Now I live in an amazing beautiful place all year long... but I am still how amazed the beauty of home.
As I woke up early this morning to a brisk morning temp of 53 I found myself surprisingly cold on my morning run, yet as the sun rose I found the flowers, fields and trees to be just stunning. I should be used to it, but I never am. It is always a pleasant shock. After spending my morning hanging out on the farm, checking out the new combines (John Deere this year) I grabbed a couple donuts and headed back home to walk around the old property and find what had changed in the last year.
As I walked the back yard my parents new dog Teddy followed slowly. Still not sure if he trusts me he was still willing to accompany me on the walk. After seeing the new projects around the property. A couple ponds are being built to hopefully encourage an endangered tree frog to live around here. Also the creek (stream... crick... whatever form of small flowing water you want to call it) is being modified so more local wildlife and plants won't be overtaken by some of the import beasts, such as nutria.
Its good to be home. Nothing like it in the world.
I hope things are going well this summer for everyone. I have enjoyed the first day back.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Riting Monastery
So there we were, Craig, Sarah and myself on a bus with 30 students and 3 Chinese teachers. We loaded around 2pm on a Friday. Seven short hours later we found ourselves (after two or three bus breakdowns) going up another hill (there are a few in the Tibet area :) This hill was different, it had something I haven't seen too many of in the outskirts of lhasa. Trees, and not just the 2 year old poplars planted by the government, but old cedar trees. They were beautiful. As we climbed we got closer to our destination. Riting Monastery. Sarah had been there before (because Sarah has been everywhere in Tibet!) but it was a first time for Craig the students and I.
We were all exhausted from the long trip and got ready for the night. Craig, Sarah and I set up our tents while the rest of our crew got bed inside the monastery. The next was going to be a full one so we didn't talk much before falling asleep.
Things I learned from the three day in Riting Monastery:
1. Monasteries outside of Lhasa have lots of dogs.
2. Stinging nettles are quite possibly the worst plant of all time.
3. American college students are not the only college students who can live off of instant noodles for long periods of time
4. Craig is amazing at leading games! (Helium pole, The Eliminator, Mine field, and several others...)
5. Tibetan student love, love love singing! (on the way up some of the student were singing an old farming song where the women and the men have a sing off, It kinda reminded me of a rap battle from 8 mile. But they really got into it!)
6. Students notice when you are interested in temples and Monasteries... and as the case may have been... Not interested. They are very perceptive when I didn't walk the cora (clock-wise circles around statues or temples) or really care to look at many of the idols and statues.
7. Performances are always about the group, and almost everyone has to perform something... and you better be prepared (this was the same as China, but just as true if not more true with a mix of Chinese and Tibetan students)
So... the trip was great, the students were great, hanging out with the teachers was a blast. The Monastery was okay, but the scenery around it was gorgeous. A great trip at the end of the year before heading back to the States. As I look at my last week of teaching I realize the blessing it has been to be able to live here.
After an 8 hour trip back to the university we called it a weekend and crashed hard...
Here's looking forward to my last week in Lhasa for the semester!
We were all exhausted from the long trip and got ready for the night. Craig, Sarah and I set up our tents while the rest of our crew got bed inside the monastery. The next was going to be a full one so we didn't talk much before falling asleep.
Things I learned from the three day in Riting Monastery:
1. Monasteries outside of Lhasa have lots of dogs.
2. Stinging nettles are quite possibly the worst plant of all time.
3. American college students are not the only college students who can live off of instant noodles for long periods of time
4. Craig is amazing at leading games! (Helium pole, The Eliminator, Mine field, and several others...)
5. Tibetan student love, love love singing! (on the way up some of the student were singing an old farming song where the women and the men have a sing off, It kinda reminded me of a rap battle from 8 mile. But they really got into it!)
6. Students notice when you are interested in temples and Monasteries... and as the case may have been... Not interested. They are very perceptive when I didn't walk the cora (clock-wise circles around statues or temples) or really care to look at many of the idols and statues.
7. Performances are always about the group, and almost everyone has to perform something... and you better be prepared (this was the same as China, but just as true if not more true with a mix of Chinese and Tibetan students)
So... the trip was great, the students were great, hanging out with the teachers was a blast. The Monastery was okay, but the scenery around it was gorgeous. A great trip at the end of the year before heading back to the States. As I look at my last week of teaching I realize the blessing it has been to be able to live here.
After an 8 hour trip back to the university we called it a weekend and crashed hard...
Here's looking forward to my last week in Lhasa for the semester!
Friday, June 5, 2009
Home remedies from Class A 2009
Here are some of my students’ homework assignment about home and folk remedies for various ailments. Hope you enjoy:
Jill:
I have a good home remedy for a cough. I learned about it from my mother. Buy several oranges and burn one until it is black. Then (eat) have it. It’s also a good idea to drink some water. Sometimes it works. I don’t believe the remedy.
(at least she is honest)
Susan
I have a good home remedy for a cold. I learned about it from my own experience. I often have a cold. Chop up some ginger and cook it in wine. Then drink (it) them. And you better go to bed and rest. When you go out, you should put on more clothes (classic Chinese answer!) This always works.
Sheila
I have a good home remedy for a cough. I have learned about it from my grandmother. Cut a piece of ginger and add a pear. Boil them iwht some black sugar (not sure what black sugar is…) in water. Then drink the boiled water. And eat the pear. The is strange, but it is good for your cough. And this always works!
(I will try this as soon as I find that black sugar.)
Jason:
Drink a mixture of red peppers, hot water, lemon juice, milk and vinegar. It’s good for you.
(WOW! Sounds like a youth group dare to me.)
Jill:
I have a good home remedy for a cough. I learned about it from my mother. Buy several oranges and burn one until it is black. Then (eat) have it. It’s also a good idea to drink some water. Sometimes it works. I don’t believe the remedy.
(at least she is honest)
Susan
I have a good home remedy for a cold. I learned about it from my own experience. I often have a cold. Chop up some ginger and cook it in wine. Then drink (it) them. And you better go to bed and rest. When you go out, you should put on more clothes (classic Chinese answer!) This always works.
Sheila
I have a good home remedy for a cough. I have learned about it from my grandmother. Cut a piece of ginger and add a pear. Boil them iwht some black sugar (not sure what black sugar is…) in water. Then drink the boiled water. And eat the pear. The is strange, but it is good for your cough. And this always works!
(I will try this as soon as I find that black sugar.)
Jason:
Drink a mixture of red peppers, hot water, lemon juice, milk and vinegar. It’s good for you.
(WOW! Sounds like a youth group dare to me.)
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