A Marvelous May!

Cultural lessons, time warps, inspirations, and a wonderful treat!  That seems quite a lot to be expounded on in a mere week’s time.  However, this has been not a regular week in any sense of the word.  Every week in China delivers a myriad of discoveries a week before thought to be out of the realm of possibilities.  I feel that places are always an important part of all of our lives’.  I knew that I had such a great place back home in MN; however, I felt sure that I needed to get a stronger world perspective to be a part of this global world.  This goes back to basic ideals behind my adventures abroad.  I have great goals in my life, and I knew than as I do now that in order to achieve them I will have to be better acquainted with the ever changing world we live in today.

In my case, I have been cherishing the ability to grow ever since I casually interviewed several people who spent extended times living abroad.  I wanted to hear about their experiences, find similarities, and ask some questions about their travels.  To a “T” every one of them commented on the changes which took place in their own lives.  I am starting to internalize some of those changes which are being made in my own life.  This week was filed with another very un-predictable student attendance in all of my classes which enhanced my opportunities and time alone for thought.  I am also finding that time spent on my runs in introspection are allowing my mind to search quite deeper into ideas than ever before.  In this way, running has become an outlet for my mind’s mental release.  I am also increasing my training level for my marathon that I have been training for next year to run in Chongqing.  All in all, it has been a very productive week in retrospect!

On another note, I am constantly practicing my Chinese.  Every person I see I try and make some trivial comment in the standard Putonghua “Mandarin” Chinese.  In such a way, I am trying to practice my five different tones of speech.  I am also practicing my listening skills when I get a follow up question, usually in such a fast response that my head feels like it is spinning.  I have no fear in my response; however, I know that the mere fact that I am trying to speak Chinese gives me strength to carry on the struggle which I know will only get better with time. 

My cultural lessons have been spurred by the wonderfully interesting novel, “Cosmopolitanism” by Kwane Anthony Apiahe.  His philosophies on living in the world today are historically, anthropologically, psychologically, socially, culturally, and logically sound in much reasoning.  He does such a sensible way of underlining the flaws in positivism, expounding on the fallacies of modern movements built around branding societies as being archaic, delivering arguments against “universals”, etc.  At first, I was very skeptical in agreeing with him.  However, when he so eloquently stated that people within your own American neighborhood might argue so greatly on an issue such as “abortion”, gay marriage, etc his logical struck me.  In reading this book I am continuing to shape how I see the world which was my main goal in my adventures abroad.

So many great thoughts come out of looking into issues such as these.  What is the best possible policy for governments to make?  What is the role of an educated person in the world today?  Can a place really be faulted for being angry with a foreign power which tells them they should change their society for the mere reason which they do not agree with them?  All in all, questions such as these are very important to ask yourself and reason through.  What if the tables were turned and a foreign place were to tell you how to think and feel…  How would you respond to them? 

Please do not confuse Mr. Apiahe for having a certain political philosophy as well.  He certainly differs with his perspectives across the board.  For example, he argues that “universal” cultural imperialism is a fallacy which has been repeated over centuries.  The Greeks, Romans, Huns, British, Chinese, French, and now the current big dog, “Americans” have all at one point or time been able to export their cultures from one way or another.  Either the passing of time, the power of conquests, or economic expansion, has allowed each great nation to spread their ideas and some argue “ideals” to other nations. 

However, here is where Mr. Apiahe takes a turn in his political philosophy.  He argues that each place has their own culturally, in each case, motivated adaptation of American products.  He starts his basis off with television programs watched around the world.  When researching each place’s interests in these American T.V. programs; Mr. Apiahe has come up with some illuminating cultural norms which each group has drawn from each episode.  People in Spain see program as having a specific lesson; whereas, Israeli women cultivate something completely different.  It is an interesting concept to argue that big American CEO’s want to brain wash people who cannot even agree on what that message is…

  Anyways, Mr. Apiahe’s lessons go much further into the psychological pieces of each thought.  Can a person really think that something is a part of their personal “culture” when half the time whatever the “cultural thing” maybe is probably not even a part of your actual culture’s history.  Well, how can that be?  That makes no sense; however, when you trace the trail of the past the truth becomes inextricably drawn to the vast trading of ancient times.  Some argue that Bagpipes where brought to Scotland by the Romans, that Ghana’s sacred garbs were brought from to Africa from the “silk road”, pizza was created out of Marco Polo’s failed attempt to teach people how to make Chinese dumplings, etc.  All of these thoughts and much more examples better help a “Cosmopolitan” think about how the world was, is, and might be…

My time warp has been applying some of these lessons to my own thoughts on the world.  I have come from a socio-economically middle class, “WASP”, and American back ground.  My education was first-rate, my family loves and supports me, and my future is bright.  My world views have been shaped primarily from this background which I cannot blame myself for.  All people have these same restrictions to their own realities.  I cannot never know how a vagabond feels, a priest, or farmer.  I can only hope to try and understand my own life which leads me to my wonderful deliberations which have come out of my greatly enhanced world view.  In only five short months I have learned more about myself, the world, and life than in my previous 23 years of life.  I can only think with extreme interest what new lessons, trials, and triumphs are around the corner as my journey continues!

My inspiration has come from continuing to keep my vows which I have created in respect to lessons I drew from Gandhi’s revelations on “truth”.  I have always thought that no one way is best at discovering “truth”.  I believe that all people have an innate desire to learn about truth.  I know that I always have in my own life.  In this way, I am trying to apply some of Gandhi’s experiments to enhance my own faith, life, beliefs about the world, etc.  I feel that a unique trait of Gandhi’s was his visceral love of humanity.  I can only hope to try and let his “fire” shine in my own life.  Every day I try to be as courteous, happy, and responsive with my Chinese friends / students / and of course Cory.

I also had the wonderful opportunity of sharing another amazing dinner with Mr. Tian, his wife, and Cory.  Afterwards, we all went to KTV and sang the night away.  It was so awesome to be able to hear Mrs. Tian sing.  She is a part of a local choir and has the ability to tie each note inextricably into a rhythm enmeshed with the essence of a traditional Chinese female voice!  What a treat!  Cory and I also enjoyed singing quite a few American songs.  Cory also has the wonderful skill of singing a couple of Chinese songs which dazzled all of the spectators!  A wonderful way to end a dynamite month of May!

I hope that all is well with all of you back home in America! 

Best     

Discovery learning from inward reflection and new twists in China!

This past week my mind occupied itself in reflections more than at any point of my time in China.  Three major things attributed to this mental state of being.  First, having a week without classes past Wednesday due to a high number of major tests for my students in their major classes certainly presented me with more time for deliberations.  Secondly, being bereft of my iPod for an extended amount of time has allowed me to really let my mind wander while running.  A parallel piece in this puzzle has to be my finishing of Gandhi’s experiments on “Truth” in his life autobiography.  I have become a very conscientious participant in some of his experiments and also a passive one throughout this incredible novel.  I am truly in awe with this man’s devotion to service or “seva” in Hinduism.

My initial thoughts revolved around a person’s discipline and the strengthening of my own personal faith life.  I was struck by Gandhi’s resolve to his morals throughout his life even when he was greatly tested.  Gandhi’s religious journey reminds me of someone who truly was willing to seek truth at every corner and thus expounded thoughts from both Islamic and Christian ideas as well.  The most central belief in Gandhi’s early religious life was his witnessing of his mother’s adherence to strict Vaishnava vows which she would keep at all costs.  In light of his families’ adherence to setting hard vows, such as fasting, Gandhi also compelled himself to remain loyal to his personal vows and experiments with “truth” in his own life.

Gandhi’s one true passion in life was to seva or “loving service”.  Gandhi felt great compassion for the needy, poor, untouchable, and out-casts of society.  He dedicated his public life to serving these people at all times and capacities.  Gandhi’s profession as a lawyer allowed him to treat cases which he felt compelled him to act in accordance with “truth”.  Thus, Gandhi made it known that he would not tolerate a false claim even by his own client.  He even went so far as to tell a judge one time that his client was guilty and should serve time in jail.  In his love for his clients Gandhi never charged any fees if he won or lost the case (he won many); however, he charged only a nominal sum for his services at the onset of the case.  Gandhi’s frugal lifestyle and belief in voluntary service compelled him to never take advantage of any of his clients.  His reputation preceding him, Gandhi always had a loyal group of people who helped him in his cases.

He also felt a great compassion for the care of sick, ill, and diseased people in the world.  The trauma of not being able to tend to his father during his last moments on his death-bed left an indelible mark on young Gandhi.  Gandhi volunteered in the Boer War, Zulu rebellion, and World War I as a medical assistant.  His pledge to ahimsha or “non-violence” alienated some of his colleagues by volunteering in any capacity in war; however, Gandhi’s logical explanation to even these rebukes developed him a strong relationship with British officials who helped him in his quest for Hind Sawarji or (Indian home rule).  I could go on and on about this remarkable individual, but I feel that I must stop this digression in a need for expediency with the rest of this blog.

I used my extra time to deliberate Gandhi, service, truth, and connections with these themes in my own life.  I am constantly struck by the many ways in which the mind attempts to play tricks with humans.  As soon as I attempted to make such experiments with removing ephemeral and frivolous things in my own life I felt a sense of longing for them.  However, as soon as these things are re-introduced into one’s mind they are relegated as normal and thus un-satisfying.  In such a way I am training my mind to learn how to give up some of the things I feel are getting in the way of truth in my own life. 

I enjoyed my walks, runs, and journaling regarding these topics.  I also thought about how my life’s occupation could influence service.  Do I still feel that I am able to serve selflessly for the sake of society, or do I have other machinations that are the real motivations behind my actions?  It is something that I felt was very worthy of introspective reflections.

I have also been improving my Chinese at a good rate lately.  I am actually able to communicate on some everyday things now like the weather, activities, observations, etc.  It is always fun for me on runs to stop and acknowledge some group of people in Chinese when I hear them talking about me in Chinese.  This really throws people for a loop and is a good chance for me to practice my Chinese.  All in all both groups are satisfied with these encounters.

I was joined by a couple high school students on the way back from a run the other day which was really exciting.  We talked in Chinese together as we ran which was pretty cool.  I also enjoyed several other conversations on this run which always make my day.  I am also greatly pleased to say “hi” or “hello” to someone after they acknowledge me in English.  Rather than think of these conversations as a deterrent to activity; I find that simply acknowledging people on my runs makes them all the more wonderful.  If I can make someone’s day by simply acknowledging them than I will gladly do it at every corner.

I look forward to recommencing classes this week.  Cory and I have had a lot of extra time; however, I feel that if I am getting paid to teach I would like to feel like I am earning my pay for a service that I am giving.  Nonetheless, I am enjoying every day as a fresh and independent experiment with truth as I continue to think about my own life while I enjoy myself in China!

I pray for those affected by the tornado in Minneapolis yesterday.  I hope all is well with everyone!

Erik

   

Accounting an anything but normal week in Rongchang

The last week has been the first time in China I can say things have started to feel routine for me.  I am aware that this is a big step in my experience here; however, in so many ways I am struck by the many wonderful surprises I have experienced since my last blog so as to make my experiences completely stand alone in China.  I had an awesome weekend catching up with the foreign teachers in Beibei.  Finishing the Brothers Karamazov has also allowed me some interesting reflection. I also experienced watching my first Tai-Chi class in Rongchang.  Along one of my late night walks I was met with multiple questions that I could not have prepared for answering beforehand in Chinese.  Further, my iPod finally perished, and I was allowed for the first time on my runs here in China to experience a whole new wealth of stimuli.  This has really elevated the level of my perception and observation to an all time high here in China which is quite interesting for me.  It seems that adding new stimulus into the mind always piques the brain’s interest level.

First of all, the trip last weekend to Beibei really captivated my excitement from its inception.  I had not been to Beibei since I arrived in late February, and I was interested in seeing how the campus looked now a few months later.  I was fortunate enough to have packed my running gear so as to be able to take a couple early morning jaunts around campus.  The foreign teacher’s apartments where nearby so it was not be a great distance to travel.

Meeting and talking with the other foreign teachers was fun as well.  Most of the group is moving on next year to other jobs.  Two plan on teaching a third year in China but at a different institution; whereas, many of the recent college graduates from CSBSJU are thinking of teaching of going back to America to find a job.

The end of Dostoevsky’s novel summoned a great interest in me for reflection.  For the past week I spent multiple hours each day reading this novel.  I was struck by the three different levels of the story.  In the first level you have the ebb and flow of a classic epic drama.  The second level encapsulates the dramatic psychological analysis of people, decision making, and interactions between one another.  The third level is the most interesting piece for me though due to the over arching societal implications it has.  Dostoevsky’s analysis of differing major schools of thought at the time in the world (mostly European) dictated flawlessly into prose is a true work of art.  His character analysis of existentialism, realism, religion, atheism, socialism, etc illuminates the reader to the scholarship of the time.  The ending was a little sad for me knowing that he never was able to write a sequel to the novel.  I spent some time researching him personally, existentialism, and other ideas due to his works which help to illuminate more ideas as well for me.

Watching my first Tai-Chi class was truly riveting for me.  During one of my late night walks I saw on top of what looked to be a large balcony alongside the river several people beginning a weekly Tai-Chi class exercise.  Having never before watched an entire Tai-Chi performance I decided that I was going to take a break from my walk and watch.  I was struck by the beauty, balance, power, flexibility, and agility of the athletes.  Overall, the performer’s almost perfect synchronization to the music was inspiring of awe.  I also enjoyed the different pieces of equipment which were utilized by the performers during their exercise.  Swords and fans were added to the performance which added to my awe and the beauty of it.

Unknowingly, along this same walk I was about to be ambushed with questions from well wishing Chinese.  I guess my evening was doomed to distraction, or as I like to think was fortunate enough to experience the many diversions of living in a foreign country.  I greatly enjoyed my ambushing and would have had it no other way.  To this effect, I 90% of the time embrace diversions of any sort in China.  I find that the variability of such diversions makes them all the more interesting, challenging, and worth-while.

Upon reaching my destination I began to reflect things on my two different journals.  As I was just finishing my thoughts on my time on The Brothers Karamazov I noticed that a Chinese man was standing no more than two feet from me intently staring at my writing.  I have become accustomed to this and usually take no notice of it anymore.  However, five minutes later the same man was back again looking as if he was quite interested in talking with me.  By this point my Chinese is getting better but nowhere functional enough to say very much.  I can tell people what I do, where I’m from, how tall I am, how old I am, what I teach, and after that it gets kind of dicey so to speak. 

On this occasion I was thrown a wild card in the form of an unlikely translator.  A woman in her mid forties came up and started talking in pretty good English to me.  I was quite taken aback and realized that I had experienced another time when it can be dangerous to judge a book by its cover here in China.  Through her, writing (I had my journals and pencils available), a little Chinese, body language, and luck (I always like this one) we were able to communicate a little bit for the next hour or so.  Several different groups came up and tried taking with me.  Most are all younger in age; whereas, the older people just talk to themselves in Chinese about me.  In either event I am always happy to try and communicate with each and every person here in China.  On a quick digression note, I also love saying hello to all of the children I see.  There genuine curiosity and demure nature around me makes it all the more heart-warming to see them build up the confidence to say hello back to me.  In this way, I always try and do the right thing by exporting good cultural exchanges.

The death of my past iPod has been a mixed bag for me.  At times I am still very sad to see it go; however, I am also quite pleased with the increased level of my attentiveness to my surroundings.  The loss of music has allowed me to witness things in such a new light that it feels in some ways as if I have just for the first time been to Rongchang.  The added stimulus has made my runs reinvigorating and fresh as well.  Listening to my body while I am running has added to the natural feeling of my experience.  In a month I will be able to get a new iPod while in Seoul, South Korea.  I know that I will not have to worry about spending too much time without my iPod if I do not want to; however, I may decide that it is better to not always be “plugged” in as well in the future.  Wishing everyone the best from China!

Erik         

  

              

Reflection, Strength, and Chongqing Weekend

My mind is alternating between varieties of interesting alternatives to write about.  I have quite a bit of interesting ideas regarding my recent revelations regarding Dostoevsky and Thoreau.  I also have to spend a little time recounting the unbelievable time Cory and I had last weekend in Chongqing.  I feel that whenever I have a moment in which my students’ prove to me their incredible strength of will it is important to share as well.  Of course, there are a couple of other important events which have occurred in the world since my last blog.  My ideas regarding the O. B. Laden death I will cover in short because I am at this point unable to reflect greatly on it.  I am also going to give a quick shout out to all of the friends and families getting ready to celebrate Mother’s Day.  I have to give special thanks for my own mother who has always been a source for light in my life!  Love you Mom and wish I could be there to celebrate with you!

First off, my recent ideas regarding F.D. and H.D.T.  I was interested in an idea regarding Dostoevsky’s exposition for a utopian society.  Dostoevsky believed greatly in the power of redemption within a Christian God.  He believed that the whole society should function within a unitary state sponsored religion.  This Unitarian religion would work as the arm of the state in all matters both secular and religious.  Dostoevsky was extremely concerned with crime and the punishments which were too heavily levied against his fellow countrymen.  In his greater search for understanding he believed that only through the rectitude of a Christian judge and jury could his countrymen face equal punishment, acquittal, redemption, etc. 

Now, the practicality of such a system in the world today is obviously less exclusive than it was at that time.  Dostoevsky is writing in a time where Russia was strongly a Christian faith based society as a whole.  In the world today, such a system would be deemed an extremely archaic form of jurisprudence to say the least due to the large number of faiths and beliefs today.

Thoreau also was writing during this same time period in America.  His stark criticisms of the government, laws, criminal treatment, environment, etc all reflect a similar desire for greater understanding and reflection.  Regarding crime and punishment these two great thinkers have the same major question in mind; “How best to judge a criminal in society”?  Both thinkers believe that only through the unbiased judgment of one’s heart will people actually best be able to judge their actions.  In this way, F. D. argues for a unitary state; whereas, Thoreau does not offer an expository answer to the problem.  Rather, he muddles around the inefficiencies and problems of the system within America.  I do not know what I feel at large about these ideas yet.  However, I feel that it is very interesting that both writers were so gravely concerned with the efficacy of the less fortunate.

Now, to the fun stuff!  Cory and I were very excited to spend last weekend in Chongqing.  Being that it was only my second time in the city I was really pumped to take a break.  The weather was swelteringly hot for our first two days.  Unfortunately, our hostel did a terrible job of over booking this holiday weekend.  Nonetheless, Cory and I were able to book a hotel with the help of some of Chinese friends.  Overall, the process was extremely arduous due to the amount of paperwork in which was needed to fill out by the hotel verifying our Chinese residence permits.  The patience of our Chinese friends was tremendous as they helped the hotel attendants fill out the forms in their entirety.

Cory and I spent time at all of the city’s major tourist attractions frequented often by foreigners.  We enjoyed walking around, going out late, running, the western food, etc.  In all we did some serious spending of Chinese Yuan.  Our living expenses in Rongchang are so small that we both felt that it was okay for us to splurge a little bit.  The weekend was capped off with a nice bus ride back with one of our Chinese friends who spent the May (International Labor Day) holiday in Chongqing as well.

When Cory and I came back on Monday we were met with the incredible news of O. B. Laden’s final demise.  Being not able to understand all of the details yet I will not comment at length regarding this event.  All I want to say is that whenever something happens it is important not to judge any conclusions which relate to the future.  Looking into the crystal ball and trying to discover what will happen is a natural human weakness and should be made only with extreme caution in mind.  I can only hope that something good can come of the demise of a mad man hell-bent on the destruction of innocent civilians in his quest for a global “lesser” Jihad.

I deviated from my prescribed introduction a little in order to underline the importance of the last point I was going to write about.  Due to the recent global news Cory and I thought that it was essential that we spend our classes out discussing about O.B. Laden and 9/11.

Following a brief introduction regarding the events Cory and I made sure that we spent time discussing the great impact that this event had had on our own personal lives.  We followed up this question by having our students (we joined both of our classes together during this period) write about something big in their own lives.  We prefaced our discussion by elucidating the fact that the event could be anything and did not have to be personal in nature.  Cory and I even went as far to say that if someone wanted to share something that was personal that the students needed to remember the power of respecting each other’s dignity.  Regardless of this opening I had no idea what was about to be shared this night. 

I was lifted up by the incredible strength of many of my students describing the horrific events of the 2008 Sichuan province earthquake.  In great detail a couple of my students described the terror in which they felt during this terrible disaster.  In reality, their strength really encouraged me about the trust my students had in our positive classroom sharing environment.  I initial was a little uncomfortable at the length in which my students shared about these details.  Not for any time constrains or even personal uneasiness.  Rather, I was actually feeling their pain consciously as our students struggled reading their notes at times regarding the earthquake. 

The emotions were palpable to Cory and I who usually comment at length about the details of our students.  On this night, we both kept quiet which gave the evening a somber ending.  All I and Cory could do after their presentations was to try and console them to the fact that they were very brave for sharing in front of the class.  All in all, I was extremely proud of my student’s strength this evening and always encouraged by their discipline!

This weekend Cory and I will be heading back to Beibei (the major Southwest University Campus).  I am very excited to relive some of my first memories of being in China again.  Cory and I will also be meeting up with many of the foreigners in the area.  Some of which I have only seen but once before.  Wishing everyone a happy and festive Mother’s Day back in America! 

Best,

E.K.