Written 3/12/11
Last night, Steph, Jake and some other Americans came over
the apartment we’re staying in and cooked us a FEAST! The food was amazing, and
Steph has been so, so kind to us in getting us little things like hot
chocolate, and tea to help with our sickies, amongst everything else that they
have been such a blessing to us in.
the apartment we’re staying in and cooked us a FEAST! The food was amazing, and
Steph has been so, so kind to us in getting us little things like hot
chocolate, and tea to help with our sickies, amongst everything else that they
have been such a blessing to us in.
It was great to spend time with other Americans here in
China, and share stories. Stories of amazement… and desperation. One story that
Steph shared was how she was walking her dog one day, and something dropped in
front of her… it was the body of an 18 year old boy, whose skull cracked open
right before her eyes.
China, and share stories. Stories of amazement… and desperation. One story that
Steph shared was how she was walking her dog one day, and something dropped in
front of her… it was the body of an 18 year old boy, whose skull cracked open
right before her eyes.
He threw himself off a building because he didn’t pass the
test to enter college. Here in China, the high school graduates have to pass a
test that allows them to enter college. If they pass, then they have to major
in whatever subject they score the highest in. They don’t get to choose what
major they want to study during school.
test to enter college. Here in China, the high school graduates have to pass a
test that allows them to enter college. If they pass, then they have to major
in whatever subject they score the highest in. They don’t get to choose what
major they want to study during school.
Here are some other interesting facts about China:
1) It
costs about $1 American to eat a whole, hearty lunch. It is cheaper to eat out
in a restaurant than to buy groceries
costs about $1 American to eat a whole, hearty lunch. It is cheaper to eat out
in a restaurant than to buy groceries
2) Chinese
people have two ages. An age of their actual birth date, and an age of their
year. They celebrate a Spring Festival every January, which is actually their
winter month, and every January everyone turns a year older. But when asked how
old they are they often refer to their actual birth date year.
people have two ages. An age of their actual birth date, and an age of their
year. They celebrate a Spring Festival every January, which is actually their
winter month, and every January everyone turns a year older. But when asked how
old they are they often refer to their actual birth date year.
EX. I am 27 still because my birthday has
yet to come, but here in China I am already 28 because I was born 1983…. Ahh!
yet to come, but here in China I am already 28 because I was born 1983…. Ahh!
3) There is a one child policy. This often
leads to many abortions, at different stages of development. Most of the time,
the females are aborted, because they cannot carry on the family name. If there
is a second child born, the family has to pay an expensive fine, or are
pressured to abort the child.
leads to many abortions, at different stages of development. Most of the time,
the females are aborted, because they cannot carry on the family name. If there
is a second child born, the family has to pay an expensive fine, or are
pressured to abort the child.
4) There
is about a 2 to 1 ratio of men to women in China.
is about a 2 to 1 ratio of men to women in China.
5) Facebook,
Youtube, and Google are prohibited in China (though there are ways that people
get around it)
Youtube, and Google are prohibited in China (though there are ways that people
get around it)
6) The
government alotts living spaces to people who live in each province. So the
slums of China are full of Chinese people who migrant from one region to
another, since they are not allotted any decent living places.
government alotts living spaces to people who live in each province. So the
slums of China are full of Chinese people who migrant from one region to
another, since they are not allotted any decent living places.
Today I was finally able to leave the apartment and explore
the wonderful Chinese land. I was excited to finally be able to indulge in the
day’s activities! After being stuck in the apartment for two days fighting a
cold, the crisp air felt so good on my face.
the wonderful Chinese land. I was excited to finally be able to indulge in the
day’s activities! After being stuck in the apartment for two days fighting a
cold, the crisp air felt so good on my face.
Jake and Steph
took us to a slum city here in Harbin.
took us to a slum city here in Harbin.
Traveling around the world, I have seen some major slums…but
I don’t think any of them compared to what I saw today. It was like literally
walking through a junkyard.
I don’t think any of them compared to what I saw today. It was like literally
walking through a junkyard.
Broken glass, plastic bottles, cardboard, and trashed
furniture colored the sidewalks that we walked on.
furniture colored the sidewalks that we walked on.
The homes were cement shacks that looked extremely cold and
rigid from the outside. My heart sank as I walked through the city. I could not
believe that people… families… lived here… and in this weather! Which everyone
says is “warming up�. I would say the warmest day here so far, feels like the
coldest day I have experienced in NYC. It blows my mind how such poverty exists
in such a country of wealth, and prestige… but then again look at America…
rigid from the outside. My heart sank as I walked through the city. I could not
believe that people… families… lived here… and in this weather! Which everyone
says is “warming up�. I would say the warmest day here so far, feels like the
coldest day I have experienced in NYC. It blows my mind how such poverty exists
in such a country of wealth, and prestige… but then again look at America…
However, there was a saving grace, and tiny rays of hope
that came from some little boys who were playing and laughing as they ran up
and down the sidewalk. I instantly fell in love with one of them, who caught my
eye because of his professional karate stance, and daring feats. (In other
words, he looked like a boy who loved to cause mischief)
that came from some little boys who were playing and laughing as they ran up
and down the sidewalk. I instantly fell in love with one of them, who caught my
eye because of his professional karate stance, and daring feats. (In other
words, he looked like a boy who loved to cause mischief)
Him and his friends jumped, played, and laughed so hard…it
was extremely contagious. I couldn’t help but join in on the fun!
was extremely contagious. I couldn’t help but join in on the fun!
We started playing a game of monster chase tag. (You know,
when you make sounds like a monster and chase the children as they run and
laugh). I maybe got a little too excited and scared him into a pile of broken
glass! Thank God he was fine, though, and when I helped him back up, we decided
to use the nearby dingy mattress as a makeshift trampoline.
when you make sounds like a monster and chase the children as they run and
laugh). I maybe got a little too excited and scared him into a pile of broken
glass! Thank God he was fine, though, and when I helped him back up, we decided
to use the nearby dingy mattress as a makeshift trampoline.
He was my favorite little boy ever. I hope I get to visit
him again before I leave.
him again before I leave.
I wish I spoke the Chinese language. It is SO difficult to
learn, and understand. Jake gave us a short, quick Mandarin lesson a couple
days ago. I felt like my brain was going to explode. Not only are the sounds
extremely foreign to my tongue, it is a language that emphasizes tones, and if
you don’t say the tones correctly, you don’t say the word…at all (Like saying
rooster, when you mean to say respect). I wish I could have just told that
little boy (whose Chinese name I dare not attempt to write out) how much Jesus
loves him. I do pray that my actions spoke that to him in greater volume.
learn, and understand. Jake gave us a short, quick Mandarin lesson a couple
days ago. I felt like my brain was going to explode. Not only are the sounds
extremely foreign to my tongue, it is a language that emphasizes tones, and if
you don’t say the tones correctly, you don’t say the word…at all (Like saying
rooster, when you mean to say respect). I wish I could have just told that
little boy (whose Chinese name I dare not attempt to write out) how much Jesus
loves him. I do pray that my actions spoke that to him in greater volume.
Agenda: Love,
Bethsaida
