Chinese Dinner and cheer!

On Friday, two of our students came over to our apartment to cook for us an authentic and local style chinese dinner! It was a lot of fun. They are one of my highest classes and just really great. These students also come with me on Tuesday night for an English Corner at a really great coffee house about 20 minutes by bus. Kevin is very motivated and plans on going to Holland after passing the IELTS which is the language test needed to pass in order to travel to either England, Ireland, or the Netherlands. He tries very hard and is very helpful. A really great guy, polite, fun and respectful.

Jasmine as I named her is a bundle of energy and joy. Her whole face lights up as you can see in the picture over just about anything. It is a good feeling though to be walking up the stairs to class and hearing her shout: "Oh, Miller!" as she jumps up and claps her hands.

When they came over though, our apartment was not even ready though. Our apartment's water had been turned off. (Remember: Murphy's Law post.) Evidently, the school failed to pay our water bill and so they turned the water off on us. All we had to do though was call our foreign helper and she had it turned back on. It just meant another day of no shower.

The bad thing though was that we had a whole big pile of dishes in the sink that we couldn't get done in time before they came. All Jasmine said when she came into the kitchen was: "Oh.."

But they are so great! They actually began helping us clean even though it was our job. Jasmine began collecting things and putting them in the refrigerator! She just basically thought that everything goes into it. So things like the crackers on our table and things like that, Lisa was pleasantly surprised to find: were sitting there in our fridge once we opened them.

The worst part though was that I actually forgot about some rice that I had made in our rice cooker. (And btw, I hadn't made any rice for like 2 weeks.) So when Jasmine went to make rice, she was greeted by a quite foul, brownish glutonous mess/muck. I felt so embarrassed! I can't believe I forgot to clean that out. So that took quite some time to have disinfected and de-smelly.

It was a great time though. We tried duck eggs and wings. A type of soup, green beans and other items. I look forward to doing more things with them in the future. Loving China! -S & L

Benny the Bunny!

I apologize for the lack of an update/post. Our internet stopped working last Friday night and was finally back up and working yesterday afternoon. When the guy finally came over, it only took him literally about 2 minutes to fix it! It so frustrating because I was working on it for hours and hours thinking there was a virs or something. I shouldn't say frustrating, should be humbling at how skilled he is and how skilled I am not. But I suppose it really did give me a chance to read more and see about any virus's on the computer.

But anyhow... as you can see... Lisa and I now have a new addition to our family! Yay! We bought him on an impulse buy last Thursday after class. We had been seeing a lot of very, very cute puppies all around and had been thinking about getting a dog. However, when we saw a vendor selling fish, turtles and bunnies right on the street out front of our school, we bought one!

His name is Benny the Bunny. (Although to tell you the truth, we aren't quite sure if he is a boy or girl. But don't tell "him" that. Ha-ha) He's a very active little critty. He loves to run around and play. Lisa was trying to teach him his name last night by calling him and beckonining him over with food. Which, I should tell you, is his favorite job. (Lisa and him are related. Ha-ha) This little guy can eat, and eat, and eat.

We looked up rabbit care on Thursday, but then of course, since we haven't had the internet until yesterday, we haven't known anything else about care for him. He's still doing great though. We learned that rabbits evidently have 70% of their diet as hay, but there isnt' any hay available here. He has been getting celerly, carrots as treats since they have more sugar and shouldn't be given a whole lot, cabbage, green beans he apparently discovered last night, bread he even eats, and that's about it thus far. We have to go to Wal-Mart and get him some raddish and other foods.

We just don't know yet how much he should be eating. Need to look that up. This guy is always foraging and looking for food. I hide the food all around the room to make him look for it.

Lisa was actually getting tired of him already! Terrible! She wanted to re-sell him to somebody! We just didn't know at the time that rabbits are more care than we thought. He isn't quite potty trained yet as that was annoying to clean up his pee in different areas around the room. It smells worse than dog pee btw too in case you were interested! Ha-ha.

But he is definitely adorable and fun to play with. Has his own personality and loves to get into trouble by exploring into rooms he is not allowed. He try to only keep him in the living room b/c of his peeing and all.
He says hi to everyone. Definitely brings us some cheer here. :)

Hello, my name is ice cream cone

Many of the students over here do not have an English name, so it has become me and Lisa's habit of selecting names for our students. There is a Chinese teacher over here who purposely gave many of his students CRAZY names such as the one in this title! Don't get me wrong, he is a great teacher and very funny. He spent a little bit of time in England and became pretty westernized. He is known as the movie king. If we ever need any movies, we can just go and see him.
Speaking of movies though, it has been somewhat hard for us because movies are very easy to come by over here, but they are illegally downloaded and made. We don't want to support pirating. So far, we have been watching the available Harry Potter's that one of our friends has over here. I have seen the 'Dark Knight' on DVD over here, but I haven't been able to watch it yet still! An Irish friend that we met here (but was leaving to go back to Ireland as we came in) had it, but I wasn't able to watch it in time. So we are having our family send us some over to watch over here in our downtime.
I had a student who was named Leave and she finally just today selected a name that I offered to her. We are now in week 8. I met her in week 4! Ha-ha. I thought that Christina fit her well, but she didn't like that, along with a whole barrage of other names that I offered to her. I gave her and the rest of the class a list of 100 popular boys names, as well as 100 popular girls names along with their meaning. None were suitable!
It is funny also the change in both Lisa and I now that we have named several students. I feel a lot of weight and responsibility when I name someone because of how important a name is. But trust me, after having entire classes of: (iceman, killer, pencil, flower, pumpkin(who still hasn't changed her name yet!), big pie, kobe(all of the boys want kobe or michael or jordan) sweet, and just weird names that they hear in a movie and try to translate into English.
I have been asked to teach two more classes also since one of the teachers from Ireland has not arrived here yet. Today was my first day of that, but I had a lot of fun. In the first class, their English is pretty good, so we did a murder mystery that I bought off of the internet. It is hilarious, with a bunch of twists in the story. In the end, all of the party members are arrested by the police for various crimes that they have committed anyways, so they are really thrown off guard with that.
In the other class, I had to prepare them for Role plays that they will have to perform in six weeks. That should be good. Most of them should be prepared for that. I also introduced them to what Halloween was. We may play some Halloween games such as bobbing for apples and such.
The weather here is still very, very nice. The locals have been surprised that it is still this warm this late in the year. Of course, Lisa and I don't mind at all. A shorter winter will be nice after we have heard how cold it gets. We thought that since this is somewhat Southern China, it won't be a problem, but I guess not. While the temperature isn't really below freezing, it is a real wet cold. And you can't escape it because the buildings do not have heat in them. Our apartment has one heating unit and a small portable one, but that is it. There is not central air.
We met a girl hear from Minnesota/Wisconsin who said last year she slept with hot water bottles in her bed to keep her warm! So that is saying something. Just a damp, wet cold. We will see. :) Trying to build a lot of relationships now as people may soon be indoors more and not outside as much. Love, -Shane and Lisa

Murphy's Law

Hello friends!

I know that it has been a little while since our last post. The only real days that I have to post anything seems to be either on Tuesday or Wednesday morning. I am fortunate to have both of those days off, with the rest of my week days busy teaching and doing other things.

Monday is a really enjoyable day for me. I have one class at 10-12, and then have lunch with Lisa. Then I have one of my best classes at 2 until 3:45. Following that, I have been playing basketball with some of the freshman students. Many of them are pretty good. It has been really good for me to hang around with these guys and just have some good ole guy fun. For the first couple of weeks, I was only meeting woman.

1. They are more bold to just come up and talk with you, giggle, and want to meet me.

2. Second, there are more woman at this school in general for some reason.

However, father provides and I am now starting to meet more guys and enjoy their company.

The above picture is a laughable situation that Lisa and I have had this past week. When we talk to prospective students, we almost want to tell them: "Don't expect things to work in your apartment.....ever." Ha-ha. Of course, that isn't true, but being as we are still in the beginning phase here, you definitely have to be flexible and forgiving.

When we returned home from Shanghai and hoping for a nice hot, relaxing shower, we found that there wasn't any hot water. I had also gone running that evening, so I was already sweaty. I (grossly) decided to just try and sleep and see if it would be better in the morning. It of course wasn't and so a nice cold shower awaited me. I am glad for the ice cold 5 minute showers that I had to get at Creation-fest several years back. Compared to those, this wasn't so bad. Those things literally knock the breath out of you when you are first hit by the water.

So, Lisa and I had to wait around for the guys to come and fix it. When they came over, they saw that they needed a new part. (This would now take another day.) So, I neglected to shower that day and just take a cologne bath. Wasn't too nice.

The rust and brownish water on the floor was from them taking out the hot water heater.

The funny thing though, is that whe they took out the hot water heater, they had to move the washing machine. (Mind you, we had been gone in Shanghai and had built up some laundry, even from before we left.)

When I tried to put the washing machine back after we had hot water, one of the pieces had been broken. It was now the weekend with that also, so we had to wait until yesterday to get that fixed.

Ha-ha. In an act of desperation as my underwear supply had all but gone out. (I was on my last pair,) I tried to go to the A-best, which is like a Walmart grocery store. The ones in there kind of scared me, so I braved it and we were glad to see that it was fixed in time. Ha-ha.

It's just funny how when one thing gets fixed, another breaks. However, father has given us a light heart about the various situations.

I was thinking to myself though, that I am getting somewhat tired of always stepping in water. Due to the bathroom normally being somewhat wet from me and Lisa's shower, you just tend to always step in some water as you are passing in and out of that area. But this was also due to the washing machine being fixed and spilling a lot of water.

We are embracing our new home here, quirks and all. The people and friends that we have met are great. I know that we will already miss it greatly when we leave. Also, our sunday friends had a GREAT teaching that really spoke to both of our hearts. (Lisa and I). It was on two men with debts, one being 50 denari, and the other 500. I think Lisa shared this with some. Was really great insight into how our lives should reflect love and gratitude and just the way we now live with a great debt being paid. How fortunate we are friends! We love you all and hope to hear from you! -The Millers

Shanghai sights! :)

Here you can see the crowds we were always facing! I didn't handle it that well that times. :( but took it before Father.

Here are some pictures inside of the Jade Buddha Temple. I was glad to see the saddened heart that Lisa was given from the people praying to man-made images. It really re-affirmed her travel here and the needs of the people. Monks live here also and recite prayers in some of the rooms. The fire you can see is frequently lit with incense towards the dead.

Below is a picture of the Pearl tv tower. It is a very famous attraction here.

It is actually taller than the Eiffel Tower in Paris! Because of the long lines it took us about 3 hours of waiting in line until we could reach the top. It was pretty expensive also. However, we met an Australian couple later on line that we were able to talk with for a short bit. They had been doing a whirlwind tour of various places all around China. They were nice to chat with.
At the top of the tower is where you are provided with a great view of the Bund, which is Shanghai's French/English shopping & commerical district. There are river tour boats which go along the river and provide you with a view of the many lights and sights. We walked there one night after a VERY long day and once again faced the many, many crowds. It took us forever to herd our way to the tunnel to cross the road onto the other side where we could finally get a taxi for our ride home. Thankfully, a kind Chinese man allowed us to use his taxi as he would wait for another. It was so crowded that it was very hard to get a taxi. And the fees are up that it costs 11 yuan just to enter. (The normal rate here in Changsha is 1.6), but it was well worth it.

Lisa's favorite part of the Pearl TV tower was the very large and

extensive wax museum at the bottom of the tower. She said that the wait would have been MUCH better had the long line winded through the wax museum first. However, it was very nice to quietly make our way through it after the crowds and long lines. The museum did an excellent job of telling the history of Shanghai, from early on to the slow encroachment of foreign British and English settlers and their influence. We actually weren't even able to see all of it because we had dinner plans with the British couple who were also seeing Shanghai over the break.

This is a view from the top of the Pearl Tower. There are

so many skyscrapers in Shanghai that it just overwhelms you and doesn't affect you any more. Actually, from the top of buildings such as this and our hotel, they actually look like a fake building set. You just see one identical tower after another. It is such a weird view. Really does look fake and something that you could just knock down and send them all toppling domino effect.

This is another view from the top. You can see a river boat along the river and some beautiful French influenced buildings.

Me in front of the Pearl Tower. They have concerts here at night also. It becomes insanely crowded at night also. Some of the metro lines stop because of the crowds also. The band performing the night we were there kind of resembled Shakira. However, the sound equipment was messing up a bit and the speakers would mess up every now and then. We didn't stay for it though. No use seeing a woman shaking all around with a short top on right? Little children slide down concrete slides that go along the stairs also. We ate that night inside of a shopping mall where Lisa was delighted to find an Italian restaurant and receive spaghetti! She was surprised to see that I still ordered a rice dish! She would think that I would become tired of eating rice all the time! My insides are definitely going to be full of Chinese "bugs" so to speak. Our friends that we have met here could not handle American food for a little while when they returned home because of how their stomach changed over here. We will likely face that problem. I only had mild problems adjusting, while Lisa has had a little more difficult time.

a farm fresh morning, every morning....

So at about 8am EVERY morning, we have several lovely friends downstairs who love to give us a wake up call! And if that doesn't wake us up, our neighbor will play some traditional Chinese instruments on his back porch, which is right next to us.

The very first day we thought the sound of the instrument was really cool, but it is serving us now as a way to ensure that we never sleep in. (At least I get up early now every morning and get work done I suppose. :)

We are guessing that the neighbor keeps them for eggs. We haven't seen any other people keeps chickens anymore. That must have been more common longer ago. Every day that I see them, they do look more and more appealing to eat! Especially since they love to squawk every morning! Maybe he will have a Thanksgiving feast with them! The demise of the chicken! No, it's creating memories for us here.

We have tried to talk with our neighbor from the very limited amount of Chinese that we know, but we think that he may only speak in the Changsha dialect here because he hasn't seemed to really understand what we have been saying to him.

The wife though, (I don't know if Lisa shared this story yet,) one time led us all the way down the hill from our apartment in the search for water. We had run out of drinking water and did not know how to order more. She just put on her slippers and away we went down the hill looking for the water guy!

And, as far as pets, there are also some kittens nearby as well. Although, haha, I have to be careful at night-time with those little suckers! There is a green plastic trashcan that people all put their trash in for collection and those cats like to go in there and rummage around for food. One time I was coming up the hill and passing nearby it, when a cat jumped out right in front of me and scampered away! Now I always kind of clap or make some sort of noise if I am passing by it.

And speaking of cats, one of them REALLY frightened me at night. I was walking up the stairs to our second floor apartment, (which can be very poorly lit at night) when I saw this large shadow coming down the steps toward me! I couldn't see much of anything and taught that it was a rat because all I saw was black! It then leapt towards me, landed on the window sill right beside me, and then bounded to the left and down the stairs! I shouted in surprise so loud that Lisa came to the door to check on me!

The lights in the hallway are activated by noise! Sort of like clap on, clap offs! But for some reason, the walk to our apartment is pretty dark with poor lighting. Also, our particular hallway lights can be very dim at times. I think the cat fixed it that way for that particular night! Getting me ready for Halloween huh? :) -Shane

The most expensive breakfast EVER and XXXL dresses!

Even though this blog will encompass a lot (be prepared to sit a while), I wanted to have a catchy title. In fact, we couldn't wait to get back to share this with you all, if any one reads. First of all, I know Shane sent out an update of my health (again). I am feeling better enough to write this email, and am grateful for the somewhat settling effect of pepto bismal. Today has been quite horrid for my health, but I continue to ask for strength and a positive attitude. On the good side, when I felt well enough I got to read a lot of a fabulous book called "When Sinners Say 'I do'". Highly recommended! I'm not sure what I"m supposed to learn from having constant health struggles here, but it is definetely refining. LouAnn- you said there'd be moments when we would need our conviction that this is where we should be, and I am glad to have it. Between the constant health issues and the culture shock, If i didn't have that conviction I would be in deep regret. I am grateful for the advice of an old spanish teacher on having an opening mind with culture shock (she told us this when we went to spain).: Some girls were complaining that Spaniards were rude because they didn't say excuse me when they bumped into you. The teacher, after acknowledg this observation, accounted how she thought Americans were rude when she first arrived in the US, because they would asked "how are you" and obviously not really care. Though I didn't have culture shock in Spain, her words have served me well here. When I am tempted, yet again, to irritation or even anger with the constant pushing and shoving, the exorbitant prices they give foreigners, the feeling of being cheated (like this morning when our taxi driving withheld some change of our fee for no reason) and most especially the lack of functional lines, I take some wise advice (thank you louann and paul) "whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whwatever is admirable- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy- think about such things." I think about how helpful individuals are here- how when we were lost in Shanghai one college student walked 25 minutes to show us how t get there, and he wasn't even going there! Or how 2 students here came to our apartment for 6 house to make our computer in english- and we didn't even know them! they were a friend of a friend! I think about LeighAnn back in the US and what a kind and generous person she is. That helps.

On to Shanghai updates: I must start with the breakfast. My wonderful husband/provider is continuosly shrewd and looking for ways to earn discounts or free stays to restaurants/hotels. One such thing is points on our Hilton Credit card. Through spending and taking surveys, he earned enough for us to stay two nights in a 5 star luxury Hilton in Shanghai. I've never stayed somewhere so beautiful! Located downtown and our 19th floor suite overlooking the jing'an buddhist temple, it was a great spot. I could go on and on about how nice it was, but lets get to the breakfast: So the hotel reminded us to come in the morning for a continental breakfast. When we went through the buffet line (omelets, crispy bacon, real us bread with chocolate nutella, fruit galore, meats, cheeses, etc), I came back to the table and told Shane I was having "heart palipitations" because of all the glorious food. He said, "Get ready to have another one," and handed me the bill- 423 yuan for breakfast!!! (Obviously we had 2nds, and 3rds, etc). All we could do was laugh and be glad we had brought enough money. This is around $70 US, which is still crazy for breakfast- but remember that our dollar to yuan earning is almost the same, so to us thats almost like a $423 breakfast! We paid 240 for our stay at another hotel, to put it in perspective.

Shanghai was a good experience, and I'm glad we went. I'm also glad we took a friends advice and only went 3 days. There were neat things to see there, such as the Jade Buddha temple (which had mohagany carvings dating from 200 ad), the Oriental Pearl Tower (the largest TV tower in China and overlooking at night a beatufiully lit up city on the water), the Shanghai Museum (my favorite, Shanghai's history in wax),The Bund, older commercial Shanghai with walkways on the water, and the Yu Gardens (created in the 16th century) which are surrounded by adorable traditional chinese buildings with bargaining shops. The Jade Buddha temple was a good and difficult experience for me. It is the first time I have physically seen multitudes of people bowing to worship statues of gilded stone, and my heart was broken. Of all things Shanghai, I most appreciated the English signs (which are generally lacking in Changsha) and especially the Western Food options. Although I think it was the ceasar salad my last night that has come back to punish me. These things are all interested and certainly if one is in China, they should go. We knowingly choose a crazy week, so often we were walking as if herded cattle. Imagine your worst crowd on a warm day at Disney World- then multiply it by 10 and make it last 3 days instead of 10 minutes. I am intensely grateful neither of us were robbed or separated from each other.

If my mom comes, I'll have to take her bargaining cuz I am just not good at it. I keep worrying about hurting peoples feelings, as if I'll insult their product by giving too low a price. We did get a few things though. - I tried to buy a beautiful Chinese dress and after the lady commented," big, big, big, you need larger" and motioning to my hips, she put me in a XXXL dress. Great one for the self esteem:) lol. So I bought a similiar looking "silk" shirt instead. Of course we got "real jade" turtle chopsticks for decoration. Again, I am grateful to be able to sit this long to write this email, thanks to many things including the creation of pepto finally kicking in. Peace out and hope to hear from you all!!