Seoul, South Korea

The first week of October in China is a celebrated holiday called National Day or The National Day of the People's Republic of China.  On October 1, 1949, the PRC was founded with a ceremony in Tiananmen Square in Beijing.  The National Day marks the beginning of a Golden Week with many festivities and the best of all, time off of work.  The majority of the country will travel to see family and friends thus making public transportation a nightmare. 


A co-worker and I decided to travel to Seoul, South Korea because it was close and easy. I didn't do much research before going, but I found out there is lots to do it Seoul.  We went to see the major palaces, shopping areas and a comedic martial arts performance, and that was all in the first day! 


Whenever I travel, I always try to get some hiking in and Seoul has plenty of mountains easily attainable.  Seoul's highest peak is Mount Bukhansan at 836 m or 2700 ft.  We hiked to the very top, not an easy feat but it was worth it! But my favorite part of the trip was by far our visit to the DMZ or the De-Militarized Zone.  A demilitarized zone is an area usually between two military powers where military activity is not permitted.  The Korean Demilitarized Zone roughly splits the Korean peninsula in half, specifically at the 38th parallel.  We visited the old railway, an observatory to look out over North Korea and the 3rd tunnel North Korea tried to built into South Korea.  Then we were taken to the Joint Security Area, to the actual line dividing the two countries.  I stood watching North Korean soldiers about 200 m away keeping watch through binoculars.  We entered a building used for peace negotiations located directly on the line owned by the United Nations. The whole experience was very serious, very legitimate and a little intimidating.  After visiting the War Memorial Museum the day before, my knowledge of the Korean War was fresh and seeing the present day situation of these two countries relationship will stick with me forever. 


The trip overall was a huge success.  South Korea is very different from China and it delivered us a nice break from our daily Chinese frustrations. 

Changing of the guards at the palace

Future painting?

It was quite the climb

I got a little nervous at this point 

But it was worth it!

What a view!

Still climbing

Now I'm just showing off :)

At a Korean baseball game

Go Doosan!

Couples can attach a lock at the top of North Seoul Tower in hopes that their love will last forever

At the War Memorial Museum

The 3rd Tunnel, one day hoping for peace

South Korean soldiers facing North Korea, they all kept a taekwondo position 

North Korean soldiers looking at our tour group

Inside the U.N. neutral building at the country's divide, South Korean soldier standing guard

United States military soldier stationed at the Joint Security Area

Located at the DMZ line, South Korean citizens can come put memorials to their loved ones still in North Korea

Its been a long week, but Seoul was great!

CISS brings water to Yunnan

This past month, CWEF partnered with Concordia International School Shanghai (CISS) to install a clean drinking water project in a small village outside of Lincang, Yunnan.  22 students and 2 teachers helped dig trenches, lay pipe and build a cistern to help over 100 villagers get clean water.  Everyone put in a lot of effort and all together, with the villagers and students working side by side, the water project was almost completed in only one week.  Many of the students interacted with the villagers laughing and learning about each others lives.  A few boys helped build a basketball hoop out of bamboo and an old basket while some girls helped in the kitchen preparing our meals.  Many villagers have never seen a foreigner before and were very perplexed at our actions and speech. 

Each night the students reflected on their experience in the village that day and many were touched by how hard the villagers worked and what lengths they had to go to to get water.  Our partnership with CISS not only provides poor, rural farmers with clean water but it also opens the eyes of high school students to a different lifestyle.  In addition to this water project, CISS participated in an eyeglass clinic, two English teaching projects and another water project with CWEF this past month. 

The progression of a water project:

Identify clean water source and build cistern with filtration

Dig trenches and pipe water to village

Build cistern at village

Pipe water to each household

Clean water!

Carrying bricks up the mountain to build the cistern

Digging trenches

Building of the cistern

Some villagers laughing at the students

A few students made a basketball hoop made out of bamboo and a basket

Outside the home of a family where we did an interview

Helping remove corn kernels from the cob

Nice view!

Cistern at the fresh water source, the fire is to help attach two pipes

Workin hard

I made a friend

National Day of Humiliation Remembered

This past Sunday morning, I awoke to sirens wailing outside my window.  I looked outside to see if there was a storm, but it was a clear sunny day.  On my way to fellowship, I could tell the sirens were coming from all the police stations located around the city.  And it wasn't until the speaker at fellowship informed all of us that the sirens were marking a historical day in China that I understood.

80 years ago on September 18th, Japan attacked Chinese troops in Shenyang, in the northeast of China.  The actual event is still a controversy as to who started it, but the Chinese say (as well as Wikipedia :) Japan blew up a section of the railway under its control near Shenyang.  Japan then accused Chinese troops of sabotage and bombarded the barracks of the Chinese troops that same evening.  Over the next few months, Japanese troops invaded much of northeast China starting a full-scale invasion of China and triggering a 14-year war of resistance against Japanese aggression.

Chinese troops had been under instructions to adhere to a nonresistance policy and were urged to not put up a fight, thus making it easier for Japanese troops to occupy many major cities and their surrounding areas with minimal difficulty.  The Chinese troops were made up of mostly irregulars or new recruits and were no match for the experienced Japanese troops. At this time, the Chinese government was preoccupied with numerous internal problems; a newly independent Guangzhou government, a Communist Party uprising and terrible flooding of the Yangtze River.  So China turned to the international community and appealed to the League of Nations calling for the immediate stop to Japanese military operations in Manchuria.  Japan rejected to the League of Nations attempt at negotiations and ended up resigning from the League of Nations in March of 1933.

Many Chinese view this day as a National Day of Humiliation and are urged to never forget the event.  "The past humiliation should be remembered, and it should also be taken as a driving force for the Chinese people to strive for the country's rejuvenation."

To read more about this event and China's reaction visit:
Mukden Incident - Wikipedia
Commentary: China Should Never Forget History of Humiliation

What A Small World It Can Be

I recently received an email from two Chinese exchange students who are studying at my alma mater, the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana.  I was shocked to hear that they had received my email address and information from my parents at the recent football game.  They happened to be sitting next to them and my parents, being the friendly people they are, started up a conversation.  They learned that these two students came from a university in Beijing and are studying at U of I for one semester.  My parents taught them the rules of the game and shared many stories with them of their dedication to U of I.

I emailed these two students back asking what they are enjoying about studying in America and what they miss about their home country, China.  After living in China for over a year, I recognize the many differences between the two cultures and how difficult and exciting it can be for an exchange student.  I have had to deal with many hardships adjusting to Chinese culture and I am sure that for many exchange students, living in America is a shock to what they are used to.

I stumbled upon an article on NPR explaining the struggles that these cross-cultural students can have.  It gives many examples of how awkward and un-relatable living in another culture can be.
Take a look: From China to the U.S.: Student Juggles Two Worlds

Some of you may know that I studied abroad twice while in college.  I went on a short-term winter trip to Benin, Africa in 2007 and a semester long study in Tuscany, Italy in 2008.  It was because of these opportunities that I am living and working in China today.  I recognized my passion for international work and the desire to learn more about other cultures. I encourage everybody to either study abroad while in school or go on short term trips.  They are invaluable experiences and often life changing.

My parents at the U of I football game...Go Illini!!

Beautiful Yunnan Photos

Here are a few gorgeous photographs taken by a professional photographer around Yunnan, not me.  They highlight the different minority groups and their traditional dress.  Enjoy!  More to come later.

Calling all pregnant women

This goes out to all the pregnant women out there. How would you like to spend an entire month after you give birth in your pajamas? This is a traditional Chinese custom for pregnant mothers. For 30 days after the birth, the mother and baby are not allowed to leave the house, not even go outside. Still interested? This custom is literally called "sitting the month" (zuo yuezi) in Chinese. Along with not leaving the house, a new mother cannot eat raw fruit or vegetables, drink coffee, have cold drinks or even cold water. These rules are supposed to help restore the balance to the new mother's body after childbirth.

Along with eating bland food and tepid liquids, the new mother cannot take a shower or brush her teeth for the entire month. They bundle up in wool socks and warm clothing, even in the summer, to prevent a chill. Chinese doctors warn that getting a chill could lead to joint problems or illness later. Another Chinese belief about newborns is the lack of physical touch. A common thought is that too much cuddling is not good for the development of the newborn's bones. They don't want the baby to become dependent so they don't hold him much in the first month, only for breast feeding.

Restoring the balance refers to the Yin and the Yang. The Chinese believe that everything in life requires balance between the Yin and the Yang for harmony to exist. If imbalance occurs than a person will become ill. Pregnancy is believed to create an imbalance within the body that must be restored postnatally or the mother will suffer the consequences later in life.

As the modern world is butting heads with the ancient one, Chinese traditions have started to bend just a touch. New, modern postpartum centers are popping up all over China. New mothers are transferred to these confinement centers right after they give birth and are then waited on hand and foot for the next 30 days. At $500 a day, many mothers say it is worth it to have nutritionists, trained nurses and doctors on hand 24-hours a day to monitor their baby. Inside these centers, new mothers are given a sponge bath by nurses who wipe them down with washcloths steeped in Chinese medicine about once a week. According to the traditional rules, a mother is not supposed to bathe for 30 days, but rules are being bent for the needs of the modern woman. This new generation of new mothers is experiencing the consequences of the one-child policy. Because they have not grown up with younger brothers or sisters, they need more help now than ever before. They don't know how to look after kids and are just happy that there are people at these centers that can teach them.

A few other rules and reasons behind them:

-Drinking tea is not allowed as it might harm the baby.

-If a woman doesn't stay in bed the whole month or does any sort of exercise this could result in a prolapse of the uterus.

-They wrap their bellies with a special cloth to get it flat again as soon as possible.

-Air conditioning, fans and opening of windows is not allowed. Break this rule and it is believed that you will have arthritis and migraines in old age.

-Women must breastfeed lying down on her side.

-Reading and watching TV are limited for the prospect of eye disease.

As much as I would enjoy a month in my pajamas with my baby, I think I'll stick to the American way of getting my body back to normal through exercise and careful, but not superstitious, diet.

Home Service

I can't believe it is the end of August and September is just around the corner. It was just June and I was sitting on the edge of my seat in anticipation for my trip home to America. Well, I am back in China after a wonderful three and a half weeks seeing family and friends in my home country, America. I cannot believe I have lived in China for over a year now and only have a few months left of my service before I head back home for good.

My time at home was fulfilling and enlightening. A few highlights: Going to Wrigley Field with my Dad to watch the Cubs face the Nationals. Spending time with my brother in the great city of Chicago. Seeing my sister and spending a family weekend at our cabin in Wisconsin. Laughing with my old Camp Arcadia friends and reminiscing about out summers on staff. Seeing my old college roommate and discussing the upcoming wedding we will both be in. Spending time in the mitten of the north (Michigan) and seeing the calming shores of Camp Arcadia.

I also got the chance to visit two churches that are supporting my work. I spoke at Immanuel Lutheran in Adams, Wisconsin and my home church, Trinity Lutheran in Lisle, Illinois. It was great to be able to talk openly about my work and hear affirmations from loving and caring supporters. Sometimes, on the field, it is easy to forget that I have a support network back at home and I can feel rather lonely at times. Returning home in the middle of my service has reminded me of the support I do have, even if it is across the globe.

Coming up this fall are a few trips I am very excited for. My boss comes into Kunming this next week for an orientation and to welcome CWEF's two new English teachers. At the end of September, Concordia International School Shanghai (CISS) comes to Yunnan for several service projects where I will help lead one water project. Then in October, I head to Guangdong Province to help lead an English teaching project with Hong Kong International School. Please pr-y for the new English teachers traveling to Kunming for the first time these next few days and bless their time here with peace and comfort in a time of newness and discovery.