SCC in China 2008

I find myself hesitant to believe most 'famous' people when they share with the world the things they believe in.  So many people out there will say anything ... anything for money.. for a fan club.. for fame..  And we become numb to allowing ourselves to think there might be depth in words from anyone, much less a famous individual that we don't even know!  OK OK.. where am I going with this?!  I had the opportunity last week to spend three days with SCC (can't share details via blog), his wife, and the team that travelled with them to China.  He came to share his heart through music - he visited three small cities around Shanghai where students and local people flocked through the doors eager to hear his message (and for free!)  He has a passion for helping orphans and has founded an organization that aides people in the adoption process.  Not only that, he has three adopted little girls of his own.

SCC has a personal friendship with a lady here in Shanghai that Heidi has become friends with.  She asked if we could help hand out information and sell t-shirts at the concerts in Hangzhou and Nanjing on Thursday and Friday!  What a fabulous time!  We met some amazing people.   The people are thirsty for hope and truth to believe in.  Amazing to speak to them... half in Chinese and half in English (I'm learning .. slowly).  These events were truly touching people's hearts... many of them haven't EVER heard this message... as the concert ended they raced to our little table to grab the information packets.  (We struggled to avoid being smashed unintentionally into the wall behind the table as 300 people shoved toward us!!)

On Friday, we all rode a bus for five hours to Nanjing.  When we FINALLY reached the destination for lunch, Heidi and I were the second and third people off the bus.  Tons of people greeted us with cameras, video cameras, banners, signs, hugs.. Oh yeah, we are with a famous person!?  By this point, we had forgotten he was famous!  That morning he came over and personally thanked us for volunteering our time and then sat around and chatted with us for a half hour.  This really all was no big deal, but it made my heart happy to know that there are people out there who really are who they say they are... with real, genuine hearts to serve and help and be a light in the darkness to people in need.  So many hurting people..  It inspired me to use my hands, my time, and my heart to help precious little orphan babies.. I can't think of anything more important.  More to come..

IKEA and May Holiday

On May 1st, the Chinese celebrate the May Holiday.  As with all proper holidays, this is a country-wide day off of work!  Justin wanted to take part in some shopping so we decided to spend the morning at the local Shanghai IKEA.  Our driver, JJ, picked us up at 9am to take us 45 minutes across the city.  Good plan - we would get there before the 10am opening.  With little traffic, we arrived at 9:45 and concluded that IKEA must have opened early.  There were no less than a hundred people just inside the front doors!  Oh - IKEA has a cafe - the cafe opens early (great...let's feed the mob and give them more energy and stamina to swarm through the store).  ALL the people ALL over is something I'm trying to get used to!  I've decided that when I'm back in Tulsa, I'll be one of those 'rude' people who shoves my way through crowds and fights to get as far to the front of lines as humanly possible no matter how many innocent bystanders I knock over!!  In China, this skill is necessary for survival!!  I will admit, I have already come to the point where saying "sorry" when I bump into someone is no longer my subconscious reaction.  Saying "sorry" get's you weird looks and marks you as an obvious foreigner!

OK OK back to IKEA....We went inside, and up the escalator where we joined about 50 more eager shoppers.  I took pictures of everyone as they (we!) waited behind barriers guarded by four employees until the clock struck 10am!!!  At 9:58am the room was so full I realized that everyone in Shanghai had the same great idea - to visit IKEA on vacation day.   

'The Running of the Bulls is a practice that involves running in front of bulls that have been let loose on a course of a sectioned-off subset of a town's streets.  Unlike bull fights, which are performed by professionals, anyone may participate.  Injuries are common, both to the participants who may be gored or trampled, and to the bulls, whose hooves grip poorly on the paved or cobbled street surfaces.'

Pamplona??  Shanghai??  Where are we??!

Ready, set, GO!!  Hurry... run for your life... there are only 4 more pairs of slippers in all of Shanghai!! j/k (Here, the custom is to remove your shoes when you enter a home and put on slippers.)  I climbed up onto a display table to avoid being trampled by the bulls..  ha ha..  

All in all, it was a good day.  We purchased two lamps for the living room, a set of five pictures for the guest room, a flower vase, and a few other random things..  The crowds make shopping a true athletic event, but my heart has a special place for the people here...  Seeing one smiling Chinese baby makes the frustration all worth while!  

THE "Health Check"

In order for foreigners to be allowed to stay in China for more than sixty days at a time, the government requires a residence visa.  The residence visa permits a one year stay.  Although, I think I could deal with a trip to Hong Kong every two months to renew our visa's - shopping at stores that actually have sizes to fit "big" people like me, great food, beautiful scenery - it isn't too practical!  SO, we are in the midst of applying for the one year visa's.  One major step in the process is acquiring a Health Certificate.  

The Health Check process is one to write about!!  Upon arrival we were told to take a number and fill out a few forms - seemed pretty normal.  Justin had number 35 and I had number 36.  Good - he could go first and let me know what to do!  (Most of our communicating at this point is done through hand motions and I've unfortunately gotten over the brief period where this was amusing and enjoyable!  I MUST learn Chinese ASAP!!)  By the time number 36 was called, Justin was out of sight - so I was on my own!

Health Check - Station #1:

I sat in front of a lady and her computer... with a web camera in my face.  I smiled.  The lady looked unhappy.  I didn't smile... she finally was pleased with my photo.  She looked over the forms I had filled out...  asked me "Are you pregnant?"  YES!  She spoke English!  NO!  I'm not pregnant!  Hello!? I checked NO on the form.  She looks at me again and asked, "Are you pregnant?"  Ok - maybe she didn't hear me... "NO".   She takes my form, scans down to the "Are you pregnant question"... which I had checked a BIG FAT NO... she takes her pen, underlines the question and then hands me the paper!  (NOT KIDDING)  So I get the pen.. and pointed to my NO.  Then, she motions me to a room where I change into a gown and put booties over my shoes... this is going to be fun.... 

Station #2:

Blood work!  OH GREAT.  Now they are going to take my blood, I'm praying that I don't pass out.. wait - if I'm pregnant, can I skip the blood work?!  J/k!  I made it through the blood work - probably because there was a lady next to me (also having her blood taken) and the nurse couldn't find the vein.  This poor lady was gasping in pain as we both watched the needle go in and be twisted in her arm.. my nurse instructed her in Chinese..WOW

Station #3:

X-Ray.  No speaking.  The man pressed my face into a metal bar and motioned for me to be still as he took the x-ray.  I hope this didn't fry any of my organs.  The machine looked like it was from the 1800's.  Well, if they would've had xrays in the 1800's.

Station #4:

Ultrasound.  Not to exciting.. The cute old Chinese lady put cold gel on my stomach and pressed the instrument into my stomach and ribs VERY hard!  Then looked at me, smiled, and said "GOOD.. Very Good!"  

Station #5

I have NO idea what this 'check' was.  I was asked to lay on a table and open my shirt.  Not off to a good start!  China is NOT the place for the modest.  The lady had three clamps in her hand - she placed one on each of my ankles and on around my wrist.  Then covered my chest in sticky electrode things and started punching on another VERY old machine sitting near my head.  At this point, I just don't want to be electrocuted!  After a few minutes, she turned the machine off and I was unclamped!  No Clue??!

Station #6

Old man who spoke NO English had me sit in front of him while he looked up my nose.. no actually he must've been inspecting my brain - it was the longest anyone has ever looked in my nose..  Then he motioned for me to put a big metal spoon over my right eye to perform a sight test.  I failed.  He would point to number and after my response, he would shout, "NOOOOO"  I had three tries on each eye.  All NOOOO's - I must be blind?

We paid 1400RMB (about 200USD) and that was it.  Very Interesting!! 

Week #1 - check!

Well.. I've been in Shanghai for a week now!  This is going to be a short entry - consider it a test due to the the incredibly SLOW upload speed for the internet here in Chinaland..  I wanted to share some pics of the apartment as we get settled - I'm working on finding furniture but here it is as of today!!  If you are wondering what is on the guest bed - it is an 'official' Beijing Olympics stuffed animal.  AND - we are in desperate need of a dresser (piles of clothes all over the bedroom) and new curtains for the entire apartment (I am thankful we convinced the complex to give us curtains, but I'm not sure I can get used to the 'foil look' of the lining :).  I found the silk rug at an enormous market while shopping for a couch... bargaining with the 15 Chinese words in my vocabulary.  Enjoy the pics!  I will work on making these updates a bit more exciting :)  

FIRST ENTRY

Well.. here you go.. I have a BLOG! Thought it might be a good idea with all the upcoming changes in my life.. So many I need a blog to keep caught up on myself. Here's the plan - craziness.. getting married March 8th.. Jamaica for a week.. Moving to Shanghai..

I'll keep you posted...