Another post about basketball, I apologize. Yesterday my buddy Gazang (not sure on the spelling) called me up to play ball around 3:45. The weather was beautiful and the games had some good competition. Before I knew it the sun was going down and it was 8 o'clock. This was by far my longest time playing. Then I started to feel it...
I made it back to my apartment just fine, but by the time I got there I was beat, didn't want to move beat. And so i drug myself into my shower because my body was starting to get cold. The hot water felt good, but yet something was still wrong. I wasn't sure what it was, until later.
After putting on several layer I crawled into bed, a hour or so later I wasn't cold anymore. Instead hot, really hot. And a feeling that doesn't usually come over me unless I am visiting Thailand.
Off to the bathroom I ran, sure enough my lunch decided it was time to go. Thankfully after that episode was over I felt pretty good. After a few swishes of mouth wash and countless cups of water that I spit out, I felt good enough to watch a couple episodes of Prison Break. I never thought I could get that sick from playing ball.
I still don't really understand. I was drinking water, so I don't think I was dehydrated. I don't think it was food poisoning. Either way I think I will take it easy next time. 2 hours instead of 4 at 3,000 meters should be enough basketball for one day.
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Teacher's Day to Rock Climbing
Last Wednesday was teacher's day, so all the teachers in our departments went to have a teacher's day picnic. It was a lot of fun. We all sat around drinking tea and hanging out. Everyone was very relaxed and everything was a lot of fun. We did a little hiking on the hill behind the picnic site which had a beautiful view of the city. All in all it was a great day.
Yesterday marked the first day for me to ever try rock climbing. It was tough!! I could barely play guitar when I got back my fingers we so sore. I have a new respect for all those hard core rock climbers. It was a great experience. There were four of us. Craig, Sarah a former colleague of their from the middle school and myself. It was great weather and the view was beautiful. I think I can safely say we all had a great time.
Yesterday marked the first day for me to ever try rock climbing. It was tough!! I could barely play guitar when I got back my fingers we so sore. I have a new respect for all those hard core rock climbers. It was a great experience. There were four of us. Craig, Sarah a former colleague of their from the middle school and myself. It was great weather and the view was beautiful. I think I can safely say we all had a great time.
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Basketball. feww...
Well I did it. I played basketball in Lhasa. It wasn't easy and I do not feel so great at the moment. But i played, I played slowly, but i played. Is this what it feels like to be old? It must be. Well little step by little step. Soon I will be able to play 100% but in the meantime I am just happy I can step on the court.
Saturday, September 6, 2008
Lhasa: land of picnics
As I drink some of my imported Stumptown coffee (thank you Oregon coffee makers) and read a paper on the history of Tibet on my balcony, I am interrupted by the sound of laughing is shrieking through the air. Loud Chinese jokes and laughing can be heard crystal clear. "But where are they?" I ask myself. Then I spot them, a group of middle aged Chinese and Tibetan men and women sitting and lying in the grass drinking from small paper cups and have a fine ole time.
As I have been riding through the city the past week it would seem grass is not treated the same as in the city of Siping in Northeast China where I have been living the last four year. In Siping all grass, which is very little, is accompanied by either a keep off sign, or a fence giving the same message. Yet, here in Lhasa people not only walk on the grass (gasp) but at all times of the day can be spotted, laying, reading, eating or just hanging out laying on the grass! Coming strait from Oregon this would have not been as big of shock, but coming from the NE of China where grass is valued commodity that is to be seen but not actually touched, I still cautiously walk around the lawns and feel all these picnickers are all rebels...
but as I sit in my apartment I realize... I get to walk on the grass too! It's a long road but I'll figure out this Lhasa culture sooner or later. In the meantime I think I might go down and finish some of my reading on the lawn in front of my apartment.
As I have been riding through the city the past week it would seem grass is not treated the same as in the city of Siping in Northeast China where I have been living the last four year. In Siping all grass, which is very little, is accompanied by either a keep off sign, or a fence giving the same message. Yet, here in Lhasa people not only walk on the grass (gasp) but at all times of the day can be spotted, laying, reading, eating or just hanging out laying on the grass! Coming strait from Oregon this would have not been as big of shock, but coming from the NE of China where grass is valued commodity that is to be seen but not actually touched, I still cautiously walk around the lawns and feel all these picnickers are all rebels...
but as I sit in my apartment I realize... I get to walk on the grass too! It's a long road but I'll figure out this Lhasa culture sooner or later. In the meantime I think I might go down and finish some of my reading on the lawn in front of my apartment.
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Teaching Day One
My first day of teaching is over. It was really enjoyable. Not only do I get to interact with the students but I also get to interact with the Chinese/Tibetan teachers. I am really excited for this opportunity!
The day involved an interesting conversation with a Tibetan Businessman whose english was excellent. He took me out to lunch and told me of a club he had formed where he and a group of other Tibetans who were educated in mainland China were searching for their Tibetan identity. It is fascinating to see how the new generation of Tibetans are trying to rediscover what it means to be ethnically Tibetan. The conversation continued into many areas of each of our lives, then I headed off to check out his english club and help with adding some subtitles to a talk show for a class he will be teaching later.
Ended the day with dinner and a movie at Craig and Sarah's house and am about to head to bed before another big day of teaching... one class.
The day involved an interesting conversation with a Tibetan Businessman whose english was excellent. He took me out to lunch and told me of a club he had formed where he and a group of other Tibetans who were educated in mainland China were searching for their Tibetan identity. It is fascinating to see how the new generation of Tibetans are trying to rediscover what it means to be ethnically Tibetan. The conversation continued into many areas of each of our lives, then I headed off to check out his english club and help with adding some subtitles to a talk show for a class he will be teaching later.
Ended the day with dinner and a movie at Craig and Sarah's house and am about to head to bed before another big day of teaching... one class.
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Welcome To Lhasa
After another fast, event filled summer I find myself at Tibet University about to start classes tomorrow.
The summer was filled with fun, school work, heart break and various stages of life I found my friends and family going through. It is always a blessing to feel welcomed back by all those I was able to see, for however short of time it was. This summer included my final summer semester at Wheaton College (I passed the final comprehensive exams, Woo Hoo!) which I will miss tremendously, the classes and research have proved invaluable. I will also miss the summers in Chicago which were always a blast.
The end of my summer was very relaxing. I was able to spend the last couple weeks back at the parent's house. Strangely enough it rained a ton. (not so good for the farm) However I never minded the rain. I was still able to get out to the beach, ride the tractor and play a couple matches of tennis. I was even able to drag my parents to a small Josh Garrels concert. All in all it was a great summer. Still had it's share of sadness and pain, but it was home and it felt so good to be there with friends and family.
Today I am one day short of a week of living on the "rooftop of the world" as it has been deemed by previous travelers. I am still catching my breath every time I go up more then one flight of stairs... the air is definitely thin up here. However, no headaches or any other symptoms so I am encouraged by that. Tomorrow I start my teaching schedule with a co-teaching class where I will be teaching side by side a local teacher to help explain cultural and difficult english issues. Tomorrow's lesson: The Beginning of the Political Parties in America; Jefferson vs. Hamilton. Looks like I will have to brush up on my knowledge of political parties.
Lhasa is beautiful. I was able to visit a lake outside the city about a 3 hour drive away. The roads were surrounded with everything from rivers, mountains, nomads, sheep, goats, yaks, open plains, 5,000 meter summits, Bulgarian tourists and finally Lake Namtso. The city is gorgeous and the people are beautiful. It is a strange time to live here, but I feel blessed to have the chance.
The summer was filled with fun, school work, heart break and various stages of life I found my friends and family going through. It is always a blessing to feel welcomed back by all those I was able to see, for however short of time it was. This summer included my final summer semester at Wheaton College (I passed the final comprehensive exams, Woo Hoo!) which I will miss tremendously, the classes and research have proved invaluable. I will also miss the summers in Chicago which were always a blast.
The end of my summer was very relaxing. I was able to spend the last couple weeks back at the parent's house. Strangely enough it rained a ton. (not so good for the farm) However I never minded the rain. I was still able to get out to the beach, ride the tractor and play a couple matches of tennis. I was even able to drag my parents to a small Josh Garrels concert. All in all it was a great summer. Still had it's share of sadness and pain, but it was home and it felt so good to be there with friends and family.
Today I am one day short of a week of living on the "rooftop of the world" as it has been deemed by previous travelers. I am still catching my breath every time I go up more then one flight of stairs... the air is definitely thin up here. However, no headaches or any other symptoms so I am encouraged by that. Tomorrow I start my teaching schedule with a co-teaching class where I will be teaching side by side a local teacher to help explain cultural and difficult english issues. Tomorrow's lesson: The Beginning of the Political Parties in America; Jefferson vs. Hamilton. Looks like I will have to brush up on my knowledge of political parties.
Lhasa is beautiful. I was able to visit a lake outside the city about a 3 hour drive away. The roads were surrounded with everything from rivers, mountains, nomads, sheep, goats, yaks, open plains, 5,000 meter summits, Bulgarian tourists and finally Lake Namtso. The city is gorgeous and the people are beautiful. It is a strange time to live here, but I feel blessed to have the chance.
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