Fun Fotos for wHeNeVeR

T-day Food

2006-11-29T01:42:00.000+08:00

Here's some of our very traditional Turkey Day food from this year, including Aaliyah's famous mac & cheese, some delicious salad, and some of my amazing (if I do say so myself) homemade cranberry sauce!

Road Sign

2006-11-29T01:37:00.000+08:00

My new favorite photo ever. Taken in Nantes, France, this road sign says (roughly):

^ Time to pause
<- Bird songs
-> Sunsets

Transport for London

2006-11-29T01:32:00.000+08:00

This is my view every time I cross over Waterloo Bridge to get to and from the LSE.

Jeff and Chesa and the Air Ambulance

2006-07-26T12:36:00.001+08:00

This was the air ambulance we used to evacuate Jean from Kunming, China to Albuquerque, NM.

Elements Abound

2006-07-26T12:36:00.000+08:00

Petropavlovsk's Volcano

2006-07-26T12:35:00.000+08:00

A new day dawns in Petropavlovsk, Siberia, Russia.

Siberia's Mountains in the Morning

2006-07-26T12:34:00.000+08:00

Siberia

2006-07-26T12:31:00.000+08:00

Here's the Russian airport I mentioned briefly in my posting on my other bloger, Fun Facts for wHeNeVeR, The Gods Must be CRAZY.

Jen's Appendix II

2006-07-26T12:30:00.000+08:00

See Jay. See Jay boss Jen. See Jay hold Jen's appendix in a ziplock bag.

Jen's Appendix

2006-07-26T12:27:00.000+08:00

So, this is a kinda old picture that I'm just getting around to posting, but I thought it was interesting and I'd share it anyway. This is a picture of Jen G's appendix as held by Jen C. There is a whole long story that goes with it, but the short version is: Jen G. has appendicids. It moves to the other side of her abdominal cavity and it bursts. The Chinese doctors finally figure it out and send her into surgery. They bring us (her friends waiting for her) her appendix. Months of recovery including a serious allergic reaction that almost killed her. Oh China.

DDR Rules!

2006-07-23T08:04:00.000+08:00

Well, and if I'm not playing taiko drum games, then you know that I'm playing Dance Dance Revolution (or the Chinese version, EZ Dance) with my good friend Jen.

Taiko Drumming

2006-07-23T08:00:00.000+08:00

This is me having way too much fun at the video arcade my last night in Kunming. Many of you know that I LOVE playing the taiko drum game, and so here is a pic of me doing exactly that. I miss it already!

2006-02-01T23:03:00.002+08:00

Monkeys! I said the animals in India amaze me. Here were a pack of monkeys on the way up to a temple dedicated to Brahma's wife outside of Pushkar.

2006-02-01T23:03:00.001+08:00

The city palace of Jaisalmer.

2006-02-01T23:03:00.000+08:00

In contrast, here is the golden city in the far west of Rajasthan, Jaisalmer.

2006-02-01T23:00:00.000+08:00

These are the blue Brahamin houses from the Rajput capital of Jodhpur. The whole city was blue!

2006-02-01T22:58:00.000+08:00

I think you all know where this is. Chesa braved her tummy troubles (or her Delhi belly as she likes to call it) in order to see the famed site.

2006-02-01T22:55:00.000+08:00

This is me and Xiao Xiong on his first excursion outside of Kunming to the crystal clear Fuxian Lake a few hours outside of Kunming. My student brought me, and we had a really good time until I almost fell into the lake...

2005-10-02T17:59:00.001+08:00

What was left of my road upon returning home to Kunming after a trip back to the states this summer...don't worry, it's better now!

2005-10-02T17:59:00.000+08:00

The "road" outside my house in Kunming...

2005-10-02T17:58:00.000+08:00

Blue skies in China. Believe me, this is an extraordinary sight!

2005-10-02T17:57:00.000+08:00

Monks playing with their cell phones outside a monastary in Litang, Sichuan

2005-10-02T17:56:00.001+08:00

Goats outside of a buddhist temple in Litang.

2005-10-02T17:56:00.000+08:00

Posing with the fake palm tree in Litang, Sichuan. Do note that I was wearing all my clothes at the time as the city is at about 15k ft...oh the Chinese aesthetic!

2005-10-02T17:54:00.000+08:00

Jeff above KangDing in the Sichuan province.

2005-06-05T01:13:00.000+08:00

One of the largest Mao statues in all of China is locaed in downtown Kashgar. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think it's one of those, look how far my power extends kind of things.

2005-06-05T01:11:00.000+08:00

The medina close up. Told you it was an old town...

2005-06-05T01:10:00.000+08:00

Just incase you needed an overview of Kashgar, here it is. The big green blog in the upper-right-hand corner of the picture is China's biggest mosgue, the Id Kah Mosque. All the small buildings around it are what I would call the "medina," or old town (at least that's what they call it in Morocco), but I don't know if that's what it's called in China. So basically, it's the old town ;o)

2005-03-26T13:38:00.000+08:00

This is a picture of the Malinta Tunnel, also on Corregidor Island in Manila Bay. Dug into a hill, there's something like 100 ft of rock protecting it from bombardments, and is therefore the place where both the Americans and the Japanese held out until the very end in protecting the Philippines. Now there's a multimedia sound and light experience inside which was pretty unique. They have this one part where they play what sounds like a bombing really loudly over the speakers and the whole place is shaking from the sound. I can't imagine what it was like being in there for bombardment after bombardment!

2005-03-20T00:15:00.000+08:00

This is a picture of a statue of MacArthur saying "I shall return," his "last words" before leaving Corregidor Island, the US's last stronghold against the Japanese in the Phillipines during WWII.

2005-03-13T12:31:00.000+08:00

Interestingly enough, I had to go to a polo match in Manila in order to see my first live Chinese Lion Dance... it was cool though!

2005-03-11T12:08:00.000+08:00

Here's a picture from the first polo match that I've ever seen live and in person. It was actually a really good match, although one of the players fell off his horse and was walked on by it. That's never any good!

2005-03-09T00:19:00.000+08:00

Chesa lighting a goodluck candle thing in Manila. It actually comes from tranditional Filipino animalistic religious traditions, but it was conveniently right next to one of the main churches in town. Unfortunately, I can't remember what red stands for...

2005-03-07T07:16:00.000+08:00

We were in Thailand just before their national election, so political ads were...ubiquitous. They were cool though! They all had pics of the people in uniform and whatnot. Much more interesting to look at than American political ads. And plus, their main party is called Thai Rhak Thai (or Thai Love Thai) Party.

2005-03-03T23:13:00.000+08:00

This is me in front of (well, actually within the compound of) Angkor Wat. We're talking the real deal here. This is what everybody is really referring to when they speak of Angkor Wat. In case you're wondering (I'm sure you were), that tee (which cost me $1.25) has the Khmer alphabet on it. Neato desu ka?

2005-02-28T23:38:00.000+08:00

Alright, well I'm afraid this one might be too dark, but I thought I'd try to show it to y'all anyway. This is a pic of a really cool shadow puppets performance that we saw in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

2005-02-27T14:31:00.000+08:00

I'm not sure when I last updated my site here, but here's a pic of me with the steamed bread "snot" concoction I was describing on my other blog. See, it really does look like snot! I wasn't just making it up!

2005-02-27T02:52:00.000+08:00

One of the interesting features on almost all of the buildings were the "sculptures" (I'm having trouble finding the right architectural term. It's more than a bas-relief but attached to a wall so not really its own sculpture) of apsaras that lined most of the walls. Apsaras are the dancing women pictured there. Actually Angkor Wat and its environs are where most artistic and cultural traditions in SE Asia (including Laos, Thailand, and Cambodia) originate from. Granted now the Thai dancers tend to wear tops...unless of course they're on Patpong Alley, but that's a different story!

2005-02-26T03:25:00.000+08:00

He he! Jeff having fun with the remains of a statue. Again, we're in the vicinity of Angkor Wat.

2005-02-24T04:24:00.000+08:00

This is another shot coming from Angkor Wat's environs. I'm spacing on the name at the moment of exactly which temple this was from, but the trees growing out from the buildings were certainly a sight. I remember at first that I was almost disappointed at the ruin of the sights, but then after hearing the story of a well mapped building that they couldn't find after Cambodia re-opened after Pol Pot because it was so covered in jungle, I decided I could be forgiving!

2005-02-23T01:50:00.000+08:00

Just wanted to let everyone know that I made it back safely to Kunming. I also thought I'd take the opportunity to restart the daily photo thing now that I've got LOTS of photos to share from my trip! So, without further ado, let me give you a pic from Cambodia of Bayon, which is a temple located at the exact center of Angkor Thom (Angkor Town) near the famous Angkor Wat. I'm pretty sure I mentioned it before because of all of the smiling faces (there are over 200 of them!).

2005-01-29T18:08:00.000+08:00

We met briefly with the school director of the village to pass along pens, pencils, and notebooks for the children.

2005-01-29T18:07:00.000+08:00

Adorable Lao kids in the village neighboring that of Zone.

2005-01-29T18:06:00.000+08:00

Jeff in the rice paddies of Laos. I managed to only fall in like once. The problem was that my shoe kept on getting stuck in the mud. Blech!

2005-01-29T18:05:00.000+08:00

Fording the river outside of Zone's village. It almost gave Marie-Liesse a heart attack, but we all made it across safely!

2005-01-29T18:03:00.000+08:00

Jeff at the top of a very high waterfall outside of Luang Prabang, Laos in a scenic and very peaceful spot.

2005-01-29T17:58:00.000+08:00

Jeff jumping off a waterfall outside of Luang Prabang, Laos. Good times!

2005-01-29T17:55:00.000+08:00

Taking Thai cooking lessons in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

2005-01-29T17:53:00.000+08:00

Jeff the serious happy camper when he encounters his much beloved Mr. San Francisco at a Swensen's in downtown Chiang Mai, Thailand. I didn't even have to get good grades for this one! :o)

2005-01-29T17:51:00.000+08:00

Interesting and rather different Indian-influenced wat (temple) found in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

2005-01-29T17:50:00.000+08:00

Well, I had to include at least one picture of the tourist trap/haven in Bangkok known as KhaoSan Road. Have to admit that it hasn't impressed me much...

2005-01-29T17:47:00.000+08:00

Sorry this is sideways, but who could resist a waiing (bowing slightly as is courtesy in Thailand) Ronald McDonald?!

2005-01-29T17:41:00.000+08:00

Back soi (alleys) in Bangkok. I was a bit surprised to find stilt houses in the middle of town right off a canal, but I suppose it makes sense.

2005-01-29T17:40:00.000+08:00

And now we'll start over with a new series of photos starting from present time and working back. This is a pic of the grand finale of a dance performance I saw at Vimanek Mansion this afternoon in Bangkok, Thailand. It is the largest golden teak wood mansion there is, and was the home of Rama V (former King of Thailand, we're on Rama IX if you're interested) for a mere five years of his life in the realy 1900s. It was an interesting show, but I was a little annoyed at the finale which had all the dancers carrying the Thai flag and the flag of another country. The good ole' stars and stripes was not to be found, though Malasia's flag almost counts I guess.

2005-01-29T17:30:00.000+08:00

Cool (and very different from any other kind that I've seen before) guard at a temple in downtown Hanoi, Vietnam.

2005-01-29T17:28:00.000+08:00

A junk in the somewhat cloudy (and cold!) Halong Bay in northeastern Vietnam.

2005-01-29T17:25:00.000+08:00

Crossing the Mekong in Vang Vieng, Laos (in between the capital of Vientiane and the former capital of Luang Prabang).

2005-01-29T17:24:00.000+08:00

Parade o' monks in downtown Luang Prabang. It was a cool sight. I was disappointed by this pic.

2005-01-29T17:22:00.000+08:00

Aa picutre of the other side of the river from town (and our guest house) in Luang Prabang, Laos. Luang Prabang is situated at the confluence of the MeKong and some other river in northern Laos. This is "that other river." :o) Notice the farmland whose owners get up normally at 4 in the morning just on the other side!!!!!

2005-01-29T17:20:00.000+08:00

Strolling through the rice paddies in Zone's (our Lao "guide" from our guest house) home village about an hour outside of Luang Prabang, Laos.

2005-01-23T15:34:00.000+08:00

Kids lounging at a wat (temple) in Luang Prabang.

2005-01-23T15:33:00.000+08:00

Cool gold leaf stencilling on a temple in Luang Prabang.

2005-01-23T15:32:00.000+08:00

Looking to Thailand from Vientiane, the capital of Laos.

2005-01-23T15:31:00.000+08:00

Paddling up the river to the Perfume Pagoda in Vietnam

2005-01-23T15:30:00.000+08:00

Chesa and I fight the current to pass into a hidden inlet in Halong Bay. When we passed by the same place the next day, the tide was higher and the hole had disappeared!

2005-01-23T15:29:00.001+08:00

Vietnamese water puppets. Soooo cool!

2005-01-23T15:29:00.000+08:00

Vietnam paper vendor in Hanoi.

2005-01-06T10:29:00.000+08:00

Before I left I thought I'd send out at least one last pic. This is of me and the Chinese fiance of one of the other English teachers here, Xingcan (pronounced hsing-tsahn). Whenever we all go out dancing he likes to challenge us to improv limbo competitions because he always wins. He's crazy flexible! This was New Year's Night, which might explain why I was wearing my friends pink Hello Kitty scarf...

2004-12-26T13:50:00.000+08:00

Happy holidays from China!

2004-12-24T11:24:00.000+08:00

Well, I know this isn't the greatest of pictures, but it does have a Chinese Santa Claus in it, so I thought it was at least in the right spirit. Last night our department treated us to a lovely dinner at what is probably the nicest hotel in town (a room there per night costs half my monthly salary, and I get paid a lot by Chinese standards). It came complete with Santa, whose English actually wasn't that bad. Anyway, happy holidays to you all!

2004-12-21T14:26:00.000+08:00

Alright, this might be a touch dark, but here's another pic from my party--my friend Aaliyah and I dancing a Sevillana (a type of Flamenco) as a performance. It worked out okay, but our styles were a little different, so I think it looked a touch funny. That and I still can't hear the damn Sevillana rhythm!

2004-12-19T22:51:00.000+08:00

This pic is also from the party. It's me losing in musical chairs in the very last round. Actually it was better that way, it's never fun when the teacher wins. At least I got to be competative though. As for yesterday's post, sorry for the typos. I posted it at like four in the morning, so I wasn't exactly all pulled together. I'm actually a little surprised it had so few :o). Hope all is well!

2004-12-19T04:12:00.000+08:00

Okay, so I'm terribly behind with photos, but it has been becuase I have accidently left my camera at home during several good photo ops. This one, however, is one of my sophomore-level classes during a party that we had at the cafeteria of my foreigners's compound this evening. All in all, it was a good party, though I think I prefered the one I had with my freshman earlier this week--they went through two cases of beer and were fairly uninhibited, my sophomores went through only four bottles, one of which was given to a foreigner if I recall, and took some incouragement. But yay for fun times!

2004-12-12T11:05:00.000+08:00

He He. Well, it's Christmas time here in Kunming too, but sometimes the decorations just scare me, like this one. Hello, what is Santa up to? He looks like he's scared and screaming or something. That's one way to freak out little children though I guess.

2004-12-11T11:44:00.000+08:00

Much to my shock, surprise, and horror, I just realized that I have forgotten to post pictures for the last couple of days! Aaaah. My apologies for my forgetfulness, but I never promised that I would actually be able to keep up that pic a day. Anyway, this one is me hiding under a phoenix (in case it wasn't obvious). I was really having much to much fun that day with the pics...

2004-12-08T19:01:00.000+08:00

This is a pic of one of my favorite things to do at temples: drop money in fountains. But you see, in China they make it more interesting than the US, they usually put a bowl or something inside the fountain (actually it's usually a ceramic frog or a fish or something with an open mouth), and your wish will only come true if you get it inside. I'm actually rather skilled at it (who'd a thunk!), so since this bowl was so big I made it more interesting by dropping the coin from a story up. I still made it in 2 out of 3 times if I recall correctly. Cool, ay?

2004-12-07T23:16:00.000+08:00

This is actually a picture from a while ago, but since we did just go out karaokeing the other night, I thought it'd be appropriate to post now. Oh karaoke. I'm such a bad singer, but I absolutely love the stuff!

2004-12-06T13:45:00.000+08:00

You know, sometimes you just need corn. Luckily, in China there are people boiling and grilling it all over the place so it's a good snack...although it could use at least some flavouring! I stopped half way through with this corn just because it was soooo bland.

2004-12-05T16:12:00.000+08:00

Fly away! I love these brooms, and they have them all over China. Maybe this is where all the witches actually live anymore...

2004-12-04T12:54:00.000+08:00

'Cause every once in a while, it's just important to tango!

2004-12-04T04:36:00.000+08:00

This is a picture of the official first tastetest of Chesa's (the one on the left) creation of a kimchee and peanut butter sandwich. I have to admit that it was good stuff, really! Like it's something that I could eat for lunch. I guess I wouldn't recommend it for the faint of heart, but add some taro chips and I think we've got a best seller!

2004-12-02T16:11:00.000+08:00

And who ever said I didn't live on the wild side? :o)

Splitsville

2004-12-02T07:17:00.000+08:00

Now that it’s up and running, I wanted to let everybody know that I’ve decided to split my blog in two: from now on we have Fun Fotos for wHeNeVeR that will be taking the place of Fun Facts for wHeNeVeR at http://juntis.blogspot.com and Fun Facts for wHeNeVeR which has moved to my new server, http://www.knezzy.com/FunFacts/. Fun Fotos for wHeNeVeR will be getting the new daily photo posts, whereas Fun Facts for wHeNeVeR will be keeping the good old diatribes about nothing. You yourself can choose what interests you, and go from there! The main reason for the split is that I was tired of not being able to see my blog here in China (those silly censors…), so moving (blog)spots (sorry for the bad pun) seemed as though the easiest way to get around that. Of course, after the move I realized that the photos would work on the new server, blah, blah. But actually, I think it makes sense to split the two blogs up, as they really are quite different. Anyway, I hope you enjoy, and can find room for both in your favorites menu!! :o)

2004-12-01T16:30:00.000+08:00

Okay, I'm thinking this will be the last of the Stone Forest pictures (but you never know). Here we are feeding the fish. Well, here they are feeding the fish. Personally I had a traumatic episode feeding fish when I was little and find the sight of swarms of fish ready to attack a bit unnerving...

2004-11-30T14:48:00.000+08:00

Although you might not be able to see it, this is little old me, once again at the Stone Forest. Yay rocks!

2004-11-29T16:08:00.000+08:00

After walking all morning around the Stone Forest, the gang is pooped.

2004-11-28T21:33:00.000+08:00

It was this stunt that got people calling me "xiao houzi" (or little monkey) on the trip to the Stone Forest...at least I had fun up in the tree!

2004-11-27T16:34:00.000+08:00

Today we got up early to take the long ride out to the stone forest. It was my second time going there, although I haven't been in over 2 years. I must admit that I much prefer the finished highway that gets us there! Last time it was so bumpy it was all I could do not to get car sick. Anyway, this is a picture of me with my tutoree Yang YiFan. He also happens to be the son of my Chinese teacher with whose family we went to the stone forest in the first place. Yay rocks!

2004-11-26T23:23:00.000+08:00

Hi all. Well it was Thanksgiving again here in Kunming which meant more hours baking pumpkin pies! But it was all worth it for we went to the house of a friend who just retired to Kunming that was totally posh--especially for China. It is an 11th story penthouse with an amazing view and is quite well decorated. I must say that I was impressed. This picture is of my friend Salvador looking suave. In case you were wondering the things on his feet were chenille shoe covers so you wouldn't track dirt into the house. I think they also help dust/sweep the floor, but that's a different story. Does anybody else remember Pippy Longstockings cleaning the floor by putting brushes on her feet? Anyway, happy Thanksgiving (again) everybody!

2004-11-26T02:10:00.000+08:00

First I just want to wish everybody a happy Thanksgiving! I enjoyed myself with a large group of other Americans at a friend's house. And tomorrow it's Thanksgiving dinner Number 2, so there is certainly no lack of turkey or anything like that on this end. This is a picture of all of the sushi that I made for this evening's dinner in honor of the veggie sushi I made for T-day my sophomore year at Whitman. Memories! Now all I need to make Thanksgiving complete is watching the Kenneth Branaugh version of Hamlet and playing a drinking game to it...

2004-11-24T18:29:00.000+08:00

See below...

2004-11-24T18:28:00.000+08:00

For fun, today has two photos. The first is a picture of me with a friend up on Western Hill two years ago. One is a picture of me up on Western Hill two weekends ago (give or take). Notice any differences? :o)

2004-11-23T20:16:00.000+08:00

Today's Pic o' the Day comes from our nearby YuanTong Temple. I'm not exactly sure if this fish carving has a purpose other than looking cool, although it looks like it could be used to ring a large bell. Anyway, it looks cool, which is why I share it with you!

2004-11-22T14:07:00.000+08:00

Today's photo is a picture of a crazy vegetable that I found at a veggie market the other month. In Chinese it's called "dabao cai" (dah-bow tsai) or big tower vegetable. I've never seen it before in the US (or anywhere else for that matter) but it seems closely related to cauliflower!

2004-11-21T15:55:00.000+08:00

Since I've finally found a good way to post pictures to my blog, I thought I'd start a "photo of the day" sort of a section (although don't sue me if I don't actually post a new one every day!). So, in order to really kick my Fun Facts for wHeNeVeR Photo of the Day, I give you this picture of a dog wearing goggles. There was a vendor up at Western Hill (a touristy site on a hill west of Kunming...how'd you guess?) using it as a way to attract attention. Boy did that work!

Beyond Where the Sidewalk Ends

2004-11-21T15:44:00.000+08:00

With a little time on my hands, let me back the train up to: Reflective Point #2: Beyond Where the Sidewalk Ends.

On Monday and Thursday mornings I get up at 6:45AM so that I can be on a bus by 7:30AM in order to get to my 8:30AM class—it takes a while to go beyond where the sidewalk ends.

Actually, if we were being technical, it would be beyond where the road ends, but I figured an allusion to Silverstein is always appropriate. You see, on Mondays and Thursdays I teach Oral English to the first years at Yunnan University’s Yang Pu (pronounced yawng poo) campus (check out my Yang Pu photo album for pics). The Yang Pu campus is located about a 45-minute’s drive outside of Kunming in a suburb surprisingly enough called Yang Pu. Feeling a crunch for space in the middle of town, Yunnan University has recently decided to create an entirely new campus out in the middle-of-nowhere China that will eventually house all of the university’s undergraduate programs. Currently it’s where the first years and the Computer Science majors have been relegated to.

Although it’s a pain to get up quite so early to get out there in time (not to mention the fact that by the time I do actually arrive my coffee high has already worn off), I actually do enjoy teaching out there. Partially it’s because of the students—they’re all still naïve little first years (although they’re getting less and less so as the semester progresses), which means that they really listen to me and do what I tell them. They really are a contrast to my sophomores who are already somewhat jaded about this whole learning thing. I also think part of the reason I enjoy it is because of the campus itself. It’s brand new, which I do appreciate believe you me, but it’s more than that. The location of the campus is actually quite spectacular. From my classrooms I can see the hills surrounding Kunming as well as into downtown a bit (that’s assuming it’s not too smoggy). Actually, the thing that makes it quite surreal is the fact that the distance does always seem to be obscured by smog, and the sun rising through the morning mist really makes it feel like the campus is set on top of clouds.

I must admit though, that my favorite part of campus is a street that I’ve dubbed Memory Lane…I love making up English names for different places here, but that’s another story. Anyway, the Chinese teaching method strongly emphasizes rote memorization of most anything. That means that in the mornings before classes I see usually around 20-30 students lining that particular street reciting into memory their various dialogues for their classes. I should take a video of it just because it is so funny! It sounds something like: “I am a, I am a, I am a, I am a, se-tu-den-te. Stu-den-te. Stu-den-te. I am a stu-den-te.” And it just keeps going on like that. I do feel a bit guilty about this, but sometimes I just walk by and when I can’t understand a word that they’re saying even though it’s in English, I just laugh inside and try my hardest not to sit down with them and try to correct their pronunciation and whatnot. It’s just that it sounds so funny, and only makes me believe that memorization like that is not effective—it’s communicative language production that is important!

Of course, the students view it as somewhat of a gulag. They have to have passes to get on the buses to go back into the city during the week (otherwise there’s not enough room for all the teachers). Also, their internet access out there is SUPER slow. That’s something they’re going to have to fix if they ever expect to move everybody out to that campus. The students also aren’t allowed to drink on campus, which they’re not big fans of. On the other hand though, much like Whitman being in the middle of nowhere, it really does create a strong community there. Another side effect of the separation is that I’m one of three Westerners on the campus which makes me somewhat of a celebrity. I gave somewhat of an impromptu motivational speech about speaking English the other day for a club that invited me to speak there, and the day after when I had classes I had people recognize me and say hi in the cafeteria. China certainly is not the place to come if you don’t like being the center of attention! Luckily I’m full enough of myself that I don’t mind too much ;o).

2004-11-20T23:56:00.000+08:00

This is a photo of me eating a Kunming speciality GuoQiaoMiXian (aka Cross Bridge Rice Noodles). This is a raw egg that I'm pouring into a pot of very-hot almost-boiling broth. It's actually a fun meal since you just cook it right in front of yourself. It was especially good that night since it has been pretty cold here recently. Today the weather finally broke though so it was nice and sunny.

2004-11-20T23:51:00.000+08:00

Okay, I just found a new way to post pictures to my blog (which is why I'm suddenly doing it). Yay!

2004-11-20T23:47:00.000+08:00

Today we visited the YuanTong Temple not far from where we live. This is me with burning incense to the local god.

Back in Business

2004-11-20T23:24:00.000+08:00

Sorry to those few of you that noticed that my blog has been down recently. I've been having problems with the website that I use to edit my blog, which has been quite frustrating! But now, we're back in business, so enjoy!