Well I am sitting at a local "bar and grill" waiting for Melody to finish getting her hair done so we can get something to eat and I just realized we have less than a week to go. I mean I know we have 6 days counting the day we actually leave, but it's 6 days not 6 weeks. It just seems that 6 weeks ago was yesterday. But I guess that can't be true because yesterday I took a bunch of stuff to the post office to have it all sent home. It was just a bunch of summer clothes and shoes that we will not need for a while, which is a good thing considering that it will not get to its' final destination for about 2 or 3 months, but I'm digressing. It just seems that the time has flown by.
Don't get me wrong, it's not like we are not getting ready to leave or anything. We're spending our last days saying goodbye to friends, packing, and finishing up classes with the students. Melody has one more day of classes and then we have about 5 days before we leave. But where did all the time go?
It has been quite an interesting time here in China.
About two weeks after we arrived, we had our first engagement with the students outside of the classroom. We went to see the Great Wall of China with them which was absolutely fantastic. After hiking up to the Wall we went to Paul's Steak and Eggs, the best American Diner in Beijing. It was the first time that most of the student had actually eaten an American dinner. They didn't know how to use a fork or knife, or how to eat a hamburger. I thought "Wow! How deprived these kids are!"
Well last night Melody and I had a great experience. Rachel, one of our students, had a birthday yesterday and we were invited to her birthday party. It was like coming full circle from that day in June. We sat in the girl's apartment and had dinner with all the students one last time.
The Aiees prepared all the food and it was fabulous! From rice, to steamed bread, to the chinese version of chicken wings, to tofu and greens, to potatoes and eggplant and green peppers, it was just amazing. And to sit there and just listen to these students laughing and eating (smack, smack, smack) and having a good time, especially after hearing what their lives have been like growing up as orphans here, was absolutely up-lifting. I wish I had half of the strength and determination that they have.
Towards the end of the night, as a gift to the birthday girl (who turned 19), we did an impromptu talent show. We sat in a circle around the room and each of us did, or sang something for the her. Melody sang "You Raise Me Up", I did a "talk show", others sang songs as well and a couple of people did some funny "stunts" for her. It was really amazing. Rachel was so appreciative and was genuinely blessed.
The best part for me was after the dinner when they brought out her cake and sang "Happy Birthday". Yes! I loved the cake, but that was not it. The candles were lit and the lights turned off. We sang to her and then, to make her birthday wish, she stood there and bowed her head and quietly prayed. It was such a reverent and moving experience. I just stood there and almost couldn't believe what I was seeing. Not one of these students have had easy lives. They have lived through some very disturbing and horrible situations and yet here this girl was praying to God, her heavenly Father, on her birthday, in front of everyone, and doing this in China. I must admit that when I came to grips with what was happening I almost had tears in my eyes. It is a moment and memory I will never forget. I think it was then that I realized that they are not really deprived at all. Oppressed and orphaned, yes, but I am more deprived than they are. These students do not have very much, but they have more than me because they do not take anything, especially their God, for granted. I realized that I take do God for granted. Although this decision to move be back home has been hard, at least I have a home where there are family and friends who love me. But these students can't just pick up and go home to a place where they have a mother and father and brothers and sisters who love them. They have had to fight and scrape for everything that they have. And yet here this girl was taking time during her party to show her appreciation to God and to honor him by acknowledging his presence. How many times have I deprived myself of God's blessings by simply not acknowledging him when I should have.
When I first started to write this blog I thought it would be great to just write about the funny, light- hearted moments that I have encountered here. And their have had a few, that's for sure. However, I have to admit that the time I have spent here in China has been more than just a few odd and hilarious situations. I have been touched by the people here, especially by the ABC (A Bridge For Children) students. My heart has been moved and I am coming home a changed man. I leave here a different person than when I first arrived at Beijing International Airport and whatever happens next I must say that David, Elizabeth, Jennifer, Peter, Rachel, Sam, as well as Tom (who had to leave the program for physical reasons) and Suzy (who left in the summer) will always have a large and special portion of my heart. I came here to help them learn English, but they have taught me so much more and I am forever in their debt and will never forget them.
And now for some lighter thoughts.
How much is too much? That is the question. I think the USA has answered this question correctly. If you walk onto a bus somewhere you will find a sign that tells the maximum seating capacity. Subways, elevators, even amusement rides have passenger, weight and/or height restrictions.
China, however, is a different story. Watching people get off or on the DTA (Subway) or the bus is like watching clowns climb in or out of clown car. On the way to the party last night I stood in the DTA with Melody and some of our friends, looked around and realized that there had to close 120 people just in our car alone. Considering that the train has about 11 or 12 cars, well that's just a LOT of people. And they have figured out how to use the space in between the cars. You can actually walk from one end of the train to the other while inside and not have to open any doors to go from one car to the next. And from stop to stop, when the car is full, they just keep piling in, pushing and shoving their way in so that they do not have to wait for the next train. When riding the DTA you literally find yourself plastered to the people around you. Yes , it's true that, while it is a good way to out get around in Beijing, you really do get up close and personal with people riding the rail on the DTA. ( Every time I say DTA I just think about the song "Charlie on the MTA" and thank God that I can return thanks to my DTA card.)
As some of you know, Melody and I have been going to a church here in Beijing. It is actually a very nice church and we have met some nice people there. One of our friends is named John. He and wife and children have been here for a few years and he is a teacher at one of the universities in Beijing. He came over to our apartment the other day to go pick up some stuff that he bought from us and we started to talk about Melody's and my experience here. he was very encouraging, but he also had some other things to say. Melody and I have found out that many of the foreigners or expats here are connected to an "agency". As you know, Melody and I are not connected to any agency at all. He said that he admired us and thought we were very brave, but if we ever decided to come back to China again we should be connected with some type of supportive organization. His exact words were, "Hey man! You and Melody are very brave, but hey man! John Wayne is dead man! He's dead man! He ain't coming back man! You need to have a community to support you. John Wayne is dead man!". Wise words from a good friend.
Well that is all for now. Maybe I'll write one more time before we leave.
Bye for now.
