Surprises Around Each Corner

Long bus ride...lotsa time to talk...

Vincent (Chinese citizen and teacher of English): yes, my grandparents got divorced a long time ago.

Loni: Wow, I didn't know that people in China got divorced lots of years ago.

Vincent: in the reforms of 1949, they wanted to throw out anything old - old traditions, old customs, out with the old. So, anyone who had had an arranged marriage was encouraged to get divorced. My grandparents had an arranged marriage, so they got divorced.

Always learning about the land we call China.

The Hidden Message

They wear American tee shirts with slogans, sayings, logos, but most don't know what they mean or stand for.

Example, I said, "Eric, great message on your sweater."

"I don't know what means," he said.

Time for an explanation.

But, keep spreading this message; it's a good one!

Feeling Famous

"You are invited to English Corner on Wednesday night at 7:00. Please to come and be our guests."

We had heard about English corner. It's an outside-class event, giving the students an oportunity to speak English in a non-threatening environment.

Walking there in the dark on Wednesday night, I wasn't so keen on going, but we had said yes, so I had to go.

As soon as we walked in, hordes of students thronged around us...they hung on our every word...they listened intently. We had to sit at different tables, so some could listen to Allen, some could listen to me.

After the meeting, the games, and the farewells, they wanted our pictures, EVEN TEEN-AGE BOYS wanted to be in a picture with the old lady from America. As we walked out the door, they followed us. A teen-age boy, who had been so kind and helpful, invited me to come to a Thanksgiving celebration his friends were having!

It was unbelievable. I'm still in shock!

And, I'm grateful. I love their innocence, their goodness, their love/respect of older people. Whenever I am with a Chinese student going down the stairs, they say, "Be careful." The teenagers give us their seats on the busses.

This is a new experience for us!

Joy in the Morning

Wedesday...no class.

So, I walked to the little corner market for some bananas and eggs. It was just an incredibly beautiful morning.

The children were reciting aloud as I walked by the school. It thrilled my heart.

The flowers were stunning.

The children were laughing and exercising on the playground.

My heart was overflowing with gratitude and JOY!

Thank you, Heavenly Father, for this incredible opportunity!

Lance at the Circus

Lance, but obviously not in his diving costume!

"So what are you doing here in Guangzhou," I asked that first Sunday to the beautiful young couple as I introduced myself.

"I'm in the circus! I'm a diver," Lance said. "Have you ever heard of the Mayan Restaurant in Salt Lake where they do cliff diving?" he asked.

I answered in the affirmative as I had eaten there twice.

"I used to work there. I had just gotten married, was working as a diver at the restaurant, when I got a call inviting me to come join the circus here in China. It sounded like an adventure and Samantha was willing, so we've been here for a few months and will head home in December."

We had to take the opportunity to see Lance before he headed back to school in America, so we went to the Chinese circus.

Barnum and Bailey Ringling Brothers, step aside. The Chinese have definitely bumped up your circus several notches!

Doesn't Get Any Better Than THIS!

One of the great blessings that Allen and I have is that we have exactly the same schedule.

This is good because we walk to school together and talk about our lessons. Then after classes, we walk home together and talk about what happened in class.

It is also good because we can often see each other in the halls, and get acquainted with each other's students.

So, yesterday, this is what students told me after Allen's class when I happened to go into his classroom. (First of all, he always has a cluster of students around his desk...he is helping them, encouraging them, advising them, etc.)

After the 8:30 class, while I was waiting to talk to him, a very handsome young boy said to me, "We like Allen's class....he is a very good English teacher!"

But, perhaps the best compliment was after his 2:00 class while I was waiting for him so we could walk home, two girls in his class talked to me for a long time. At one point in the conversation, one of the girls was telling me what a good teacher Allen is, and she said,

"We NEVER fall asleep in his class!"

Now, that's a compliment!

The Accent

"Be sure to state your name before you begin your presentation," I reminded them.

"My name is SEX," she said.

Naturally, the entire class burst out in loud laughter. She covered her face in embarrassment and turned a bright red. Then, she tried again.

"My name is SEX." More laughter.

Realizing this could take the entire hour, I said loudly, "Okay, SIX, go ahead and begin."

And, that, my dear friends, is why I'm trying so hard to correct their accents!

(I should also perhaps help them select more appropriate English names!)

Cultural Differences

The first time I saw it happen, I was totally shocked.

The man was walking right in front of us on a busy road leading to the campus. He just unzipped his pants and relieved himself right in the open. Total disbelief.

Since that time, I have seen several little boys do the same thing. One time recently, just right outside the front door of the little market, a little boy just stood off to the side of the step and went in the bushes in front of everyone passing by.

Two days ago, a little boy's mother told him to aim for the storm drain, which he did producing a high arc for all the world to see. There have been others also.

But, I guess the one that shocked me the most was yesterday at the zoo. Ruth and I, were in fact, looking for the toilette ourselves. We saw a little ice cream stand, and thinking there might be a restroom near, we walked towards it. (Yesterday, all the children in Guangzhou got out of school for the opening ceremonies of the Asian Games, so the zoo was packed with hordes of people. That's one reason this surprised me so much.)

Right next to the ice cream stand was a little walkway, with dozens of people walking by. Squatting right on the walk facing the hordes of people, a little girl of ten was "doing her thing," while her mother helped her. NOTHING, and I do mean nothing was private...

I quickly turned away, thinking....WOW, it's just a different mentality here.

Time Out - To Brag

"Bragging about your children is not polite," she said quite often.

So, I didn't brag-even when I wanted to....it seemed impolite.

But, I'm sorry that I didn't brag. They did much to brag about.

Now, however, I'm bragging. It doesn't seem impolite; it seems important, significant, and necessary.

A picture arrived in my inbox today showing one of our children in a very significant and impressive arena, making it so that I could barely contain my JOY and bragging rights...so, I've decided to openly brag about our five remarkable and talented children:

jenni will receive her PhD as a nurse practioner in December from the University of Utah. She has spent five years working on this challenging goal, all while raising four happy, healthy, helpful, well-adjusted teen-agers. Thanks goes to her husband, Brent, for his support in all this. Just a couple more weeks and you'll be Doc Fisher!

justin decided a few years ago to strike out on his own and become a professional wedding/portrait photographer. It has had its challenges, but he is a highly successful and well-known photographer. His skill has taken him to Haiti, New York, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, and points in between. He and his lovely, supportive, helfpul wife, Amy, have two adorable young sons that say the cutest things. Way to go, Justin!

jeremy leaned across the aisle when he was in the 7th grade and said to his friend, "let's be doctors when we grow up." Not fully realizing what that entailed, I'm sure, both those young men became doctors. Jeremy is an anethesiologist with a post-doctorate specialty in pain management, and is a lietenant commander in the navy. He has served a tour of duty in Afghanistan and on the USS John Stennis. He and Leigh have three young handsome, delightful sons, two of whom speak darn good Spanish. Way to go, Doc Hackworth!

kristi graduated as a registered dietitian. While driving home from work one day after hearing a patient say he would consult with his doctor before doing her health recommendations, kristi said, "Well, I'll just be THE doctor and they'll listen to me then!" She took the M-Cat exam six weeks later, while most students spend an entire year to prepare for it. She is in her second year residency in anesthesiology at the University of Virginia. It was her picture leading rounds while lots of doctors listened attentively that prompted this blog. Hang in there, Doc Rose...you're half way through your residency.

jordan the baby at six foot three, loved animals growing up. He decided early on that he would be a marine biologist. But, somewhere along the way, he changed his mind to become a doctor like his older brother. He is an anethesiologist, and is doing a post-graduate fellowship in ICU care at the University of Virginia. He and Janna have four of the liveliest, spirited kids on the block. Way to go, Doc Hackworth!

All of these adults sing, play the guitar and or piano, and tell very funny stories and jokes. They love to hang out together and enjoy each other's company, even though we all live too far away from each other. Allen and I had nothing to do with their achievements; they have been inspired/motivated/hard-working on their own.

This is not to say that we have not had our share of sorrow, heartaches, challenges. We have.

But, through it all, we remain family and strongly committed to each other. I'm thankful to Heavenly Father for these dear dear children, spouses, and our 13 grandchildren.

Also, I'm very late in bragging about our children, but I'm trying to make up for lost time!

Canton Tower

The second largest structure in the world. We rode to the 108th floor. But the real beauty of the tower is at night when the colors/designs change. WOW, so spectacular and breathtaking. I love what this city does with LIGHT!

Tuesday Nights

Catch the bus at 5:20 p.m.

Arrive at the South Campus between 6 and 6:20 depending on the traffic. Walk the dark, deserted streets to teaching building A.

Set up teaching computer station for 6:30 class.

Look out at sea of 56 backs of 56 computer monitors....can see one tall boy in back row. See 55 tops of black hair above 56 monitors.

Stand up and begin class...sing a song, welcome students, walk around wishing I knew their names and faces.

After class, decided to try something new next week. Each week, I will move the back row up to the front, moving the front row back one row. Then I will be able to see those faces that have been a million miles away.

And, I WILL learn their names and faces. I WILL listen to each one individually some way, somehow.

Get on bus at ten, and arrive home at 10:45.

Tuesdays -a challenge.

Grade - A+

That's the grade I would give the Chinese teachers who teach English to the Chinese students. Many of the teachers have never traveled to a land where English is spoken, and they have never heard a native speaker, but they teach these students English.

The students have an amazing vocabulary - it totally impresses me when I hear the words they are familiar with. They can construct sentences, they speak out, in fact, they LOVE to talk.

Now, that is not to say the students don't have issues - they do...

Their pronunciations leave a lot to be desired. But, given the circumstances, I am very impressed indeed.

Now, our challenge, how to help them over the hurdle of ten years' worth of mispronunciation.

And, oh, what a challenge!

I Almost Didn't Go...

Bad week....
Bad stomach virus...
Bad GERD....
Bad headeache, stomache, etc.
Bad teaching...

"I can't go," I said. "But since we've paid for it, you better go without me."

BAD decision.

But I went.

GOOD choice.
(more to come.)