Haven't Heard That One Before

Talking with Titus' preschool teacher (in Chinese). Titus is on my hip...


Teacher: You shouldn't hold him like that, it's bad for him.

Me: Huh?

Teacher: Because you're pregnant.

Me: Oh. Sorry, it's not clear -- do you mean that since I'm pregnant, if I hold Titus it could harm the baby inside my abdomen?

Teacher: No, because you're pregnant, if you hold Titus, Titus could get diarrhea.

Me: Really? Titus could get diarrhea if I hold him?

Teacher: Yes. Don't hold him.

Me: Ohh. Thank you. :)


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600 Chicken Legs

We foreign English teachers -- six of us, teammates -- at Changsha Univ. of Science & Technology, have been busy developing our hospitality skills.

This Saturday we had a dinner party for about 20 students. Two Saturdays ago just Drew & I had a party for about 50 students. Last Saturday? Lunch for 120 students!

The sophomores had an anxiety-causing standardized test on Saturday morning. To ease their minds and say "good job" we made them a big BBQ-style lunch followed by games, dancing and a showing of The Princess Bride. With our little toaster ovens we roasted 600 chicken legs! Plus we served buckets of mashed potatoes, coleslaw, mixed vegetables, bread, pineapple, watermelon, cookies and glass bottle cokes. The students appreciated it all and forgot about the pressure. A little hospitality goes a long way in this culture.









Thanks for stopping by our blog!

Drew & Rach

Please Don't Take My Veggie Market Away

Recently, the condemned buildings around our local vegetable market have been torn down, and with them, many of my favorite vendors -- my friends -- are gone. I really love this expansive veggie market. It's got a lot of nasty stuff like raw meat hanging out unrefrigerated all day, trash & sewage, blood and guts running down the uneven pavement, and slithery things like snakes, squid and turtles for sale...but I really do love it.

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Sophomore Dorm

There's four in a room.
They each have a desk with upper cabinets, but no clothes closet.
Each room has a sink for washing clothes and brushing teeth.
Each room has a squatty potty and a cold shower.
Each room has a little balcony for drying clothes.
No heat or AC.
Junior High style pin-ups of Chinese hotties and Avril Lavigne.
All the English majors live on the same floor, for a good study environment.

They really seem to enjoy dormitory living, and I'm happy to visit.

-Rach

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Tomb Sweeping Day & Easter

Two weekends ago, China celebrated Tomb Sweeping-Day, a time to clean up ancestors' graves, beautify them with fresh flowers, and for some, offer incense and food at the grave site. The grave pictures were actually taken last spring, by the tombs of Chinese soldiers who died at the hands of the Japanese in WWII.

It was also Easter! We went to our usual Chinese Sunday-morning service. There was standing-room only, and 40-50 people made a public confession by being 'dunked'. Very special for us to be a part of this. After that we had a lunch and egg hunt with bros-n-sistas. Titus received a pair of ducklings from a Chinese friend, which died within six hours. What did you expect?

Finally, our usual Tuesday English Corner for freshman/sophomore students featured a competitive egg hunt and guest appearances from Pontius Pilate, Peter, Mary the mother, and Mary Magdalene. In small groups, we discussed why the death & resurrection was necessary. My Chinese friend said, "Today's topic was very interesting and...meaningful." Cool.

Now for the illustrations.

Playground

"Painless Induced Abortion Surgery"

Changsha Changhai Hospital

Naturally Protect Your Uterus
Painless Induced Abortion Surgery

Public Welfare Compensates for the Lowest Price: 480 RMB
[$70 USD]
Includes Comprehensive Care

We'll Love You and Give You Good Care!

That's what this sign, on the back of all the public bus seats, says.
We see lots of ads like this.

Abortion is common, accepted, cheap and accessible. Why?

• recent history of Marxist (Maoist, to be more precise) ideology
  
• one-child-only policy
  
• developing nation, developing family planning
  

Telling Conversations

This fall, before I was pregnant, I was discussing abortion with a 23 year-old Chinese friend. She thought that I was indirectly asking her to help me get an abortion. Without batting an eyelid she said, "If you want to get an abortion, I can help take you there. It's no problem."

Last night I had four sophomore girls over for supper & cookie-making. (Drew is gone on Friday nights for D-group.) We discussed adoption. One girl said, "I believe the child would prefer to die, rather than not have a family, so I think it's better to have an abortion."

By the way, adoption is almost unheard of in China, because "blood" and patrilineal descent is so important. Chinese culture is also very strongly in-group/out-group -- meaning that the divide between insiders and outsiders in any unit of society is quite pronounced. We have siblings and cousins who are adopted, and our Chinese friends cannot comprehend that these loved ones are truly, truly, family. For the Chinese, I wonder how this view may affect their understanding of our adoption into our heavenly Father's family?



But Compared to Russia...

Here's how China compares to England/Wales, Russia, the US, Spain and South Africa. I don't know what year this graph is from, but it's cited to the UN. Russia had more abortions than live births...astounding. Maybe our Russia expert who reads this blog can speak to that in the comments?



As always, thanks for taking time out to read these posts.

- Rachel

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New Sister Coming Soon

We are so blessed!

Pretty soon, this summer in fact, my little brother Ethan is going to have a wife, and we all get a new auntie and sister -- Heather! As you can see, he's "marrying up" in terms of good-looks...




Ethan & Heather:

Don't let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity.

-1 Timothy

...We have not stopped uplifting you since we first heard about you. We ask G to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding. Then the way you live will always honor and please him, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know him better and better.
We also ask that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy, always thanking the Father.

-Colossians

Love you both so much!
Thrilled!
Rooting for you!

Drew & Rach
Titus & Mikey

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