So much has changed since July. I wish I could have recorded some of these changes, but there is so much to share.
I made friends with some of the lovely ladies at the Beijing Guild. These ladies are knitters, crocheters and in general, crafters. Each one is a sweet heart and has her own talents. I have to admit that they help me keep my sanity just by going to the weekly sessions. I usually go on Tuesdays during the middle of the day because I want to spend time with DH on Thursday evenings when he is home.
Being a 外国人 (wàiguó rén, foreigner) does make things hard when I go around the Chaoyang and Dongcheng Districts, but I'm learning to understand more of what people say. Even if I still have a hard time trying to say anything. Sometimes, the mere inability to speak with the locals has me frustrated when visiting morning market for produce or the grocery market for meat, flour and other foods. I can't ask 妈妈 (māma, my husband's mother) to help me as I know she would because I have my pride and hope for myself.
Finding classes to learn Chinese is important for me in the long term, but I don't want to put any financial strain on the budget. This limits me to trying to find free/inexpensive classes that don't chew up all of my time.
I still find myself nervous about living in China, but the crowds on the subway and buses don't bother me as much as they used to. They still bother me when I'm alone, but I try to avoid instances where I have to use busy bus or subway lines. The whole thing makes me feel that I never realized how much I really like my personal bubble to be left alone. Standing in line at the grocery store is a great example, you could fit two people in the space between the two people at a grocery store in the states, but the Chinese have no problem with standing so closely that you can't move without bumping the person behind or in front of you. Don't even think about swinging your basket!
No matter, the experiences here in China have taught this Western 女外国人(Nǚ wàiguó rén, foreign girl) to just take things one day at a time!
Saturday, October 13, 2012
Wednesday, July 04, 2012
Starting Life in Beijing
I came to Beijing as a tourist to spend time with my husband and his family as well as give his family a Chinese wedding reception they could attend. Due to work projects and other reasons, we will be living in Beijing for the next year or so.
I look at the life we will be living and I'm nervous, yet super excited at the same time. I'll be living in the foreign country that also is the first stamp in my passport. I really don't know much Chinese other than, 我吃饱了 (wǒ chībǎole, I am full) and 你好 (nǐhǎo, How are you?) I'm slowly learning Chinese using a combination of education software, asking my husband, listening to 妈妈 (māma, my husband's mother) and 爸爸 (bàba, my husband's father), and using my iPad to translate.
The positive aspects of living in Beijing outweigh the negative aspects, but I have to still consciously look at the next year as an adventure. One day I'll be able to feel like I'm not shaking in my boots about living in Beijing. Such a big change for this small town Western girl, but she can do it!
I look at the life we will be living and I'm nervous, yet super excited at the same time. I'll be living in the foreign country that also is the first stamp in my passport. I really don't know much Chinese other than, 我吃饱了 (wǒ chībǎole, I am full) and 你好 (nǐhǎo, How are you?) I'm slowly learning Chinese using a combination of education software, asking my husband, listening to 妈妈 (māma, my husband's mother) and 爸爸 (bàba, my husband's father), and using my iPad to translate.
The positive aspects of living in Beijing outweigh the negative aspects, but I have to still consciously look at the next year as an adventure. One day I'll be able to feel like I'm not shaking in my boots about living in Beijing. Such a big change for this small town Western girl, but she can do it!
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Focus on the Golf Balls, Not the Sand.
Several variations of this story float around the net, so this is not an unknown story.
I need to remember that I should focus on the golf balls, not the sand. I have lots of things that I worry about and focus on that are really just minor details. The golf balls have been abandoned and I need to change that.
A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, he wordlessly picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.
The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them in to the jar He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.
The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with a unanimous 'yes.'
The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed.
“Now,” said the professor as the laughter subsided, “I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life.”
“The golf balls are the important things--- your family, your children, your health, your friends and your favorite passions--- and if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full.”
“The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house and your car. The sand is everything else--- the small stuff.”
“If you put the sand into the jar first,” he continued, “there is no room for the pebbles or golf balls.”
“The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff you will never have room for the things that are important to you.”
“Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Spend time with your children. Spend time with your parents. Visit with grandparents. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your significant other out to dinner. Play another 18. There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal.”
“Take care of the golf balls first--- the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand.”
One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee represented. The professor smiled and said, “I'm glad you asked.”
“The coffee just shows you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a cup of coffee with a friend.”
The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them in to the jar He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.
The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with a unanimous 'yes.'
The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed.
“Now,” said the professor as the laughter subsided, “I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life.”
“The golf balls are the important things--- your family, your children, your health, your friends and your favorite passions--- and if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full.”
“The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house and your car. The sand is everything else--- the small stuff.”
“If you put the sand into the jar first,” he continued, “there is no room for the pebbles or golf balls.”
“The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff you will never have room for the things that are important to you.”
“Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Spend time with your children. Spend time with your parents. Visit with grandparents. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your significant other out to dinner. Play another 18. There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal.”
“Take care of the golf balls first--- the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand.”
One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee represented. The professor smiled and said, “I'm glad you asked.”
“The coffee just shows you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a cup of coffee with a friend.”
I need to remember that I should focus on the golf balls, not the sand. I have lots of things that I worry about and focus on that are really just minor details. The golf balls have been abandoned and I need to change that.
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Perfectly Happy!
I don't know that I could be any happier! While I don't exactly get to see or hear from Jerry every night, every time I get a letter, text, e-mail or IM from him, I can't help smiling and blushing like an idiot. Since we live 90 miles apart, I don't get to see him all the time, but when I do see him. I feel as though my heart has turned into a bunch of butterflies and they want to burst out my chest to share with everyone the happiness I feel. Even when chaos has happened, it only takes just the thought of a hug from him and the chaos is suddenly not chaos.
Most of the time we write letters to each other and while it can be awfully slow waiting for the mail, it is sweet at the same time. The best thing about our letters is that I actually get to handle the same paper that Jerry has handled! Just receiving mail from Jerry is enough to send me into a giggling, blushing dither.
Lots of Hugs!
Most of the time we write letters to each other and while it can be awfully slow waiting for the mail, it is sweet at the same time. The best thing about our letters is that I actually get to handle the same paper that Jerry has handled! Just receiving mail from Jerry is enough to send me into a giggling, blushing dither.
Lots of Hugs!
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