The Ugly Christmas Sweaters of Coffee

It is that time of year again. Not just for wearing the ugliest possible Christmas sweater you can find, but time to bust out your Christmas mugs! That's right, the ones you've been storing in the back of the pantry all year taking up valuable can vegetable space. It's finally time, bring them to the kitchen and force them into the cupboard with the rest of daily coffee and tea receptacles.

Now I am excited to finally use these wonders of art (usually imported... from China, where else?). Any excuse to use and be seen with the ugliest of ugly is okay by me. And what better way to celebrate this season then to be seen with your own Christmas mug. Merry Christmas everyone and Happy beverage  drinking in the christmas sweaters of coffee.

My sermon notes blog

I decided to start taking my notes from sermons and posting them on my wordpress site.  I find it gives me a way to review what I have been taught. and who knows, maybe someone who stumbles across it will be encouraged or spurred on to live a life which Christ has called them to through my unworthy and poorly written posts. http://vanhalligan.wordpress.com/

Livin in America...

I am back!  Well, it has been about 3 months. But I am back living in America, cue up the James Brown song... (or watch the youtube video you won't be disappointed.)

As I just finished the first holiday weekend, I am grateful to be back at my home with my family and friends. As I look to what is next, i want to first enjoy the time I do have here back home. Being here for the arrival of my new niece is something I will always be grateful for. I look forward to what this crazy land called America has in store for me in the upcoming months. And I excited to reconnect with friends and family.

Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving.

Harbin... land of ligers, the wheel of death and quality time

Last weekend our team of teachers took a trip to Harbin. It was a time of R&R and time to reflect and just spend another outing together. All in all it was a wonderful trip.

A few notable experiences include but are not limited to:

1. The Manchurian Tiger Park.

With a caged car and two sets of gates the open and close as you enter the different parts of the park you can't but help thinking of the first Jurassic Park. While many groups probably don't approve of buying live animals being sold merely to be eaten in front of a live audience the chance to be close to these incredible creatures is remarkable.

2. Caught in the rain.

Harbin has a great walking street that has a mix of new shopping malls that feature brands such as Gucci, Nike and bubble tea to older restaurants that feature Russian cuisine. It is a cool area to just shop and people walk. It also has 2 or 3 McDonald's to fill my American junk food needs. After an nice afternoon stroll that included many russian junk stops... i mean souvenir shops, we decided it was time to catch a taxi back to the hotel. So of course, the wind and rain started. And it just poured! Of course many of us were not prepared for the weather and of course... there was no taxis to be found. It is also common phenomenon that whenever rain starts, taxis are not available. So 12 people of the group were huddled under an awning while the other 2 tried to hail taxis. After a few large branches of nearby trees fell down near us, the group decided it was maybe this would be a good time for a meeting at the corner Mcdonalds.

3. Wheel of death.

If you have ever been in China you are familiar with the out door playgrounds for adults. While at first glance they may seem like a playground we have in the states you'll notice that most of the playgrounds in China cliental consist of the elderly. And the equipment ranges from your standard monkey bars to some strange back stretching device. My favorite grown-ups playground so far is located at the Northeast Forestry Institute in Harbin. This one is like the x-games of playgrounds. You can climb up 2 story ladders and poles, dangle on olympic sized rings, climb up military-esque nets, and ... the wheel of death. On this device you hold on to one of the ends a steel ladder that has a fulcrum in the middle so you can swing yourself upside down! It is actually kind of difficult and a bit scary. After a good minute and a half I managed to swing myself completely around. I felt sick for a little white after, but hope I get a chance to return one day.

Those are the top three events of this past Harbin trip. It was a great end of year trip to reminisce on all that we have experienced in the past year.

Neglect

Dear blogspot,

I know I haven't updated you in a while. I've been seeing more of facebook, twitter, renren and weibo lately. It doesn't mean that I am gone forever, I have been just using other sites. But they can't update like you can. You just take a lot more time to update. Hopefully I won't stay away as long this time.

Sincerely,

The Slow Updater

the hike

the hike
Originally uploaded by vanhalligan

Just for the record, I went hiking near Siping. It wasn't too long but it wasn't too easy either. Our foreign affairs office took us out for a weekend getaway just 45 minutes outside of the city. It was very relaxing and refreshing. Who knew a good hike was such a short distance away?

Happy Easter from Siping!

Happy Easter from Siping!
Originally uploaded by vanhalligan

Easter has come and gone. Although we didn't have a ham our KFC friend chicken served as a nice replacement. We had some of the new teachers over for a little piece of home for Easter dinner. Afterwards the Easter Bunny (played by Wu and myself) hid some eggs in the park for Sam and Matty to find. Since Matty can't quite walk yet... Sam had the upper hand. It was a very nice and quiet Easter.

As we remembered the sacrifice of the Son I can’t help but notice the changing seasons all around me. The weather has had its flashes of both cool and warm days but has been generally a very nice beginning to the Spring. Flowers are blooming, what little grass we have is now green and whatever tree hasn’t been pruned to within an inch of its life is starting to sprout flowers. There is a general feel of optimism and change in the air. But with this new change will undoubtedly bring a new understanding of the word busy. As this week marks our mid-way point through semester I know that the school year will be over before I know it. So with that in mind… I am off to enjoy the rest of my semester in Siping! Spring, I’ve missed you. I can’t wait to spend time together outside on blacktops and artificial turf and pavement. Winter I am not sad to see you go, but am sure we will see each other before we know it.

Top 5 Flags

Top 5 Flags
Originally uploaded by vanhalligan

Oh yeah I forgot to show the winners of the flag competition. These five students get to go out to pizza with the foreign teachers! (I think they are excited...not sure)

Soccer tourney

The Action!
Originally uploaded by vanhalligan

Well basketball got canceled, but fear not I am still getting up at 5:45 to help coach. Although I am just assisting head coach Wu, so the pressure is off. (not that the pressure was ever really on) I am getting a flashback of those early morning practices at HIU. I remember just being exhausted in my classes, which is kind of how I feel now, but more people notice when I fall asleep in class.

In other news the building behind my apartment is being torn apart, which provides plenty of distractions from grading and lesson planning. Although I am about sick of the dust that has been constantly swarming out apartment building. Today's rain was definitely a relief from the constant dust cloud.

As this week of remembrance comes up i think of the passage in John:

Do not be afraid, Daughter Zion;
see, your king is coming...

The Flags

The Flags
Originally uploaded by vanhalligan

13 colonies, 50 states... I remember the US flag lessons that included Betsy Ross and the Star Spangled Banner. Yet here i find myself teaching lessons about not only the US flag but also the Mexican, Spanish, French and of course Chinese flag. As we teach the meanings of the symbols, colors and shapes of the flags we have our students take that knowledge and develop a flag of their own that represents China in their eyes. The results are as varied as one could imagine. The most popular color is of course red, and the most common symbol is a star yet I am always impressed by the creativity year after year.

Now to add a little intrigue we have students (and teachers) vote for the best flags in the class. The top 3 flags will be hung in the foreign teachers' Library. After all the top flags are narrowed down to a top 10, all of the foreign teachers vote on the best one.

The top 10 have been chosen; all that remains is choosing a winner.

I haven't voted yet and I am always up for suggestions. Feel free to tell me which flag you think is the best. I will let you know the final winner very soon...

3 day "Holiday"

Yesterday was Saturday. Yet it was Monday... class wise. Over the last few years China has been pushing more Nationalistic Holidays. Qing Ming Jie 清明节 has always been celebrated in China yet in the last 3 or 4 years it has been instituted to have a national holiday. Now... the funny thing is that national holidays are not quite what they seem.

I was told we would have a 3-day holiday.

My response: "oh cool, when?"

Their response: "Sunday, Monday and Tuesday."

Me: "Who teaches on Sunday?"

Them: "Well we will teach Monday's class on Saturday."

Me: (no response)

So there you have it. Our 3-day "holiday."

So basically we get Tuesday off. And our weekend is messed up. Also... Tuesday classes are now a week behind the rest of the week. I am not sure the logic behind it, but I am going to wait until the next national holiday before trying to get my classes to realign.

In other news, the weather has been getting a lot nicer and the basketball courts and soccer fields have been filling up. However spring is also the time of insane winds in Siping. There is a saying in Siping, "The wind only blows two times a year. But each time it blows it lasts for half a year." Well, our Chinese version of the windy city has unleashed the wind's spring session. Yet despite the wind finally being able to say goodbye to the ice and snow has been warmly welcomed. (pun not really intended...)

Pandas are delicious...or back row Americans studying Chinese

Tuesday and Wednesday mornings are very similar. The order varies only a little. On Tuesday my day starts with a Chinese class and is quickly followed by me teaching a listening class across campus. Wednesday starts with listening class and finishes the morning with Chinese class. It is kind of fun changing from teacher to student in a manner of 15 minutes, and it does help me empathize with my students more, but for some reason it doesn't motivate me to be a better student... hmm, ironic.

This is my first semester actually taking a formal Chinese class. Although I have had years of tutors who come over and taught me Chinese one-on-one, there is nothing quite like learning in a real classroom. My classroom consists of students from Korea, Russia and Mongolia. On Tuesdays I sit in the back row with fellow American Sonny. Sonny's love for the Chinese language is most apparent when he gets to break down the different parts of a character to come to the "logical" definition. (actually, I joke about this, but it is actually very interesting). As our fairly short, energetic 30 something teacher jokes with the class and asks the if we understand Sonny is giving me 23 other possible uses of the new vocabulary word that he has found on his ipad while the teacher was talking.

Wednesday add another element of fun because Johnny joins Sonny and me in the back row of the classroom. Now, I have to admit my Chinese is the lowest of the 3, so I have to pay close attention to what the teacher is saying. In the meantime Jon and Sonny are using the new grammar structures to make various jokes usually involving pandas. So for example today's grammar pattern was: "not only (A) but also (B)." Which of course became; “Not only are Pandas (cute) but they are also (delicious).” （不但熊猫可爱而且好吃）Or the pattern; "A compared to B, A is adj adv." So naturally this became, "Panda meat compared to pork, Panda is much better." (熊猫肉比猪肉很好吃）And finally the structure; "You shouldn't just (verb) (noun) without (verb) (noun)." Which could likely became, you shouldn't just drink tiger blood but also eat panda. （不要光喝老虎血不吃熊猫肉）Okay... maybe they didn't come up with that last one.

Either way my first introduction to a formal Chinese classroom has been a positive experience. And although joking about eating one of the national treasures may not be found in the next Chinese textbook I buy anytime soon, it is sure helping remember grammar structures!

my alternative (online) universe.

For those who don't know about China's online world there are basically 3 things things you need to know.

1. China has about as many people online as the US has people.

2. China has a firewall. And it blocks pretty much everything we use on an everyday basis in the states. Okay that might be an exaggeration, but basically no facebook, twitter, youtube and most blogs. If you want to see what is blocked, check here.

3. Yet how has China appeased all of it's netizens? China has a pretty much all the same stuff that the US has... kind of. China has a copy of each popular program that the US has.

For example:

a. They blocked facebook, and then suddenly this website called Xiao Nei 校内网 appeared. (now called Ren Ren 人人网).

b. Youtube was blocked and then I learned about Youku.

c. Tweeting in China? Forget it. But you can always micro blog! 微博 (wēi bó)

d. Did I mention Google?? yeah they have Baidu.

So what is an American in China to do? Fight it with VPNs or proxies? Or... just join them?

Here is my renren and microblog accounts. Now I just have to find a way to link my facebook with my renren and my twitter with my microblog...

The Madness of March

I am pretty sure the biggest contribution I made to the Central High School Panthers' basketball team was a hole in the wall. I was a overanxious short 5'7" kid who was quick to pick up on "D" and foul out. (3 fouls in under a minute was my record if I recall.) I really do love basketball and I think I have good looking form when I shot... however, the ball rarely went in if I recall most of my high school basketball career. So I will probably be most remembered for the day I got kicked out of practice for attempting a flip off the wall over Sean Deadorff on the new gym wall.

The whole thing was going so well. I got plenty of height on my lift off, Sean was right behind me as I was running. How was I to know the wall was made out of just plaster? My size 12 foot went right through it. On the upside I still made it over Sean with no injury to neither him nor me. The bad news... coach walked in immediately after that. He wasn't too pleased. (did I mention that I may or may not have accidentally kicked a hole in the Library wall messing around with the team earlier that week? Seriously why the thin walls for new school buildings?) So i got kicked out of practice and that is pretty much where my basketball legacy ended. Sure I still played a lot, but I think that was my "highlight" of playing high school basketball.

Which brings me to today, I just started coaching my third men's basketball team in China. Who knew all those drills I did for hours after school would actually come in handy 13 years later? I have been going over plays and of course my Chinese Vocabulary for basketball terms. Go figure that the best website for college term was done by Kansas University. Now lets see if those Jayhawks can live up to their #1 seed this year. So as you follow your brackets for March Madness know that Coach "hole in the wall" Halligan will be running his boys at the wee hours of the morning getting ready for the school wide tourney next month.

Japan Tsunami Reactions from the Northeast of China

Although the China blog world has been more open about their opinions about the earthquake and past feelings of pain and present feelings of appreciation for the way Japan has reacted in the face of such destruction, my students have not volunteered their personal feelings as readily. I am aware of the ultra-nationalistic feelings my students have so I tread on most issues with Japan lightly.

Yet we have got wind of the rumors. There have been a couple rumors that have been going around our area. One has caused a salt shortage in China. Some cities have been forced to rationing the amount of salt sold in stores. This comes from a belief that iodized salt can prevent effects from nuclear radiation. Here are a couple stories translated from the CMP in HK.

I also got a text message from a student warning me not to go outside, wear a mask and beware of toxic rain. hmm.... Well since I am pretty sure I am not close enough to worry I still went outside. I thanked my student for the advice nevertheless. A Beijing blogger had some great comments about these "toxic cloud rumors."

As I think of the pain and hurt I don't what to write. I am glad my friends in Japan are safe but I hurt for those whose friends and family are not. Godspeed to those "Fukiushima 50" and all those who are helping with the relief effort. Japan you have our thoughts and prayers in these dark times.

blog-worthy

I am still not in the habit of weekly blogging. I was once reading a site that talked about how to maintain a good blog. I think out of all the recommendations given I did... none. But I will try to keep to one: Voice.

I was talking to my fellow expat teachers and we were discussing how our everyday activities might actually be interesting. I have been in this country to close to 7 years now and I forget how different every little step of life is here my home in the states.

So, for example, in the winter this is my common day walking to class:

As I come out my revolving door to tear-causing, then tear-freezing cold air, I slide on the black ice / frozen snow to class as I narrowly miss cars and bikes that, while also sliding on the same mix of ice and snow, are engaged in their constant game of "how close can I get to you while I pass you" that is common of these Northeast China streets.

As I balance my coffee, overstuffed bag (my students always comment on how the foreign teachers bring too much stuff to class), and whatever third object I always seem to be taking to class for some reason, I think through the days lessons as I walk through the small frozen park that sits in between my apartment building and the main building on campus. I am usually in front of or following a local teacher who seems to always be wearing the highest heels I've ever seen...on the ice and snow. If following, I always am asking my self, “It is a cultural faux pas to pass her or not?”

After passing her (this is usually my course of action... I blame driving in LA for 4 years), I find myself in the main teaching building asking the elevator operator (actually he just makes sure that students take the stairs) if he has eaten. He always has. After the awkward elevator entry and exit with other teachers. (You have to make sure you let the older and higher position teachers get off first. Who knew Confucian principles applied to the elevator?) I get to my best part of the day... the moment I walk into the classroom and see my students. They are usually waiting with smiles and then proceed to tell me I need to wear more clothes and I drink too much coffee.

New Zealand Rugby

Tonight the Canterbury Crusaders defeated the New South Wales Waratahs in the New Zealand city of Nelson. I am not by any means a fan of Rugby and am probably the last guy you would ask what the difference between the New Zealand Rugby league and the New Zealand Rugby Union, but I know I wanted the Crusaders to win more than any other team I cheer for in the states. I have been keeping in contact with a friend from Christchurch and I just got a message from him simply saying, "our local rugby team won tonight... happy news."

Happy News. Something that Christchurch has heard very little of for the last 10 days.

As Christchurch rebuilds remember her and her people in your thoughts and prayers. There is a long road ahead, but spirits in Christchurch are high tonight.

This past vacation I was able to visit New Zealand. I had a wonderful time and fell in love with that country. Its varying landscapes and twisting roads are unlike anything I have ever seen. I had heard about the sheep and seen the landscape in movies such as Narnia and Lord of the Rings but still was amazed. Rain or shine the sights were breath taking.

The city of Christchurch was remarkable. Although there were swarms of tourists everything was still very kiwi (New Zealand-ie). The traditional architecture had me baffled.

"there are so many churches here." I say in an astonished tone.

"Its called traditional british buildings." says the condescending Canadian. (only joking... kind of)

"oh." I answer sheepishly.

The city of Christchurch was beautiful. It is hard to imagine it being in ruins. Here is a link of some pictures from before and after that my New Zealand friend sent me.

a new semester

Ming Dynansty South Gate
Originally uploaded by vanhalligan

This is another beginning of something new and unknown. The snow outside reminds me that I am still in the frozen Northeast. Yet spring is very close, and change is already in the air. Students and teachers are slowly making their way back into the sleepy town of Siping. Shops and restaurants are reopening after the long winter break. The train station and downtown have been bustling all day. For the 14th time, a new semester begins. So much possibility...So many new lives and personalities that will collide with my own to make up my life this new semester. And after all these years, I am still excited for whats next.

Babies!

Congrats to the two fathers Kim and Jesse. Two new babies Allie and Reese. (oh yeah congrats to their wives Nichole and Joanne too)

Still waiting to hear about Cousin Lora and from Emily.

My thoughts and prayers are with you all.

Babies and more

I just wanted to share how thankful I am for all the new life that has come or is coming into my friends and family's life in the recent months. My prayers are also with those who are still waiting, I can't wait to meet everyone this summer.

I have also posted some pictures on my flickr site of my trip around some of the old Beijing houses that have are being torn down. After the Military Museum Anthony and I headed out in search of the Beijing Underground, a large connected tunnels that were built during the 1970s when the Soviet-Sino relations were not so good and China was anticipating a nuclear war. We did eventually find the entrance but had no luck getting down underground. Here are a few links that talk about it:
Wikipedia
China.org
Beijing Olympics

Garage or gar..idge

My travels in China have ended. Anthony and I have parted ways. He is off to classes in Thailand and I have headed further south to meet up with some friends from Lhasa. I am currently comparing the accents of Canada, US and New Zealand. I am bummed my trip with Anthony is over but excited to spend time with some old friends I used to teach with. Well... this is quick end to the blog. There is a cat in the garage (pronunciation varying) that needs to be rescued....

Noah's Ark

Yesterday's big adventure took Anthony and I to Noah's Arc. No really, it's in Hong Kong. I am going to look up more info about it later when I have more time, but it is the only life size replica of Noah's Arc in the world. Pretty impressive. More to come later...

Shanghai to Xiamen to Shenzhen to Macau to Shenzhen to Hong Kong

Well I got a few more stamps in my passport. Even though Hong Kong and Macau are both technically part of China now, you need different kind of visas for each. Luckily the only one you have to pay money for (being an American citizen) is the mainland China visa which I already have.

First of, Anthony and I finished our time in Shanghai visiting with an old pal who taught with us in years prior. Shanghai is another city with a relatively short history (for China, long for the US) but action packed in the last 100 years.

After Shanghai we took off to Xiamen, another ocean port city. We flew a budget Chinese airline (imagine...) called Spring airlines. I can't imagine the seats being any closer together. Apparently the owner is famously quoted to have saying something to the effect of, "If we were allowed to sell standing tickets in an airplane I would." Now because of the increase in passengers you are only allowed to take 15 kilograms (about 33 lbs) of luggage... both your checked AND CARRY ON!!! So Anthony and I got creative and had to head to another terminal to ship some of our winter clothes to Beijing for our return visit to the north.

Xiamen is a great city that is rarely visited by Western foreigners. It was one of the port cities forced open by the Opium Wars, a rather grim period in British history. However the architecture in parts of Xiamen are beautiful. My favorite part was an island called Gulan Yu. This island is where all the embassies were located at the turn of the century. However my favorite part of Xiamen was seeing my old student and friend Brandon who has since been married and will have a child on the way soon. Such a blessing to be able to see him.

After Xiamen we went to the port city of mainland China of Shenzhen. From this hub we visited Macau, home to the first missionaries to ever come to China both protestant and catholic and Casinos. A rather strange mix. But I have been trying to see the ruins of St. Paul's Church for years. This is the same building that Matteo Ricci would have visited. Another of my favorite sights was the graveyard of protestant missionaries. This included the tomb of Robert Morrison the first protestant missionary to China. He also was famous for translating the Bible into Chinese and the first Chinese English dictionary. It was awe inspiring to be in the place where both of these men once stood.

After walking through of couple of the Casinos such as the MGM grand and the Wynn we headed back to ferry to the mainland. The next day we set out for Hong Kong...

On a personal note this trip has been a blessing. Being able to experience more of this tremendously large country's culture, food, people and life has really challenged the way I look at the China as a whole. Although there is much I haven't seen I feel blessed to experience what I have.

Travel with Anthony has also been a blast. We get up every morning find our breakfast and see what the day brings us. The Father has really blessed us this trip and we thank Him for He provides.

Suzhou to Shanghai

Today I find myself in the modern city of Shanghai. Arrived on the bullet train, started the morning watching the National Championship game at the Bamboo Sports Bar. (great game, heartbreaking end...) Then eating Burger King for lunch, shopping at the GAP, drinking Coffee Bean coffee and deciding which Art Museum to visit. Shanghai is a truly international city. I heard rumors there were more expats than nationals living here... could be just a rumor but it feels true.

The last two days Anthony and I spent in Suzhou, a city known as the Venice of China. There are supposedly more bridges than roads in Suzhou. We spent our days exploring the old city and viewing ancient gardens. We were also fortunate enough to meet up with the lovely Ms. Kelly whom I taught with before on the rooftop. She was with a couple teacher friends and treated us to a wonderful dinner.

Suzhou was a beautiful city but the weather was been cold. Not the dry cold that I am used to in northeast China and Oregon, but a wet cold. You just never seem to get warm. So although we loved Suzhou, we were not sad to head off to warmer cities.

Tomorrow we will head to Xiamen to visit an old student as our slow trip down south continues.

Nanjing pt. 2 Taiping Rebellion

The Taiping Rebellion

I am currently finishing up God's Chinese Son by Jonathan Spense. It is a fascinating book about the largest uprising in History. This book chronicles the rise of the Heavenly Kingdom where Hong Xiuquan started a following saying he was the younger brother of Jesus. The tale is fascinating and unbelievable. While the US had its own internal struggle between the North and the South. China's last dynasty was struggling to keep power against Hong and his "heavenly forces." Hong's armies were so successful that they captured the former Capital city Nanjing (South Capital) which he renamed Tianjing (Heavenly capital). I was curious what this looked like in the historic city of Nanjing so Ant and I went explored

This included two sites. The first site was the actual museum of the rebellion. This included lots of maps, weapons, drawings, coins and various documents from the movement. It was a little run down and hard but still very fascinating. I was left wanting more but it still was a very interesting museum.

The next stop was the Presidential Palace. This was the former capitol of the KMT and the Ming Dynasty. The Presidential Palace was the house of so many different ruling parties of China.

What fascinated me more was how both museums showed the Taiping Rebellion in a favorable light. It was the beginning of the movement that changed China from dynastic rule to a republic. Yet as more wise people than I also noted, it gave China proof of why they should be careful of religious influence on their citizens. It is not that the original intention of the religious teachings was revolutionary, but that the revolutionaries could use those teachings as a revolutionary tool.

History is still alive today. Sometimes it hinders...yet, other times hopefully we can learn from it and be enabled.

Nanjing

Museums. History. Culture.

Nanjing

I have been to 4 museums in the last 2 days. 3 today.

Yesterday was the Nanjing Massacre Memorial Museum. It was packed with information and pain of past atrocities. I read the Rape of Nanking a few years ago and was reminded of all the pain. I was especially interested in the angle and message of the museum.

The theme seemed to be: The more injustices are exposed and brought to light can bring a sense of justice from an unjust incident. The story that seemed to come full circle was the two Japanese leaders who had a "Kill Contest." These exploits were highlighted earlier in the museum and the trail and execution of these two leaders were presented towards the end as a kind of finale.

The next museum was the John Rabe house. It is in the midst of skyscrapers and busy metropolitan life. A small courtyard surrounds the early 19th century house. As you enter the courtyard you are no longer on a crowded Chinese street but instead you are whisked back to a different time and world. The house is wonderfully preserved and tells the story of the "International Safety Committee of Nanjing." A group of brave and selfless expats who risked their lives to save Chinese lives and dignity during one of the middle kingdom's darkest hours.

The message of this museum seemed to be one of the goodness of the people involved and as you walked up to the higher floors of Rabe's former resident turned into something of a memorial to the good relationship China has formed with Germany.

Although I was a little put off by the top floors, I felt honored to be at the spot where such brave individuals took a stand against such evil and injustice happening around them. To put life in perspective of what really matters...

May their braveness inspire numerous others in generations to come.

May we remember John Rabe, Minnie Vautrin and the all the others who stayed behind to stand up against injustice during those awful times.

For those who are interested more in this topic please read:
Rape of Nanking by Iris Chang
The Good Man of Nanking
There is also a documentary that is well done which reads many of the diaries of those involved in the Nanjing Safety Committee simply called "Nanking" released in 2007.

A season coming to an end.

As I finish cleaning out my stuff from my apartment I realize... it's over. The semester is over. I don't really know how to feel.

Another season of my life quickly passes me by. I am not too sad to say goodbye to this season, but it has taught me a lot more about NE China and more about myself.

As I face another semester before heading back to Monmouth for a year I realize all that I have to be thankful for. The Father has always provided for me in so many ways. If it takes a hard season to remind of His goodness than I am grateful.

I am preparing for my winter travels down south to meet up with old friends and spend some R and R time.

I hope everyone had a great holiday season. I miss you all and am always looking forward to the next time we get together.