jvd213inBeijing2008

“Ah, the Socratic Method. The best way we have of teaching everything ⎯ apart from juggling chainsaws.” – Dr. Gregory House

January 19, 2008: 9:47 am

Chinese word of the day:
Xiaxue – snow

Well, it’s been a few days since my last update, but since I’ve managed to speak to many of you over the phone via my new “Skype” hookup on the digi-browser in the past week, I decided to hold off on the bloggin’ for a bit while really trying to “settle in” to my new environment. We had planned on trekking out to the Centre [of the city] to check out Tiananmen Square and the surrounding areas over our “weekend” (Thursday and Friday), but I ended up spending the last couple of days snuggled up in the warmth with my new “gal pal” instead (I’ll spare you the details there, at least until I can wrap my mind around the situation). I will say, however, that this one is (as always) way too pretty for me (even if she neglects to realize it), so we’ll see how long I’m able to maintain her interest! And no, she’s not in any of the pics I’ve taken so far, so don’t bother trying to pick her out of a line-up (Mom). I will fess up a bit, and admit that, yes, she is Chinese (damn that Yellow Fever!).

Otherwise, there isn’t much new to report, other than it snowed for the first time since my arrival yesterday, and as beautiful as it was coming down, much like in the city (NYC), it got really nasty, really fast, and kept us indoors for the better part of two days. Wednesday night was another big night out at “Chwar” with all the teachers, and Thursday was mostly spent in slumber, and getting in some much-needed recovery time. I have managed to keep myself stuffed with heaping piles of cheap eats the last few days, and I also cooked up a big meal of tasty [halal] chicken sandwiches and chips (fried potatoes) last night for a bunch of the new friends. After dinner (which everyone seemed to thoroughly enjoy), we all piled up on the couch to watch a couple of Denzel Washington flicks, “American Gangster” and “Déjà Vu”, both of which were really good, with the latter being one of the better, smarter thrillers that I’ve seen in quite some time (I had to hide some tears at the end. I know, I know – what a wimp!).

I’m starting my week off this morning with a jam-packed day – three classes, back-to-back-to-back – so, I’m hoping all goes well, and I don’t run out of steam before this evening. I do think - so far, at least - that I’m actually a pretty decent teacher, but I have employed the Socratic Method (teaching with questions) on a number of occasions, just to help me seem a whole helluva lot smarter than I really am (thank you, wise Socrates). I guess being a nerdy bookworm has finally paid off!

Since this is probably my most boring rant so far, I’ll just keep it short and sweet, and get some more pics and updates up sometime next week, once I’ve got some fun “touristy” stuff to share with everyone. Hope all is well back in the good ol’ U-S-of-A, and I’m looking forward to catching one of the football games on Monday morning. I’m totally a “Packer backer” the rest of the way, but I really don’t care who takes the title without my Panthers or Jets in the mix - as long, of course, as it’s anyone but those damned Pats! Anywhoo, all my love is headed across the ocean as I type this… and it just so happens, its all aimed straight at you!! Now, ladies and germs, I believe its coffee time!

PS – Somebody tell me how “Cloverfield” was!

“Rather once cry your heart out, than always sigh.” – Chinese Proverb

January 20, 2008: 1:33 pm

Chinese word of the day:
pengyou – friend

I often tell the tale of sitting at a grand round table in a tiny little pub in Buhl, Germany, and how inspired I was by the experience of hearing Dutch, Swiss, German, French, and English, all being spoken at once, and by such a big group of friendly faces. Last night, I was fortunate enough to experience a similar inspiring event - this time, surrounded by Mandarin, Cantonese, and Korean…

Karen took me out with a big group of her friends last night (to show me off a bit, I think), and we went to a ritzy Japanese/Korean restaurant owned by one of her incredibly kind, old high school friends. I was the only American at a table of twelve, and I sat in awe, wonder, and amazement, as I ate the most massive meal of my entire life. For four solid hours, the food kept coming and coming and coming: sushi, beef, cow tongue, cow stomach, chicken, pints of beer, glasses of wine, shots of baijou, a divine medley of fresh mixed-veggies, potato salad, spicy pork, cabbage, pineapple, and finally, finished off with a big bowl of truly incredible fish-filled miso soup. I kept asking her how these people stayed so damn thin, considering the insane amount of food that continued to be consumed throughout the night. It was honestly amazing, and as much as I wanted to stop eating, I couldn’t pass up any of the appealing entrees that continued to follow, one after another, after another. The group was all just as friendly and amusing as they could have possibly been, and my emotions overflowed throughout the night (just as they do as I write this), as they all seemed to be pleased that I was amongst them. Karen did a pretty fair job of interpreting most of the conversations, but at one point, late in the night, I told her it was no longer necessary, as I was just enjoying the laughing and smiling and cheerful company.

Never in a million years could I have imagined being so accepted amongst these people, and it really felt wonderful having them embrace a Westerner with such gusto. One of the girls, a hairdresser with purple and blonde streaks in her gorgeous jet black hair, even tried to tell me in her best broken English, that I looked like (who else?) Bono. “Thank you for joining us,” she said. Eventually, as the night wore on, the owner came over and sat down with us, and he made a special toast to the American man that was comfortable enough to join them. A grand experience, indeed, and hopefully, not one that I am unfortunate enough to live out just once in this lifetime.

I know how expensive and difficult it may be to do, but I can only encourage all of you to come and visit this land of inconceivable splendor, and to embrace every opportunity to meet and make friends with these gallant people of the Eastern countries. To think that such an exciting experience could occur in our country is more than a ticklish task, and I only hope that you, my friends and family, have the opportunity to live out such an episode for yourselves. Perhaps one day soon, we, as a fledgling nation of great knowledge and wealth, will come to understand these ancient cultures, and cradle the love and wisdom that these people have to offer. It breaks my heart to think that in ours, a country of every race, nationality, and color, we have yet to completely shed the vale that shields us from embosoming those people who we do not yet fully comprehend. If this experience has taught me anything already, it is that people all over this world are genuinely good, and no matter how bad the things are that we might say or do, there is but one thing that will forever bind us all – love. Perhaps I sound pretentious or hoity-toity, or even like a wannabe sophisticate who wants to tout himself with the knowledge of something new, but something inside of me is growing, and I want so desperately to share it with you…

There are two brilliant lines that come from one of my favorite movies - they bring me to tears each and every time I here them - and I’ll close with these, in hopes that you can better understand this newfound passion to share all of my devotion and regard…

“Hate was all I knew, it built my world, it imprisoned me, taught me how to eat, how to drink, how to breathe. I thought I’d die with all my hate in my veins. But then something happened…”

“Every inch of me shall perish - every inch, but one. An inch. It is small and it is fragile and it is the only thing in the world worth having. We must never lose it or give it away. We must never let them take it from us. I hope that whoever you are, you escape this place. I hope that the world turns, and that things get better. But what I hope most of all, is that you understand what I mean when I tell you, that even though I do not know you, and even though I may never meet you, laugh with you, cry with you, or kiss you… I love you. With all my heart, I love you.”

With all my heart, I love you.

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