John's update #3
todd.ho...@gmail.com
It seems that YS has been completely overrun by foreign, white, silly
tourists today. Consequently, I'm hunkered down here in the hotel for
shelter, sipping a cup of Chinese green tea and munching on a star
fruit.
The week here has continued to offer me more than I anticipated.
Opportunities to share with our bro's and sis's here have been steady.
I've discovered that tagging along on outings is sometimes a good way
to get to know some of my new friends. These outings are tough: biking
along rivers, through orange groves, rice fields, around majestic
mountain peaks, and through ancient villages; exploring a damp and
cavernous water cave that wound its way deep into the heart of a
mountain; bamboo rafting down the Dragon River; and hiking Moon Hill.
I know it's hard, grueling work, but I must answer the call. Don't be
too jealous, I'll have plenty of stories and photos to share. Really,
though, these have provided opportunities to connect on a more
intimate level. Plus, everyone is working during the day, so going on
a trip with a "guide" is one way to get this time. Yesterday, for
example, Sal-ly invited me to join her on a little bike excursion to
explore a potential new route for tourists. Our two hour ride turned
into four hours (If you've heard of "Africa time" then you might be
interested in knowing there is "China time" too. Basically, however
long they think something will take to accomplish...double that. China
time is half of American time..But it's all good times, of course.).
As we wound our way along the Li River and through rice fields we
chatted and joked about me wanting to get a picture of me riding a
water buffalo (Don't laugh, it could still happen). But we also had a
chance to share our test*m0nies, encourage one another, and talk about
Chinese perceptions of "club people" in America...Which isn't all that
positive. I learned some very interesting things, but will wait to
share more.
I've become a regular around here. Everyone knows my name and I am
always welcome at meal-time to dine with the staff. This is a real
treat for me, first because I love Chinese food, and second, because
of the fellowship. We always pr before we eat, sometimes in Chinese,
and sometimes I pr in English. It's always great to get to the end and
everyone says the @men together. It reminds me a little of our CCF
group that meets on Sunday nights. Always, there is a common meal, pr,
fell0w$hip, laughing. It also reminds me of another table, the one
that we gather around on Sunday mornings. I love uni-ty in the b0dy.
Around the lunch and dinner table here, we all eat from the same
dishes. I even got my own chopsticks. Sal-ly picked them out for me
yesterday. An interesting note here is the new foods that I've been
introduced to: duck neck, pork lung, the floppy thing on top of a
chicken's head...and tonight I'll try spicy duck foot. I've had the
friends here pr*ing for me all week to have Father prepare me head and
my stomach for that one!
I've also started buying local fruit for "dessert" in the evenings.
All the staff and friends from the club are welcome. This is a common
practice in this area, and it seems to be another good way to bring
people together around a table. Yes, food has become a theme. It's a
common ground. Doesn't matter where you're from, everyone eats.
While there has been a lot of shared time, I still get the sense that
there is some reluctance to speak with me more openly about $pir*tua1
things. I don't know if if that is because of the sensitivity of that
issue in this country, cultural norms, or because of their experience
with foreigners in the past. While I've observed this, I've also found
them slowly opening up more, asking questions about me, my f@ith and
work at the club in America, and about what people back home are like.
I'm learning that int*macy and trust takes time to cultivate. I think
I've made a good start.
These past few days I've found time in the early morning hours and
throughout the day to get out and about with my cameras. As many of
you know, I'm kinda into photography. I brought three on this trip and
I've used each of them quite a bit. I even have this fun little toy
camera that I got out today and started shooting with (Thanks
Sprague!). Photography has forced me to slow down, observe, pay
attention to the small things, the colors, textures, shapes...the
details of life here. And it's given me time to talk to father, wonder
and ask questions about this place and these people. I've also taken
some photos of my new friends here and hope to put together a bundle
of cards and photos to send them after I return.
Okay, I suppose that's enough. As many of you know, I'm not keen on
these long update emails. It's good for me, at the very least, to get
these thoughts out. I'm a verbal processor.
I think I'll head back to HK on Friday. The team there is expecting a
very large group of volunteers and I'm sure they will appreciate some
help. After that, I'm off to Beijing.
Thanks to all who have sent me emails. I've appreciated the pr's and
encouragement.
天天开心
John