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Today marks the 200 day countdown until the 2010 Shanghai World Expo Begins. This event will be the largest World's Fair. There are 70 million expected visitors during the 6 month period that the Expo will last. Close to 200 countries will participate and have a pavilion that showcases the business, economy, and culture of their country. I feel honored and humbled to be a part of this World Event in such a strategic country. Great things are happening and will happen in this country.
Official Expo site: http://en.expo2010.cn/

a lesson in kung fu

Have you ever see the movie Shao Lin temple with Jet Li? I haven't seen it, but I'd like to because that is where the Expo Project Group went for team building. We got to meet the Abbot (the head monk of the temple), and have many interesting 'behind the scenes’ experiences such as: eating vegetarian food with the monks - we couldn't talk and we had to finish everything they put in the two bowls that were in front of us. We rose at 4:30 am one morning to listen to the monks chant. One night around 8pm it was dark and soo quiet on the temple grounds. We got to have a kung fu lesson from a head monk. It was interesting being there at night and thinking about how old the place is.
We climbed one of the 4 main mountains in China and saw some ancient carvings on stone along a river. Then one day we got blindfolded before getting on the bus. Each person had someone guiding them as we got off the bus, still blindfolded. Then I began to hear clapping. We were being led towards the many clapping hands, it began to get louder and faster and I could hear clapping completely surrounding me. Finally we were led to a small platform and then told to take off our blind folds. In front of us were many perfectly straight lines of boys of all ages going all the way back to a fence at the other end of the courtyard. The youngest and smallest were in front. We realized we were in the middle of a keng fu school - with the dormitories and classroom buildings around us. All of the sudden a voice came over a speaker and called out some orders, then the kids moved in unison yelling "huh" and striking different kung fu poses. It was really quite incredible to see their intense faces and strict discipline as well as the sheer number of them.
It was a very interesting trip but a bit trying being surrounded by emptiness in the temples and in the boys faces. Overall, a very culturally rich trip with highs and lows that will be remembered.

Pepperdine SH style

The building here in SH that they got for the program a few years ago was originally built in 1937 when the school was founded in the US. I said 'hey' to your peeps Mark. 

while it lasts

so I figured out I could get on wordpress today. Hope you don't mind the switching around, but I am going to use wordpress while it lasts: www.iamthird.wordpress.com  

my sins are gone, ive been set free

There is nothing like worshiping with people from all over the world. So many people filled the church, I joyfully stood throughout the service with others who did not have room to sit. Wonderful time cooking and eating meals with new friends. He's got the whole world in His hands.

医院 yi yuan (hospital)

     Mr. Xue picked me up. Checked in at desk. Waited. Then, we who where there for physicals were corralled from room to room to get all the different check ups done.
Room 102 –change into gown/weight/height
Room 112 --eye examination room-cover one eye and say which way the “E” is pointing

Room 109 was labeled “Sample Center”. Worst room. By far.
      I was not allowed to eat for 12 hours prior to check up. Knowing I am a bit faint around needles (especially when I have not eaten breakfast), I opened a piece of chocolate (because I knew I would not have the strength to open it after the needle) and sat it on my leg. I propped my right arm up on the desk—nurse ties a rubber band thing around my bicep and starts slapping the veins in the crease of my arm above my elbow. Here we go…huge needle/shovel looking on the top where the blood can run down goes into my arm and she gets the back of the plastic part to syringe the blood out of my arm.
      This is the part where my eyesight becomes blurry, sounds become muffled, and my head begins to lay back against the chair. I of course forget about the chocolate on my leg. Luckily the nurse figures it out and begins to feed me the piece of chocolate as my head is resting on the back of the chair. Just before I went all the way out the chocolate began to take affect and the nurse also got me some water. I still must not have looked too good, because she reclined the chair then went to get me a ‘moon pie’ looking thing. She would not let me get up from the chair till I had finished eating it.

On to room 116- who knew they give ultrasounds to people who aren’t pregnant? My liver, gallbladder, and kidneys looked interesting on a monitor. The nurses just stared at me funny as I was still weak trying to get up and off of the tall bed-table I had to get on for the gook to be applied to my stomach for the ‘viewing’ of the internals.

117- Chest x-ray – lungs and heart seemed to be ok.

110 – 2nd worst room- EKG. Muster up some more energy to climb on another tall table. Lay down. Out come the rusty metal clamps that are attached to my ankles and wrists. Old timey suction cups with air squeezy balls attached to the end of them are placed around my chest and stomach. And the lady says “relax”. Like that is easy to do when your hooked up to a 1970s piece of medical equipment. Sheesh.

     Last room was another poking an prodding breathing in and out room, and the doctor took my blood pressure—that has always been pretty low. He took it once, mumbled under his breath, took it again and said “very low, very low”.
      Good thing I was watching as he began to type all the information from the other rooms onto the computer. The picture and profile where NOT me. It was a brown headed Belgium girl who was a few people behind me in the ‘corralling line’ . “Oh, so sorry, so sorry” the doctor said when I finally got it across to him that that was not my picture.

     Back out to the waiting room it was my turn to smile at the people who where nervously awaiting their check up experience. Whew, glad that’s over with!

"dreams are the currency of the future"

   A big thank you to my wonderful dad who paid my overweight luggage fee so that I could READ. Yes, I brought some heavy intellectual stimulation in the form of books. It has proved to be fascinating so far to see how each one grows me so much!

   Yesterday while reading The Dream Manager by Matthew Kelly, I stopped within the first few chapters to write down some dreams. You know what makes me smile? When other people are living/thinking about/planning their dreams too.

-when a friend sits down with his brother to talk about their goals

-when the dreamer lands her summer photog gig

-when a friend tells me in the pool at my house one summer where in the world she was going to live... and she does it!

-when a friend drives cross country in pursuit of his dreams

-when a friend scuba dives Rotan Island to lobbying at Capital Hill and everything in between.

-when a friend moves to NYC

-when a friend nails a tough interview to land a sweet museum gig

-when a friend survives an accident, comes to know Christ, and redirects their life

-when friends find true love

-when friends and family nurture children - natural and/or adopted

-when a friend becomes a rock star

   "The pursuit of dreams creates passion, energy, enthusiasm, and vitality. One of the most powerful dynamics in relationships is trying to understand the other person's dreams and helping them chase and fulfill those dreams. Every relationship improves when we are mindful of each others dreams."

    KEEP PURSING YOUR DREAMS!

no hui yuan = crazy day at the office

     Back in Beijing I was in the building (guarding the door to the conference room) where a major deal went down between Coke and Huiyuan (a major Chinese juice company). Well, the government had exactly 200 days from that day to decide wether they wanted to allow the deal to happen (both Mr. Muhtar and Mr. Ju were in agreement, but nothing here is final until the gov says so).
      The deal for 2.5 billion was presented one week before the financial crisis in the States happened. Had the deal been made one week later it would have been for probably half of that offer. Today in the Shanghai offices rumors were flying, and everything was 'a buzz'. There have been nationalist protestors at the building who want to protect their local brands. The 200 days just ran out... the government did not allow the take over. This could be a blessing in disguise for CocaCola, as with the economic crisis, they can use the money for other investments. More below:

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/worldbiz/archives/2009/03/19/2003438821

http://www.ajc.com/business/content/shared-gen/ap/Finance_General/AS_China_Coca_Cola_Huiyuan.html

chasing geese

      If I were to look back at my journals  I could find the entry in one where I wrote about a special memory. It was a few years ago (maybe four) and I was on a jog through the neighborhood when two geese flew low over me. I stopped in my tracks because I felt a strong presence of the Lord. You need to understand that geese flying around our area is somewhat common because the lake being so near. This was different. I felt the Lord's promise of two things. 1) A call on my life 2) a promise of protection. From then on two geese flying has been a reminder to me of the Lord's presence. Right now I am living these promises.

     I am told that if a goose falls out of formation another will go back to be with it, they never leave one behind. What a reminder to us all of God's promise in Hebrew 13:5 "Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you."

     Today I had a divine appointment with God through reading Wild Goose Chase by Mark Batterson.  The Celtic Christians name for the Holy Spirit was An Geadh-Glas, or 'the Wild Goose'. I resonate with the fact that the Spirit of God cannot be tracked or tamed.  

     Within the first few pages of the book I had underlined, written notes in the margin, and stopped to reread a few lines. It was so closely related to my life right now, it was a though the words were jumping off the pages at me. 

      

...circumstantial uncertainty also goes by another name: ADVENTURE

...nothing is more unnerving or disorienting that passionately pursuing God

...otro dia, otra aventura (another day, another adventure)

...we have a primal longing to be uncaged 

...Soren Kierkegaard believed boredom is the root of all evil.

    If I listed all the quotes and notes I took away from this book, this post would be far to long. So I will pray for YOUR divine appointment with this book, whenever that may be for you. For me, it was today.

en route

Gen 28:15 "I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go...I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you. "

around town

nice view along the river of the bund

Queen of SH?

Cooking with the girls

time with jingle

fun with Jun!

ordered steps

    Got to go spend time and J and R house before I left on this trip, and they were telling me about a sweet Chinese girl that is living with Tracy for a year. She got to come to J and R house and experience a lot of 'first times' with fun things you can do on a house with a lot of land -- like riding four wheelers and shooting guns. 

    Well, at the dodgeball tournament a few days before I left, Tracy gave me Baihong's information who lives in a town near where I was visiting for the New Year.

   I am so thankful that I got to spend time with this strong, smart, caring, hospitable, Chrstian woman. 

   Well, 'the link' I have yet to meet is CiCi, her daughter. Looking forward to having dinner with her when I return. 

eat more

...and that's me saying "chicken."

Niu Yang ge

      The spitting, burping, and pushing I could do without. But it is things like this that fascinate me:   Driving out of the snowy mountains I asked if we could stop the car to see what was going on in a small village we were approaching. Getting out of the car- camera in hand - I was overwhelmed with the sight of colorful outfits and smiling faces. The pounding of a drum was coming from the bed of a truck that was driven into the outside area where the dances where taking place. I asked if I could come into the area and take a few pictures, and the people of this small northern town could not have been happier or more proud to have a 'la wai' (foreigner) be so interested in their spring festival traditions and culture. 

     They offered me a platter of candy and cigarettes, of which I took a piece of candy. The teenager offering the platter looked up at me worried it seemed as though I had not taken as much as she wanted me to -- and I questioned myself, "should I take a few pieces more or a cigarette to make them feel as though I have partaken the fullness of their generosity, or just this one piece of candy (all that I want and need) so that the others can enjoy the treats?"-- with my best smile of reassurance that this was more than enough for me, I gave a polite nod and bow, as the girl sheepishly smiled back.

     I learned that this is called "Niu Yang ge"- traditional dances from the Northern Provences. I found the energy and excitement there brought about emotions that made me not want to leave. But alas, Baihong was waiting for us to continue our journey to Shenyang.

mountain (meng)

on the way to the mountain, we got caught in a lamb jam...

Nuo Nuo starting early perfecting her peace signs

the mountaineers: Uncle "Shoo Shoo", Aunt Yu Fen, Angela, Yuanyuan, and Nuonuo (oh and me...photographer) 

we made it back... 

ni ga ha na? (dongbei hua-for what are you doing?)

Angela making the green beans for another big lunch!

Yuanyuan standing a the red store front

we have been shooting off lots of bottle rockets, cooking, eating, and more mahjong!

The 'Niu' Year

is what you call it because it is the year of the cow and "niu" is the word for cow. How appropriate, because at home we call it, "Happy Moo Year".

So far, it has consisted of: lots of people over - many of the Meng Family friends. I was told to call all of her father's friends, "Shoo Shoo" which means uncle.

 Lots of jaozi:

an unexplainable amount of fireworks - they went off all through the night and most of the day today. For lack of time to upload my video--check out my friend Joe's video who was in Beijing for the New Year.

The men played "mah jong"

The women chatted and compared their red socks (all with cows on them--of course) my foot is turned out with the 'bamboo green' long johns.

and the teenagers watched jackie chan movies (his Chinese name is "Cheng Long") in chinese with chinese subtitles.

Happy Niu Year! 

new years eve numero dos

   There was a one hour delay in Seoul because of the winter wonderland at hand. 

But it was oh so grand to come around the corner-out of customs- and see Angela in the crowd waving her hand.

   To Angela's house we go! Her father has a factory down the street and they (including her brother-17 and sister-20) live above her mother's restaurant. I slept hard last night, and it has been a full morning of preparing for the New Years Eve celebration tonight.

   Red banners and signs go above, on, and on either side of all the doors. The door to the restaurant, the door to their living quarters above, the back door, and the garage. The ladies, A, her sister, her mother, her mother's sister and I have been making bread, jaozi (dumplings), fish, and cucumber salad. When the clock strikes 12 am tonight, we will be setting off the stack of fireworks "li hua" that where in the garage when we opened it this morning.  

   Oh, the second to last picture is of the fish we made out of dough. Fish is a symbol of prosperity. Angela made an octopus, I made a larger than life goldfish looking thing.

  Here is the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-U3pSQnzoGA

wonderland

Beautiful snow is falling in Seoul. I only hope it does not delay the flight. Looking forward to seeing my Angel soon. Up next: the Chinese Lunar New Year. DongBei style. Say "guo nian hao" to your Chinese friends on Jan 25th.