2 Month Update

So it's almost been 2 months since I posted anything here. I still need to put up some pictures from Beijing. I had a blast watching the Olympics, and great to visit family in Shenyang. I have tons of souvenirs now and way too many pictures than needed to help me remember this memorable experience.

The past month has been hectic, getting things ready for our Congo team, I'm just helping with the fundraising part and that was already exhausting. But we had a great safari dinner this past saturday (pics to come) and I was amazed at what we were able to pull off, it's incredible how committed and gifted people are at Evergreen, it was such a thrilling community experience, even though we're all beat now.

But of course, as busy as things can seem, I still think I have a lot of free time, to think, play, bum around. The most fun is probably playing with my little friend Caleb. I got to spend time watching him at a retreat when mom and dad are speaking, it's great to be in the mountains and outdoors with a 2 year old. Yesterday I played for a few hours with him, and even taught him how to count in Chinese, he was so excited and I'm so proud of my youngest student ever. Now I'm more motivated than ever to help him become a bilingual toddler. I'll be visiting a friend next weekend, and seeing her baby boy for the 1st time, he's also a cutie, I'm already in love with the kid and I haven't even met him yet, I hope he likes me.

I've also been seeing lots of shows and concerts. I saw a friend sing at Tangiers (Alanna Lin), I saw Wicked at the Pantages and So You Think You Can Dance Tour at the Nokia Theatre. Both were quite good, but not cheap of course. In December I'm going to see Celine Dion at the Staples and Amei at the Shrine, two of my favorite all time singers. It's costing me an arm and leg to see them, but it's quite worth it. I will be counting down the days... ...

Beijing, Ready, Go!

I'll be leaving for the Olympics in less than 2 days, it's really exciting, even though I'm still much preoccupied with following the Olympic events going on now in Beijing, while trying to remember what I still need to pack for my 3 week trip. This will be my longest vacation in the last 3 years, and I'm definitely looking forward to a time of fun and rest.

This year has passed by rather quickly, but at times it's also felt long for me. I really miss home and this break comes at just the perfect time, as I'm trying to think and reflect about what my future plans are and where God is leading me to be in the next few years. The constant theme of my daily struggle continues to be learning how to let go and trust in God, so I hope this trip will be one that I don't find myself trying to fret over details, but rather just trust that things will happen and fall into place as they inevitably will occur.

I will be traveling to 4 cities, Shanghai, Beijing Shenyang, Tianjin. And it just so happens that all 4 cities are holding Olympic competitions. My airfare, tickets and rent is quite cheap, so I think I might be able to stay under a $3000 budget for the whole trip, which would be quite amazing and makes my frugal chinese side very happy. So I got a nice camcorder to record the exciting things we'll be seeing, I hope to capture many memorable moments.

While nothing in China ever happens without controversy, I am happy to say that so far it's been a great Olympics. Yes, there will always be controversies over things like why they lip-syn using someone else's voice at the opening ceremony, why they pre-recorded some fireworks, why the chinese gymnasts look like they are 14, why can't people access controversial websites, etc, etc. China is not without it's shortcomings, there are lots, but the nation should deserve some credit for working hard to be a good host and trying their best to show the world that we are a nation of people who genuinely embrace the opportunity to show hospitality to others. Perhaps we still need to learn how to handle criticism with more grace, how to respond to embarrassment with dignity, and not always trying to look perfect at the cost of betraying truth and honesty. There is still long ways to go, and lots of things to change... but I'm hopeful that with each passing day, China is being made better when others scrutinize it's actions and criticize its shortcomings, that we will rise to the occasion and show everyone that this nation is changing for the better.

I will try to post pictures during the trip. But if not, I will definitely post about them later.

Over You

If I ever wrote a song about love from my experience, it probably would go something like this:

Over You

I didn't see it coming, you didn't see it coming
But the time is coming for the end of being over you
I gave you the best of my love, but it wasn't good enough
So my heart is packing, leaving and moving over you

Sweet love turned into bitter heartache
I should have known, you should have known
But now I know, it's best for us both for me to be over you
So that you'll remember that I was once into you

Longing and hoping for your love was what I thought I needed
But truth be told that true love shouldn't be this much work
So I don't blame you for not seeing the true colors of my heart
It just wasn't meant for us to be more than just friends

But I will be over you, and you won't even know I'm over you
Because you never tried to see that I was into you
But now I know, it's best for us both for me to be over you
So that I can forget that I was once into you

Beijing Olympics!

I will soon in a few weeks travel to China with 2 friends to watch the 2nd half of the Beijing Olympic Games. It will be quite a trip and I am eager to see all the hyped venues and athletes in action. This Olympic will arguably go down in history as one of the most highly anticipated and politically charged games in recent memory. While I have my own opinions about all this, and sometimes I feel at odds with the many paradoxes of China hosting this game, I am proud and cautious at the same time. Proud that my beloved China is hosting one of the most important events in the world, in just a little more than 2 decades after attending our very 1st Olympic Games in 1984 in Los Angeles, and one in which China did not follow Russia's boycott and played an important role in de-politicizing the Olympics for future generations. This story is quite unknown to most now, but I will not forget it.

However, what I feel cautious about is the apparent display of China's power and might in erecting tall and futuristic buildings that is supposed to announce our arrival as the new world power. I often wonder how many people care to know who are the people who built these great architectures, how much were they paid, under what conditions did they work in, how do they see the work they have slaved over and yet probably will never have the chance to enjoy seeing one single moment of competition.

These are the paradoxes I struggle to graple with, that the achievements which should make us proud might really not be something we have a right to flaunt over; that the beauty of high rise skyscrapers might otherwise reflect the ugliness of the injustice of economic disparity experienced by the rural poor, who are often unwelcomed in the city they work in and underpaid, should really cause us to pause and remember to look beneath the surface of glamour and apparent success.

So here are some of the things we'll be seeing in Beijing, I already feel quite intimidated by the size of these buildings just looking at the pictures, I wonder how dwarfed and in awe I might feel to be there in person.

Lake view near an ancient structure. I personally prefer these kind of older buildings.

The Water Cube and Bird Nest.

Beijing Airport Train Station

China Central Television Headquarters (CCTV)

The National Theatre, also known as the Egg.

The National Aquatics Center, also known as the Water Cube.

Workers planting water plants in the lake in front of the national stadium.

Aerial view of the Bird Nest and Water Cube.

来世缘

思念凄凉留旷野
记忆心痛无处散
微笑洒地如秋叶
梦求来生再续缘

谭千秋老师 (Teacher Tan)

谭千秋 (Tan Qianqiu), a high school political science teacher in Sichuan China, died in the earthquake trying to protect 4 students by covering them with his arms and body. His story has been one of many courageous accounts of teachers who fearlessly put themselves in death’s path to save their dear students. Another teacher ran back into her classroom 4 times while the schools crumbled to get all of her students to safety. Tan Qianqiu was honored by thousands of students at his alma alter on the day that marked the beginning of 3 days of national mourning for the quake’s victims. He is survived by his wife and two daughters, 谭君子(Tan Junzi),谭仙子(Tan Xianzi). Junzi is a bright and talented student at China's prestigious university 北大(Beijing University). She is proud of her father's actions, even as she mourns losing him.

The greatest heroes of this tragic quake are these teachers who gave their lives without second thought to rescue the students they taught and loved. We are all grateful for their incredible sacrifice. They stole from death's hand precious lives that would have been lost.

5.12.08 Mourning Earthquake Victims, Sichuan China

This past monday the worst natural disaster in 30 years hit China, a 7.9 magnitude earthquake in Sichuan China, claiming tens of thousands of lives in about 2 minutes. It is an unbelievable tragedy, especially with news of so many deaths among students, when thousands of schools collapsed, burying in some schools the entire student body under concrete rubbles. In many counties an entire generation of the young is lost forever. The parents' grief for their only child is intense and their anger so painful.

As I read the news reports of what has been unfolding in the past week, I can't imagine nor comprehend the immeasurable loss and hopelessness so many are experiencing. Here are a few bits of what I have read online. Please pray for the victims who lost so very much and for the relief workers who continue to find survivors, even a week after the devastation began. The courage of those who gave their lives to protect their children, students and loved ones inspires me to live and love without abandon. May their lives not be lost in vain, but live on to inspire this generation of what it means to truly love, live and sacrifice.
Parents mourning over the body of their child, found in the school's collapsed rubbles.

An 11 year old boy carried his 3 year old sister on his back, walking for over 12 hours to flee to safety with their grandparents. He said he loves his sister very much. His parents are migrant workers who were out of town when the quake hit.

A wife wipes her husband's body in grief. He was a teacher who covered his own body over 4 students to protect them from falling debris. All 4 students survived but this teacher did not.

These parents are grieving near the site where their child died.

A husband hold onto his pregnant wife who had just been rescued from under the rubbles.

A volunteer holds a 1 year old boy who was rescued from the rubbles, he was thrown out by his grandparents just before they died to save him. Many thought he was an orphan until his parents, who saw news reports of him on t.v., were finally reunited with their son after 3 days.

Paying a final respect to his wife, this husband strapped her body to himself so he could take her to a cremation site to give her a proper burial, he was not going to let her be buried by the rubbles.

Baby Weekend

I spent most of my weekend this saturday and sunday playing with babies, many many of them, it was so much fun, even though I was so exhausted when I came home after church today. I spent about 6 hours with Caleb and John, since Grace was out of town. I discovered recently that 2 things make Caleb laugh really loud: when I ask him to push me off his slide and when I jump to turn around unexpectedly, it's pretty hilarious. I tried the jumping thing on 2 more babies today, and they seem to like it too, it's almost kind of like peak-a-boo, but when you jump around doing that they find it more amusing. I was so happy during ITM(infant toddler ministry) first service, because all the babies I have ever gotten to know at Evergreen was there all at once, Caleb, Momoe, Asher, Katelyn, Megumi, etc. It was so fun watching the kids play with each other or by themselves, fighting over toys and snacks, running over each other. It's at times chaotic, especially when one child cries for mom and dad for a long time, somehow a few others will join in and cry for mom and dad too, it's infectious. Caleb was pretty good most of the day, only when John left after he came in for a bit was he a little fussy, but he was ok after awhile. I had so much fun playing with him this weekend, he's really fun to watch and interact with, can't wait till when we can have conversations, you know, real ones! :)

The Little Man in My Life

So one of the many things I enjoy doing is babysitting. I have been lucky to know this very cute boy Caleb through my friends John and Grace at church. He is almost 2 years old, and we met when he was just 2 months old, we're like old buddies now. I probably go over to play with him at least twice a month, and it's been one of the greatest joys in my life. I joke with Grace that I'd rather spend time with Caleb than go out on dates with guys, and it's the honest truth. Not that I have anything against men, but hangout with babies is just pure joy and no heartache. Babies are so innocently curious and joyful that it's very hard not to be happy around them. Even when they cry, I don't find myself being irritated, babies are just the way they are, never pretentious, always unassuming, and they naturally allow you to be yourself as well... I never need to impress them or worry about what they think of me. I am just so lighthearted when I'm around them.

So I'm very excited to be in the life of Caleb, I hope to watch him grow older and see him learn new things and say new words, I'll probably try teaching him chinese too if he wants to learn. He's a very bright and curious boy, so I'm sure he won't have a shortage of hobbies and talents to pick up. We're alike in many ways, we both love food and very curious by nature, very assertive and independent, always like to go outside. My mom tell me that when I was 2 or 3, I'm always begging to go play outside and I would tell her that I'll just stand outside for a few moments, but she says as soon as I'm out the door, she can't find me for hours, cause I'm off playing with the boys again. I miss being a kid, so now I play with them to help myself remember how fun childhood is and should be for every child.

2008 Orange County Music Awards

I had the honor and privilege of attending the 2008 Orange County Music Awards at the Grove in Anaheim, because our very talented friend Justis Kao was nominated in the Best R&B category. We arrived in my lovely white Volvo, with friends Michelle and Solomon in company. It was a fun night, we may have been slightly over dressed, but we looked HOT! I thought so, at least.

The MC was not pc at all, haha, to say the least, lots of language my mother would not approve of... but it was an interesting experience. I did manage to steal a nap while some really loud rock band was playing, and as always, my friends seem to enjoy taking pictures with me while I'm sleeping. It's ok, I know they love me! Thanks for the pictures Michelle!

Restarting the blogging...

So I've given up on trying to blog on Xanga (I can't figure out how to load pictures) and myspace, but unfortunately I can't figure out how to log on to my old eblogger account, so I made a new one. But given I haven't touched the old one in years, it's suffice to let it be an archive of my life in grad school, time to move on to better things.

So the plan is to update this as a chronicle of important or interesting things happening in my life, for myself to reflect on or to encourage others in their walks of life and faith journey.

peace,
Lucy