twenty bucks says I'll win.
So what besides my family am I grateful for? Oh, being gainfully employed and having cars that work. Living in an age where I can have corrective heart surgery and buy 81mg aspirin in bulk is pretty cool. One of the most recently gratifying activities was cleaning up our living room. I took two full trash bags worth of stuff to be donated and another two bags to our dumpster. That means we literally have an overabundance of material possessions.
When I lived in China, another teacher and I discussed the American habit of collecting "stuff" to the point that it becomes unhealthy. This was before TV's show about hoarding; we mainly were considering how Chinese folks limited their possessions to the bare necessities and travelled light. Do you have anything in your closet that hasn't been worn in 8 months? Do you have clothes with tags still on-- not yet been worn or washed? Do you pay monthly fees to store your stuff at an offsite location (not due to being in military or school)? I think we could all do with more joy and less stuff.
This post sums it up well with a famous George Carlin sketch at the end. Find joy in little everyday blessings; that's the art of gratefulness. Shalom! :) >"<
Friday, June 6, 2014
70th Anniv. D-Day June 6, 1944
Seventy years ago today, the largest amphibious assault in history took place in Normandy as we invaded Hitler's Fortress Europe. It is certain that 99% of the veterans who took part will have passed away in the next few years (as only a token handful still remain). Young folks who don't know what I'm talking about should watch "Saving Private Ryan" or "The Longest Day" to view the invasion's magnitude. Guys my age and my parents age will remember talking with veterans about their WWII experiences. Both of my grandfathers fought, though thankfully arriving in France several weeks after the invasion.
More than 160,000 Allied troops from USA, Great Britain, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand landed along a 50-mile stretch of heavily fortified coastline, to kick the Nazis back off the edge of the English Channel. General Eisenhower called the operation a crusade in which, "we will accept nothing less than full victory." More than 5,000 ships and 13,000 aircraft supported the D-Day invasion, giving us a toehold on the Continent. Over 9,000 Allies dead or wounded was the high cost of victory.
Thursday, May 29, 2014
7 Years in Real Life
So I am reminiscing about the beginning of my life after college. As a young man growing up in the Greatest City on earth, Tuscaloosa, one aspires to attend The University of Alabama. By the time he's half finished with school, that Tuscaloosa young man has dreams of graduation and life as a big shot UA Alumnus. Perspective is a constantly changing thing, as ephemeral as a sunset, yet as important as breakfast.
My ideas for life after college went something like: work a few years in China; learn fluent Mandarin; set up shop as international businessman in Shanghai; make wheelbarrow loads of money; retire from Chinese business at age 40 to a ranch in Montana; sit quietly on my porch with a rifle and pistol waiting for coyotes to disturb my chickens; hunt elk in winters; fish for trout in summer... live out life quietly by myself. Thankfully that was a very poor plan that didn't come to fruition! Being alone with buckets of cash is probably misery; I much prefer having a loving wife and beautiful child with a modest income in retail sporting goods.
As the tee-shirts say: "Life is Good." At twenty-four my brain was still developing (boys don't fully mature mentally until 27) so I went through commencement exercises and preparations to work in China with the above mentioned goals in my head. That is a pity, because I feel I would have enjoyed it more if I had focused more on the Lord and less on the world. Nonetheless, by September 1, 2007 I was settled in as an Oral English teacher at China University of Geoscience in Wuhan. That would be my home and career for three years after graduation. I loved it. I miss it. I had some inspiring studies with students and made some of the best memories of my life... most importantly it is where I became friends with my wife!
Eliz and I actually first met at an orientation for Chinese teachers in Montgomery, Alabama. Not love at first sight for her, although I thought she was the prettiest girl there. Anyway it really didn't matter at the time because I was intimidated by her California vibe, what with the Apple Macbook and no southern accent. She didn't think much of me excepting the comment I made about her having beautiful eyes (that's a fact). So my first year in Wuhan I was basically a bachelor discovering the Far East all by his lonesome. I went to Beijing by myself.
The first trip out of Wuhan I took was an overnight train, by myself to Beijing in October '07 to 'see the sights' and have fun. You must understand that I did NOT speak or understand very much Mandarin after being in the country for less than 8 weeks; but I took a phrase book, Lonely Planet guide, and pocketful of courage with me on the trip. One of my students helped me get the ticket beforehand and a friend suggested that upon arrival in Beijing I immediately find an English speaking person to help book my return ticket. This excellent advise was heeded. I remember stopping in at a popular expat cafe in Wuhan the afternoon of my departure, backpack cinched on tight... ticket in hand... telling some folks that I was headed to Beijing for a week. Eliz was present. Both she and her friend were shocked that I was one- traveling alone, two- had no contacts there, and three- had no reservations.
That was fun, pulling into the station with no map, no plans, no hotel reservation... just my wits and a backpack. I would do it again in a heartbeat. I ended up finding maps for sale out near the taxi stand (after of course 1st purchasing a return ticket to Wuhan), then hopping on a bus that hopefully would carry me close to the center of town. The bus I rode to the end of the line, and as I sat perplexed for a while on where I was, a pair of students came and asked me in broken English where I was headed. I said "to the nearest hotel!" They were nice enough to actually walk me a few blocks out of their way to a mid-priced hotel nearby... after 24 hours, I had my bearings and was bivouacked a block and a half from Tiananmen at a very thrifty hostel (less than a block from Grand Hyatt Beijing). I saw the Forbidden City, climbed the Great Wall, did as much fun as one can on a teacher's budget and made it safely back to Wuhan.
I would make many more trips in the three years in China, but just the one trip to Beijing. I don't have much desire to see it again unless I was with my kids. I visited many more authentic places such as Longhui Orphanage, Guilin, Yangshuo, Hong Kong, Xian, Kunming, Nanning, Rongshui, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Qingdao, and others you may not know. Wherever I went, I usually had a fun time haggling and practicing my Chinese. The most exciting journey was from China to Vietnam (Hanoi, Halong Bay, Hue, Nha Trang, Danang, Hoi An, Saigon) then through Cambodia (Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, Angkor Wat) up to Laos (Vientiane, Vang Vieng, Luang Prabang) and finally back north into Kunming, China. Eliz, her brother, and I had an unprecedented amount of fun and adventure traveling through Indochina. I don't recommend it to the elderly, expectant mothers, or weak kneed yellow belly.
---
中国地质大学 (武汉）
My ideas for life after college went something like: work a few years in China; learn fluent Mandarin; set up shop as international businessman in Shanghai; make wheelbarrow loads of money; retire from Chinese business at age 40 to a ranch in Montana; sit quietly on my porch with a rifle and pistol waiting for coyotes to disturb my chickens; hunt elk in winters; fish for trout in summer... live out life quietly by myself. Thankfully that was a very poor plan that didn't come to fruition! Being alone with buckets of cash is probably misery; I much prefer having a loving wife and beautiful child with a modest income in retail sporting goods.
As the tee-shirts say: "Life is Good." At twenty-four my brain was still developing (boys don't fully mature mentally until 27) so I went through commencement exercises and preparations to work in China with the above mentioned goals in my head. That is a pity, because I feel I would have enjoyed it more if I had focused more on the Lord and less on the world. Nonetheless, by September 1, 2007 I was settled in as an Oral English teacher at China University of Geoscience in Wuhan. That would be my home and career for three years after graduation. I loved it. I miss it. I had some inspiring studies with students and made some of the best memories of my life... most importantly it is where I became friends with my wife!
Eliz and I actually first met at an orientation for Chinese teachers in Montgomery, Alabama. Not love at first sight for her, although I thought she was the prettiest girl there. Anyway it really didn't matter at the time because I was intimidated by her California vibe, what with the Apple Macbook and no southern accent. She didn't think much of me excepting the comment I made about her having beautiful eyes (that's a fact). So my first year in Wuhan I was basically a bachelor discovering the Far East all by his lonesome. I went to Beijing by myself.
The first trip out of Wuhan I took was an overnight train, by myself to Beijing in October '07 to 'see the sights' and have fun. You must understand that I did NOT speak or understand very much Mandarin after being in the country for less than 8 weeks; but I took a phrase book, Lonely Planet guide, and pocketful of courage with me on the trip. One of my students helped me get the ticket beforehand and a friend suggested that upon arrival in Beijing I immediately find an English speaking person to help book my return ticket. This excellent advise was heeded. I remember stopping in at a popular expat cafe in Wuhan the afternoon of my departure, backpack cinched on tight... ticket in hand... telling some folks that I was headed to Beijing for a week. Eliz was present. Both she and her friend were shocked that I was one- traveling alone, two- had no contacts there, and three- had no reservations.
That was fun, pulling into the station with no map, no plans, no hotel reservation... just my wits and a backpack. I would do it again in a heartbeat. I ended up finding maps for sale out near the taxi stand (after of course 1st purchasing a return ticket to Wuhan), then hopping on a bus that hopefully would carry me close to the center of town. The bus I rode to the end of the line, and as I sat perplexed for a while on where I was, a pair of students came and asked me in broken English where I was headed. I said "to the nearest hotel!" They were nice enough to actually walk me a few blocks out of their way to a mid-priced hotel nearby... after 24 hours, I had my bearings and was bivouacked a block and a half from Tiananmen at a very thrifty hostel (less than a block from Grand Hyatt Beijing). I saw the Forbidden City, climbed the Great Wall, did as much fun as one can on a teacher's budget and made it safely back to Wuhan.
I would make many more trips in the three years in China, but just the one trip to Beijing. I don't have much desire to see it again unless I was with my kids. I visited many more authentic places such as Longhui Orphanage, Guilin, Yangshuo, Hong Kong, Xian, Kunming, Nanning, Rongshui, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Qingdao, and others you may not know. Wherever I went, I usually had a fun time haggling and practicing my Chinese. The most exciting journey was from China to Vietnam (Hanoi, Halong Bay, Hue, Nha Trang, Danang, Hoi An, Saigon) then through Cambodia (Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, Angkor Wat) up to Laos (Vientiane, Vang Vieng, Luang Prabang) and finally back north into Kunming, China. Eliz, her brother, and I had an unprecedented amount of fun and adventure traveling through Indochina. I don't recommend it to the elderly, expectant mothers, or weak kneed yellow belly.
---
中国地质大学 (武汉）
By no means should you get the impression we were only in China to travel. Ninety per cent of my time was spent in and around my university, China University of Geoscience (Dida), in Wuhan. There was plenty to do aside from my teaching schedule, but allow me to give you a brief rundown on my typical week. I taught 4-6 classes per semester of Oral English at 中国地质大学 (Dida) where I lived on campus. A great benefit was being able to ride my bike to work, then ascend six floors without an elevator four days a week. It was a challenge for the first several weeks, but kept me in excellent shape! The teaching schedule of morning classes four days a week, allowed me to pursue other activities in the afternoons and weekends. These included reading, studying with students, playing guitar, exploring town on my bike, cooking, and keeping up with events back home via e-mail and Skype. On Sundays I attended the Wuhan Int'l Fellowship located downtown via 30 minute bus ride.
Getting around using buses instead of taxis was an adventure that I heartily recommend. I'd say my Mandarin conversation skills were 10% book work and 90% bus work. There is no substitute for immersive language learning with people who don't speak a lick of English. When I got comfortable chatting with old folks on the bus, I knew I'd come a long way. Also pointing at store signs out the window and asking locals to confirm meanings helped my reading comprehension. By the time I left China in summer 2010, I had mastered 200-300 characters.
A typical Chinese person will know roughly 2,500 characters to be functionally literate (read newspaper, etc.), while one with extensive education may know 8,000 or more. Most Chinese dictionaries publish 20,000 characters! The beauty of Mandarin and simplified characters in particular, is that the more you learn the easier it gets. Many 'compound words' are made up of two or more very basic characters that combine to create a totally new word. Favorite example for this is "xiăoxīn" 小心 which translates to "caution" in English, but is formed by the characters 小"small" and 心"heart" . So anytime you hear someone shout "Be careful!" it sounds to me like "Little Heart!".
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