Well another action packed summer is over.
I find myself at the newly opened cafe looking over two of the main streets in Lhasa. I have been back for a week now and am trying to get more organized and pumped for the new semester and year of teaching and living.
The summer seemed to fly... as usual. There were definitely some people I didn't get a chance to really spend much time with or see at all. But I am grateful for the time with the people I did see.
I am blessed to be able to be here for one more year. For all those who have given so much support in numerous ways I am thankful. I keep wondering how my life has ended up being what it is today and it seems I had little to do with it. I am just thankful His plans a bigger then my own.
I hope you all have a blessed year. If you do want to get in contact me, facebook is blocked for the time being so emails are probably your best bet.
Monday, August 31, 2009
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Oregon
It is coming up on a month since I have been back in Oregon. I find myself in the airport on my way to Southern California to catch up with some old friends and help my cousin move to Seattle. So far this summer I have been re-introduced to America through a couple rodeos, a couple concerts in the park, riding the tractors and seeing old friends and family at church. It has been a good month so far and it is good to be home.
My mom did have to take an emergency trip to the hospital due to some problems with her gall bladder. Apparently it has been a problem for a while but my mom just dismissed it as stomach problems and moved on. When they finally got an ultrasound the technician said she has only seen it this bad in text books. So we went quickly to the hospital and started the process of surgery that ended up taking almost 6 days start to finish. She is back home and is moving around more and more and getting back into her garden.
I am very thankful for His timing. Some family friends were over for breakfast and Mom's was having some pain. She described the pain to our friends and Tom, who had recently had his gall bladder removed, suggested that my mom's pain sounded very similar to what he experienced. So later that day she went to see the family doctor and before we knew it she was getting a surgery the next morning. Everything worked out, but we are grateful for His timing.
My mom did have to take an emergency trip to the hospital due to some problems with her gall bladder. Apparently it has been a problem for a while but my mom just dismissed it as stomach problems and moved on. When they finally got an ultrasound the technician said she has only seen it this bad in text books. So we went quickly to the hospital and started the process of surgery that ended up taking almost 6 days start to finish. She is back home and is moving around more and more and getting back into her garden.
I am very thankful for His timing. Some family friends were over for breakfast and Mom's was having some pain. She described the pain to our friends and Tom, who had recently had his gall bladder removed, suggested that my mom's pain sounded very similar to what he experienced. So later that day she went to see the family doctor and before we knew it she was getting a surgery the next morning. Everything worked out, but we are grateful for His timing.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Monmouth, Oregon
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.
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.
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.)
Friday, May 29, 2009
Lake Itso
24 hours later and I am still exhausted. But really... it was a great trip. I could slant it a couple different ways.
The pessimistic view:
Rain, snow, wind, 5100 meters, ridiculously small lake, two students were injured one which we had to carry down. Not many of the students brought enough clothes so many were too cold, no one knew where they were going and the bus drivers kept trying to rip us off.
The optimistic view:
We got to see Lake Itso!! This was the one spot where Sarah P. had not been to, and wanted to. We climbed over 5,100 meters! almost 5200 meters, (that about 17,000 feet!!) The weather although temperamental never got too cold or hot. We were also blessed to have a nomad show us the way to the lake. Very appreciated since none of us have actually been there before. Although it was hard everyone made all the way up and all the way down. In the end we were able to see everything and get home in one piece. All in all a very successful trip.
So the next day I am here blogging and glad for the day off from doing much else but getting emails answered. Did I mention the trip was gorgeous?
The pessimistic view:
Rain, snow, wind, 5100 meters, ridiculously small lake, two students were injured one which we had to carry down. Not many of the students brought enough clothes so many were too cold, no one knew where they were going and the bus drivers kept trying to rip us off.
The optimistic view:
We got to see Lake Itso!! This was the one spot where Sarah P. had not been to, and wanted to. We climbed over 5,100 meters! almost 5200 meters, (that about 17,000 feet!!) The weather although temperamental never got too cold or hot. We were also blessed to have a nomad show us the way to the lake. Very appreciated since none of us have actually been there before. Although it was hard everyone made all the way up and all the way down. In the end we were able to see everything and get home in one piece. All in all a very successful trip.
So the next day I am here blogging and glad for the day off from doing much else but getting emails answered. Did I mention the trip was gorgeous?
Sunday, May 24, 2009
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