We've had a place for a while (a week) and Kristin gave me a hair cut.  That's the big news I've got for now.  I'm not too sure which I like more but I'm leaning more toward the dynamic multi-length multi-layered haircut.  It's something to behold. 

I suppose I ought to keep off the hair subject and focus on something else.  Fine,  I'll write about China.  It has changed a lot in a year.  The cities are more crowded than before, a result of the slowing economy.  Farmers that no longer have work have come to cities in search of just that.  With crowds come more trash and traffic which is something that Kunming was relatively free from in the past. (In China terms)  It's interesting to see the changes knowing how things were before.

Perhaps the most interesting change is the prevalence of Chinese Christians.  It could be that I have simply run into more Christian on this visit because of contacts and "coincidence", but I don't think that is the case, that's now how things work.  There is a growth, especially among the women, which is easily understood given an individual knows about gender preferences and treatment in China.  We've learned quite a bit about rights to gather and worship, rules for how many people can attend a "meeting", and private versus public display of religion.  I'll not write out a critical assessment on on the subject (which would please me more than it ought) and so end the topic here with the concluding thought that it is a  pleasure seeing the growth.

We didn't do much blog or email at first because we were staying with a friend and either traveling or looking for places to live.  It was a mild strain on our new marriage but I think it was/is good.  (Note. Excuse the prevailing "I."  I forget that I am now "we")

As it is, it humors me that we found our first place to call our own one month to the day we got married and that, in China.  I doubt anyone that knows me is in the least surprised.

Our apartment is new, and it is fortunate that everything in our apartment is also new because the condition of used Chinese apartments range in quality and cleanliness from a Chinese prison to a Chinese petting zoo where all the animals smoked two packs of cigarets a day.  If the reader lacks in imagination to conjure up in their imagination what would rightly justify how bad rented places get, I/we will gladly provide pictures.  Speaking of which, I'm going to stop writing and let the Monster post some.  

China via San Fran

Hey Everyone

You found it! This will be our blog for posting pictures and updates during our adventures in China and beyond. Most of you know by now that we arrived safely and have been enjoying ourselves quite a bit over here.

Sorry for the delay in setting up the blog... Access to blogs is blocked over here, and we just figured out a way to get around it.

Many pictures and updates coming soon, but to keep you busy in the meantime, one of Jonathan's posts from his last time in Kunming is posted below.

Also, thanks for all of the prayers and thoughtful e-mails. Here's  a few picture from our stop in San Fran before heading abroad.

The world is round. It has no point. (Originally posted on 3/18/08)

First I went and saw my boys from Team Pirate (basketball team from school where I taught in Jianghua). Fortunately I'm still the coolest thing that ever hit Jianghua. (That's Tyler at the top. He still gets under my skin, because he gets too close to it.)

This picture was at lunch after we had had a round of pi-joe.
It was nice visiting school. I missed it a lot in a strange way that doesn't actually include missing. However, I don't think I could ever teach there again, and that doesn't matter because yi-zhong (school 1) will get edified by the three chicks that took over. Nice girls.
Andrew on the far left. He's a very good friend and a wonderful person. The boy to the right of me is named Funnel Down (his classmates gave him his English name). He is named so well because of his love affair with cigarettes. He's one strange cat but I'm not going to tell you why.



It, China, is certainly not at all like it was the first time around when I was in a rural area. Everything about everything is wholly different. There are actually nice, late-model cars in the cities.

I've run into a number of white people for reasons I'm too lazy to write, that have no idea what the rural China is like. Several of the natives that I've spoken with aren't completely up to date on the social class disparity. Fortunately Tawain is still a major conflict and so is Tibet.

Below is a picture from my room of the town and below that picture is one of my room.

:) :P :o :(

The room first.
What you see there is everything. I'm taking a photo from the bed and the window is to the left. That little door goes to a little bathroom. When i sit in the bathroom my knees hit the wall and there's about 3 sq.ft of moving space between the toilet, shower, and sink.

The city is wonderful. I love it here. It's so-cal weather and our dollar is still strong. The people are very different and there are a lot of deformed people. It's sad, and some are bad, but the poverty is worse in the country side. The city is very well planned, clean for China, with many flowers and trees everwhere. Surrounding the city is are mountains and forests. I got a zi xing che (bicycle) so I'll be able to explore a lot.

I found a church. You're allowed to worship out here but not evangelise. I'll prolly do it anyway. We foreigners are allowed to have the church, there are several in town, but have to have our passports for ID when we come in...not that there is any doubt we are not from here. The natives can't attend but they do have Chinese churches that they can go to.

Today was my first day of class and it was very encouraging. The four hours felt like 1 and I studied for about 4 hours afterward and that went by just as swiftly. I decided to learn the characters and that's a real time consumer. In principle the language is far more simple than English and I think bodes well for me. Other than the tones, which aren't all they are cracked up to be, the language is hopefully not a distant victory.

I could write a lot more but you'll get it in time...

I don't want to write anymore today.
I think I still care about some of you.
I'm a wild stallion.


COMMENTS


1-"The world is round. It has no point."
ZOMG dat's so funny cuz it's sooo tru LAWL!! (Comment this)

Written by: Anonymous at 2008/03/17 - 15:32:30

2 - You're still one of my favorite people and writers of all time. It was difficult to tell you apart from all those chinese dudes in the first photo. You're starting to blend in! Take care buddy, keep the updates coming. - Frank (Comment this)

Written by: Anonymous at 2008/03/18 - 11:38:47

3 - Hwy Johnny!!!! This is your sister Ali, remember me? Ha ha! Wendy at Baro (china woman) is upset because you have not posted any more information about China. Do something about that so she will stop cussing at me in Chinese. Paige says hello. Miss you love you!!!!

P.S BARO MOVED and MISSES YOU!!!! (Comment this)

Written by: Anonymous at 2008/04/04 - 17:17:06

4 - Go to Tibet and tell those folks to be quiet. They are stirring up all the hippies in America. (Comment this)

Written by: jobie at 2008/04/10 - 17:05:58