a place for compassion

Just back from winter vacation, and I couldn't be happier that my incoming flight arrived 24 hours ahead of the snow. Small mercies always appear bigger under the magnifying glass of travel.

Lots of stories to post and archive, but the first comes courtesy of a current student who took the time to write me this afternoon. On behalf of the enormous (and growing) number of aged people in China, it breaks my heart. It also gives me hope that my student and others like him might be not only listening but responding to the need for greater compassion.

How are you?How was Thailand?I joined a volunteer group and I went to a gerocomium with the

group a few days ago.The gerocomium was in a town near Chengdu city.There were more than one hundred old people living

there.Because the gerocomium was pretty big, we were divided into several teams, heading to different buildings and rooms.

First, my team went to a room where two old women lived.One had amnesia.She could barely remember few things.She kept

asking what my first name was, and I told her that my first name was Li again and again, but patiently. When she heard

someone in our team had the same first name as she did, she suddenly cried.I guess it reminded her of her family.Seeing her

tears falling down, we all felt very sad. As we were consoling her and trying to make her feel better, a girl in our team

offered to give the other old woman a haircut.We talked with her for a while, then I went to another room and met the leader

of the volunteer group here.He was fixing the TV for the old man living in that room.That old man moved there from another

gerocomium, and he spoke with a strong accent.He liked smoking ,drinking teas, and he said he usually went to bed at 6 pm.I

noticed the floor was a little dirty, and with his permission, I cleaned up the floor for him.Most of the rooms were closed.

Considering the old people were sleeping, we didn't knock at the door.When we went out of the building, the other teams were

already in the dining hall with some old people, preparing performances.I joined one group and gave a dance in front of the

olders.The dance was a little stupid but quite amusing and we seemed to enjoy it more than the audience.Then I sang some songs(not

rapped)to the old people and an old lady also sang some songs about Chair Mao.We had such a great time.After all the teams

finished their performances, we took some photos and said goodbye to the old people.Some of them were very thankful and hoped that

we could visit their gerocomium more often. In fact, I was a little bummed on the way home.I felt like I hadn't done enough for

the old people.But since I am in the volunteer group, I will still have a lot of chances to do something for those people in need

of help. Now I understand your intention of asking us to do this.The world needs us.It needs our compassion, it needs our help, It

needs our love.I think I can trade my life for something meaningful rather than just enjoy what it gives me.

the getaway

I came to Chiang Mai early to slip into the quiet comfort of warmth and stillness...and anonymity. Tomorrow is my check out day from the little bungalow that has been my retreat. I will report to the hotel downtown, where several hundred of us will gather for our annual conference. I look forward to it for a number of reasons, partly because I am coming out of isolation and am emotionally and spiritually ready for the next eight days of fellowship, workshops, meetings and dinners on the terrace.

It's been a lovely two weeks at this place. Though not much more expensive than the budget YMCA that has been my default accomodation in previous years, it's given me two of the things that the Y can't: a pool and seclusion. I've taken to calling the owner,a retired man from the UK, "Sir Philip." The gecko brothers, on the other hand, still remain, "the gecko brothers."


Photos:

My bungalow is on the far right.

The bikes are available for any guest to use. They don't climb hills very well, but are fine for quick trips into the nearby village.

There are three pools on sight. The largest is a lap pool. The two circular ones are more shallow and are generally offered for children. The water is as cold as I can stand it; get in and keep moving.

Do we get a prize?

Just linked to a newly published list from china.org.cn of the top 30 universities in China for 2012. If the minds behind the appointments have any credibility, then Harbin Institute of Technology is in the top ten. From the source (click for full article):

Rank 2012: 10

Rank 2011: 10

Score: 104.98

Website: http://en.hit.edu.cn/

Located in the ice city of Harbin in Heilongjiang Province, Harbin Institute of Technology (HIT) was formerly founded in 1920 as the Harbin Sino-Russian School for Industry. The university, a member of the C9 League, is generally recognized as one of China's top universities with distinct and unparalleled programs in the field of astronautics. Early in 1954, it became one of the first six universities in China designated to receive major support from the government. With its cutting-edge high-tech research, HIT has always been a leader in large-scale and highly sophisticated national projects. It has made great contributions to China's space and defense industry, including the internationally-renowned "Shenzhou Series Spaceship Project". It has created many scientific inventions, such as China's first simulation computer, first arc-welding robots, and the world's first advanced-level system radar.

in the gecko...

By the end of the day today (Monday), I will have been in Chiang Mai, Thailand, for a week. I usually arrive prior to my annual business conference. I've been staying on the outskirts of the city at a swimming facility that has three bungalows on site. I wanted to be secluded and away from the night bars and markets that monopolize the downtown streets. So far, I got what I asked for: I'm a 10-15 minute walk away from the nearby village, and the first things I hear in the mornings are the warblers perched atop nearby tree branches and the occasional dog chorus from nearby properties. There's an insomniac rooster somewhere around here, as well.

I also discovered that there is a turf war going on among the geckos that congregate on the outside walls of the bungalows. One of them has managed to break inside (not hard at all, considering that my windows are open during the day and my front door leaves enough room to allow light in through the bottom). He has claimed his stake above my wall-mounted air conditioner and has demonstrated a nocturnal fascination with the trash can that sits directly underneath. I know this because two nights ago, he rattled around in the plastic liner long enough for me to realize that it wasn't being stirred by air circulation. Once I turned on the light and started walking toward the trash can, he seized straight out of it and dashed to his hiding spot behind the air conditioner. I transferred the contents (few as they were) to the bathroom trash can, overturned the tempting one, and set my sandals on top. No more noise for the rest of the night.

Last night, the trash can was empty. I made sure of it. About 45 minutes after I turned off the light, I heard the unmistakable rustle of plastic. I didn't even turn on the light as I raised my head and - without even second-guessing his English proficiency - said, "There's nothing in there." He continued investigating a few more minutes. At one point, I got up to use the restroom and, as I turned on the light, I saw him scamper back to his hideaway. A few seconds later, I saw him dart from there toward the the large window on the same wall. He was darker than I remembered from the previous sighting.

Within seconds, I heard the the succession of clicks coming not from the one on wall, but from behind the air conditioner. I recognized the sound immediately; during a previous conference, my roommate and I had a gecko in our room, and he silently occupied a corner, save the peculiar little chirp that charmingly incriminated him. My trash can scavenger had, as best I could tell, kicked the intruder out of his spot that was likely claimed while he was, well, in the can. I had on my hands the cute reptilian version of a smack down.

No idea where the challenger finally ended up. I guess I'll find out tonight if there's a round two -- after I turn over the trash can.

Harbin Ice Festival 2012

MY CITY


(video courtesy of the Telegraph)

New Year's Day 2012

I was invited to dinner with one of my freshmen classes. Whoever made the decision of where to eat has good taste; we dined at a hot pot place with mirrors on the ceiling (but without the "pink champagne on ice") and a great view through the third story windows overlooking the street. With full bellies, we walked down the street, took a few photos in front of some ice sculptures and then retreated to the warmth of a karaoke room, where I contributed two mangled Chinese love ballads.

my favorite photo of the evening

I've missed you more than me own luggage.

Two weeks since a post. Roughly that length of time without consistently solid sleep. Welcome to a country in which the end of one fairly new(ish) imported holiday (Christmas) is only the overture for a more widely celebrated holiday known as Spring Festival. In a few weeks, the entire country will begin stampeding in all directions as each and every good citizen makes the way home in time for the most important holiday of the year. Travel during the month of January is a nightmare, especially if a train ride is involved. That is one of the reasons why I head to Thailand as early as possible. I enjoy exploring China, but not in competition with 1.34 billion people.

So what's been keeping me so occupied for the last two weeks have been:

1) Cookies. All kinds of cookies. Chocolate. Peanut butter. Peppermint. Lemon. Sugar. Pinwheel. Some drizzled with chocolate. Some rolled in mint crumbs. Some decorated with royal icing and amateur piping. I lost count of how many I made. Fortunately, cookies and all things involving baking are wildly exotic here in China, so if I mention that I need helpers, I get immediate responses. Sounds exciting until you take into account, though, that Chinese people - for the most part - are completely unschooled in the art of baking. It's no exaggeration that some of them have never even handled butter. So...eager help doesn't always mean faster turnout. Nor does it ensure that their cookies will look anything like the photos online. In fact, assume that their batches could double as ink blot tests; no one sees the same thing twice.
















2) The boss kept her promise. She came over to learn how to bake. We made fudge brownies from a box mix that she brought with her, and I also taught her a classic sugar cookie recipe. It was a big moment that's taken four years to materialize. I have never seen a Chinese woman - or man, for that matter - find such delight in operating a hand-held mixer. She squealed. SQUEALED. And she's already ordered one for herself.


3) Christmas day was a steamroller. It began with service at our fellowship, every pew being filled by people. I will give credit to the Chinese; their body size and lack of personal space qualifies about 50% more attendance than foreigners trying to maximize the same amount of seating. Our service is flanked by two other services, both in Chinese. The first went into OT, thus pushing ours back, which meant the final service was delayed. They weren't happy. Standing outside in negative temperatures didn't do anything to alleviate the situation. There were other things I noticed that day -- workers dressed in Santa suits during the first service -- that were unsettling to someone who has been brought up with very clear boundaries between secular and sacred. I would be eager for someone to explain that perplexity to me and more than eager to share my thoughts with them, in return.


4) Christmas evening was spent singing Christmas carols with students in the dining hall. More or less a yuletide choral flash mob. Our grand finale was sung by candlelight, intruded upon only by camera flashes.
















5) Final exams have almost finished. I have no guarantee that I will see the same students next semester, which saddens both me and them. Those freshmen sure are lovable.


6) Tickets for Thailand have been purchased, sort of. I know when I'm going, and I know roughly when I'm coming back. I've booked the outgoing flight but am still hammering out details about the incoming itinerary. Some friends and I are thinking of paying a visit to The Soldier while he's home. If so, we will be the only foreigners - moreover, foreigners with fair skin and hair - in his entire village, population 40,000. I really really hope we get asked to be in a parade.

the power of cookies, part three

The title of this post refers to its parent and sister posts made last year around this time. (Click here for original and then click here for the follow-up. The backstory will help to explain why cookies have received so much attention on this blog. Essentially, homemade cookies are something of myth and lore in China -- akin to finding a magical unicorn.)

This is merely an extension of a project that we tested last Christmas. It comes at the worst time of year. We're nearing the end of the semester. Final exams have either commenced or are in progress. Students vying for graduate positions at US institutions are inundating us with requests for proofreading their personal statements or supplying letters of recommendation. The holiday banquet - practically an institution, itself, within China - is at the end of the month. It's not just a palooza of food; it's also a buffet of performances by multiple departments. No expense is spared with even some groups going so far as to hire professional choreographers. (Keep in mind that China is not known for its intrinsic rhythm.) As our contribution to the festivities, my teammates and I are planning to sing a song in Chinese, which means at least a few practice sessions so that people don't confuse our lyrics for high mass in Latin.

There are many things pulling at our hours, but not much can be sacrificed. The month of December is - even in its most naked form - bustling. So why is it that cookies get such priority? Because they make people happy. Moreover, they make important people (like my Chinese boss and my national colleagues) happy. And building relationships with them is important to me. So, if some holiday cheer comes by way of sugar, chocolate, peppermint and peanut butter, I'll gladly be a little wearied by the end of the week. Today's special delivery to my department - and the smiles and oohs and ahhs it elicited - reminded my tired eyes and parched knuckles that spending Christmas efforts for the right thing will ultimately be rewarded.

Check out my goodwill ambassadors for this year:

Oh, the weather outside is frightful...

But radiators are so delightful.

And temps are getting low low low

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.




The Christmas tree went up this afternoon, with help from three young men who were rewarded with homemade peanut butter cookies and a meal outside of campus.

a student's reality

What if this was your neighborhood...your yard...your house...your living room...your bedroom...your life?