February 2009
3 posts
February Update
I am back again in Beijing after returning home for a brief, but much needed break in San Diego. It was incredibly uplifting to see everyone and hear how God has been challenging and growing you in the past half year. In my last email to you guys I was discouraged since I had realized that many of the lessons that God had taught me over the summer were lost as I noticed lots of complaining in my...
You Say What?? - Taxi Drivers
So today my friends and I hail a cab on the way back from a bomb-dig dinner we have with our study abroad program. My friend, who is a good 6-foot plus and carries a strong 200 pounds sits up in the front-passenger seat, which happens to be pushed up pretty far up to the dashboard. We go no further than 10 feet when the taxi driver abruptly veers back to curbside and says (in direct translation)...
January 2009
1 post
Updates
Since I haven’t blogged in a while, a bullet-point update seems most suitable. The weather has been an absolute beast—I can’t say that I was prepared for the inevitable cold temperatures—which included a dip into the single-digits this past week. A usually brisk, but conquerable bike ride from school to church this past Sunday turned into a mortifying experience as I...
December 2008
1 post
Merry Christmas from Beijing!
November 2008
1 post
October 2008
6 posts
Evanescent Basketball
In many ways he was much like the other boys. Clad in oversized basketball tees, baggy basketball shorts and matching baby-blue Melo’s, it was hard to tell the boys apart. Just like the rest of them, he absolutely loved the NBA and you could tell right away. If their attire wasn’t an automatic give-away, then their self-proclaimed English names were sure to convince you that they were basketball...
秋高气爽 （qiu1gao1qi4shuang3）
It’s been a while, but here it goes. Classes are in full swing right now, with our first midterms just around the corner. The campus at Beida is absolutely amazing; besides the lake (未名胡), which is by the way a popular spot for smooching (mostly locals), there are rustic Chinese buildings, prominent maple trees and bicycles-galore. Every time I walk outside, I am reminded of how blessed I am to...
September 2008
6 posts
Reflections from Hangzhou
I got back to Beijing about a week ago and I started classes at Peking University this past Thursday. Hangzhou was such a productive time of learning and it was hard to leave, but things have really picked up here in Beijing. Here’s a short bit I scribbled on the train.
“Just like that another chapter of my life, over and done with. I don’t mean to sound so blunt, but this is how life has...
August 2008
33 posts
Things to Remember from Hangzhou
- Ripping my hands open from carrying my luggage through 北京站 and 杭州站 ; I’ll remember to pack lighter and bring a rolling suitcase next time. - Fighting for my life each morning on the bus - Eating 包子, 饺子, and 馒头 for breakfast - Afternoon naps at work… I was made for China - Flushing poo manually… poo, fill up bucket and swish!! - While we’re talking about poo…...
The Real Hangzhou
For the past week I’ve been in Hangzhou, experiencing life as a regular Zhou. I’m currently staying with a family friend who has been teaching me the ropes.
My days typically start at 7 am in the heat of the morning. Once I step outside the small one-bedroom apartment, I find myself in a normal Hangzhou alleyway, busy with motor scooters, roadside peddlers selling mantou and doujiang,...
Olympic Fever
Originally I wasn’t planning on attending any Olympic events, but as I am in China—the “new” land of opportunity—I was able to land a couple tickets. Check out my pics from Badminton and Beach Volleyball.
Team USA Fever
A couple weeks ago I heard that the USA Senior Men’s Basketball team would be practicing at a facility on my campus. With security ramping up in accordance with the Opening Ceremony, I knew my chances to catch a glimpse of the NBA players were slim at best, but I was still determined to do all that I could. Here’s the breakdown of what happened on Thursday. 7:00am – Woke up rather determined. I...
The Day I Met Team USA
Title is self explanatory… Pictures and complete breakdown to come!
A Beautiful Reversal
It’s hard to think that only a couple weeks ago I was lying helplessly in bed, dreading each passing day here and counting down the days till I could go home.
Though I still think about my home often, I have embraced this opportunity to study abroad.
In light of this change in my perspective, I have decided to list some reasons why I enjoy being over here.
1. The food is...