connie's space

Whenever I do presentations on the Chinese church I belong to in Luzhou, people are astounded. The church’s two community service projects are one of a kind in China: The first is the Gospel Kindergarten (70 children taught by 7 Christian teachers), with most children attending belonging to church members.

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The second is the Gospel Hospital , located adjacent to the church.

From a Tiny Mustard Seed into a Far-reaching Tree

The hospital, founded in 2011 under the leadership of Pastor Liao, actually began as a small 2-room clinic. Here are the photos I took in 2007 when it first opened.

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But with a huge effort on the part of Pastor Liao, this small church-run clinic blossomed into a 3-story medical facility run by the church in cooperation with the local Luzhou government. Volunteer professionals (doctors and nurses) take care of patients in the 100-bed infirmary. There is a small surgery area, a rehabilitation room in the basement and an adjacent Western and Chinese medicine dispensary.

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Contrary to what many believe, healthcare in China is not free. Insurance can be received through companies, public and government jobs but that only covers a small percentage of the costs. Farmers from the countryside have very little insurance, and migrants have none. It is customary to pay upfront for any medical help given, which includes seeing the doctor, testing, all medical procedures, medicines, medical supplies (syringes, wheelchairs, crutches, canes), and rehabilitation facilities and therapists. If you do not have the money to pay before treatment, you are not taken care of.

But the Luzhou Gospel Hospital is different. It caters to the needs of the poor. With church funding, through grants and Christian donations, and also the provincial and local city government departments in charge of poverty alleviation efforts, money is used to provide what is needed to help others.

An Example of The Hospital’s Impact on The Poor

Just recently, a farming family I’ve visited often throughout the years was able to receive medical treatment for Grandma at the hospital.

Mrs. Chen’s mother, age 85, fell and broke her ankle. The family lives 2-hours from Luzhou, deep in the Sichuan countryside. To get to the city requires a 15 minute walk along rice field pathways, a 5-minute ferry ride (waiting 30 minutes to be taken across), a steep hike from the river into their small town (20-30 minutes), a wait for the public countryside bus to arrive (another 30-40 minutes), then a 40-minute ride along narrow, winding roads to reach the city of Luzhou. (See below the Chen and Che farm, including the journey needed to get to Luzhou. This is seen backwards, however: From their small town Tong Tan, 40 minutes by bus from Luzhou, to Mrs. Chen’s home.)

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While there are numerous public hospitals in the city of 5 million, none were affordable enough to examine Grandma, set the bone or keep her in a bed while she healed.

Mrs. Chen knew the Gospel Hospital might be able to help. Using a relative who lived in town, she was able to get her mom registered and apply for medical help through the government using her farmer’s status as proof of need. From what she told me on the phone a few weeks ago, she paid about $120 US through the standard government farm insurance policy and the church plus the Luzhou poverty alleviation bureau paid the remaining $780 US required for her full recovery. Mrs. Chen’s mom stayed in the hospital for 10 days, with her daughter sleeping in the bed beside her in the evenings. She was treated very well by the Christian community volunteers who came to make sure she was comfortable, had her meals served, changed her bedding, sponged her off, had clean clothes and received adequate exercise. She was also prayed over. Even though a majority of those in the hospital are not Christians, this is a practice by the volunteers. Their actions witness to others the meaning of Christianity by openly showing their commitment to their faith.

Everyone in Luzhou knows at the Gospel Hospital, you are not just another body in a sea of thousands receiving medical assistance. You are a person in need of compassion and help. You are a person of worth. You are a person who is loved and cared for. (Below: Mrs. Chen in the pink spent the evenings with her mom who is in the bed next to her. My other friend, Teacher Snow, in a wheelchair due to a debilitating stroke, visited the two. Her husband took the picture.)

Closing Off

Mrs. Chen and her mom are home now.  I heard her mom is still a bit wobbly but will be as well as she can be in the next few months.  

2021 marks the 10th anniversary of the hospital’s opening.  To commemorate this milestone, in another entry I’ll give a bit of the Luzhou Protestant Church history which will explain why Pastor Liao chose medical care as a service outreach to others.  

Until the next time, here’s wishing you Ping An (Peace) for your day.

 

 

The Communist Party of China will commemorate its 100th anniversary in July, as the country largely succeeds in containing the coronavirus and experiences a robust economic recovery.

It’s a little disappointing that I won’t be returning in time for this momentous occasion. There are numerous events planned until the end of 2021, most of those starting in July and ballooning onward until the year ends.

In Sichuan Province, which is where my city is located, I’ve just been asked to help our college students with an English language speech contest, the topic of which is in praise of the Communist party: “100 Years of Glory: The World Listens to Me.”

I do think it rather strange that the contest is in English, mostly because within the past 5 years, the Communist Party has not been a great fan of overseas’ influences on their young people. “Foreign” holidays that once were incorporated into culture classes in elementary and secondary schools were recently frowned upon as being unpatriotic and detrimental to China’s youth. Christmas, Halloween, and Thanksgiving were among those. The education bureau instead told teachers to concentrate on traditional Chinese celebrations. At the college level, such restrictions were never an issue since my students were considered adults but the younger generations were a different story.

Contest details, as explained to me

The contest is sponsored by Sichuan and Chongqing Provincial Library Society in cooperation with the Committee of Sichuan Provincial Higher Education. According to the competition’s website, the 3-minute speeches are to “focus on the great achievements made by the Communist Party of China in its 100th anniversary. The topics spoken are to promote the spirit of the Communist Party of China and convey China’s strength to the world. The activities will be carried online and on-site.”

April 1-20th, participants were to register and post their recordings online for preliminary rounds. Those who pass the first selection process will move on to a second round of eliminations before entering the finals in June. The June participants will be required to attend the live contest with the location and time yet to be determined.

From what I understand, the contest is open to anyone, not just college students. I know this is a daunting task for many English majors at my school, especially as we are a 3-year college (similar a junior college). We don’t have the high English standards required by a 4-year university. A majority of those in the English Department struggle to even put together a decent sentence.

My College’s English Association: “Let’s give it a try!”

The English Association, which is a club composed of 200 + students of all majors, is usually the one to host any language contest on my campus. School-sponsored contests, however, are very different than the one Bruce was advocating. That competition encompasses the entire province as well as Chongqing municipality. The competition will be extensive due to the wide range of individuals able to enter. Chonqing is a city of 31 million; Sichuan has a population of 81 million; Luzhou, the city of my school, is 5 million. Among the populations are university students from the best schools, business individuals whose overseas contacts heighten their needed English language skills, dedicated English hobby enthusiasts and language teachers whose daily use of English gives them a leg up in taking away such contest prizes.

Speaking of prizes, the ones being offered are quite substantial. Grand prize is 3,000 Yuan ($500), 3 1st prizes follow (1,000 yuan, $175), 5 second place prizes (500 yuan, $80) and other numerous honorable mentions at 100 yuan ($16) were listed in the announcements.

Giving my Expertise: The Before

Once again, it was Bruce (our school translation expert) who contacted me with a request for help. He sent me what a student had given him for entry, which I felt was a worthy and valiant effort.

“This book shows the strength and bravery of Comrade Wu Yunduo! I believe that every reader will be deeply moved by his hardworking and tenacious spirit. No matter what age or job we are, we must fight it. This book shows the growth of a soldier and the ideological development of a Party member. Give everything to the Party represents the true thought of a Party member who fought bloody battles. Give everything to the party, whether in war years or in peace times, represents the determination of every real member of Communist Party!“

And the After

The foundation was spot-on. This was a well-constructed, nicely laid out, strongly emotional speech. It was merely a matter of tidying up a few grammatical errors, pulling in a couple of more accurate word choices and nailing home an impassioned patriotic plea which would send it sailing into a national level competition category. Thus here is what I came up with:

​ This book shows the strength and bravery of Comrade Wu Yunduo.  I believe every reader will be deeply moved by his hardworking, tenacious spirit.  No matter what age we are or what job we have, we must strive to uphold the high ideals of Wu Yunduo.  This book reveals the evolution of a great soldier and the ideological development of a Party member.  His steadfast patriotism represents the true essence of a Party member, one who gives his everything, even while fighting in appalling, grisly battles. Wu Yunduo offers us an iconic model to follow:   Whether in war years or in peace time, giving your all must represent the determination of every real member of the Communist Party.  Let us follow in our hero’s footsteps and unite as one for the well-being of all!  

 The results:  Still yet to be revealed

The last I heard, the student had sent in her recording during the designated time period and passed the preliminaries.  The second round is to take place at the end May, which is coming up.  Cross your fingers  that she sails through to the finals, bringing glory and honor to our school.  One can always hope!

During this long wait to return to China, I’ve been in continuous contact with my students, friends, colleagues and others in Luzhou via WeChat, similar to our US Facebook. One of the highlights of my extended time here has been spending it with my mom. I’ve mentioned before her patience in joining me for numerous educational videos for my students, or helping me record fun sharing moments to make their day while we wait to re-unite.

I share the latest with you, a Mother’s Day greeting sent out last Sunday. I’ve already had many comments of surprise, delight and astonishment at how much we look alike, or how wonderful my mom looks for 87. (Yep! She certainly does!). Hope you enjoy it as well.

News of my China Return

I’m still waiting for my college’s invitation letter to be authorized by the local government in Luzhou. Every province in China has its own regulations concerning teachers coming back from overseas. Some are less strict than others, especially those teaching in the Tier 1 cities, such as Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou. Many of those teachers have already been allowed back to their schools and have been enjoying their teaching placements for the past year. Luzhou is a Tier 4 city, one that is about 5 million people, so it’s farther down on the list of opening up. Also, I work for a Chinese school, not an international school, so this also makes a huge difference in who can receive their visa and who can’t. International schools and well-known universities have a bit more influence with local government offices than my 3-year vocational college.

I have heard, however, that with our US Covid numbers under control and so many of us having received the vaccine, China is re-evaluating the restrictions. New measures will be put into place for us to register for a Vaccine Passport, with our certified vaccination records and test results uploaded onto a required phone health App. Once that takes place, we can apply for our visas and hopefully be accepted for entry into the country. We might still have that 2-3 week quarantine in the designated airport hotel but as long as we can finally be released into the public, I’ll be happy to oblige. Nothing has been fully explained yet but the rumor was this procedure will be rolling out from June to October.

So, folks, I might very well be on my way to start up the new semester in September or October! Cross your fingers and send lots of good thoughts my way.

In the meantime, I leave you this note: To all the mothers out there, or those who are like mothers to someone, here’s wishing you a belated Happy Mother’s Day.

“Ping!”

There it was, another heads-up notice that my WeChat message box was in need of checking.

Glancing down, I saw it was from Bruce, yet a twelfth time in the last 3 days.

“We have another translation needs your advice,” he wrote, using the plural “we” in reference to the school.

Oh, joy. Here we go again!

Recap

From the previous post, you know that I was asked for help from Bruce Lu, one of our English teachers who has been assigned by administrators as the school’s official translation expert. The former reported translation task was for a special Wall of Honor where student and teacher accomplishments would be displayed. For our college’s overseas partner representatives, whose visits will hopefully be resuming next year, the school officials are requesting all prominent Chinese signs around campus to have corresponding English translations.

After numerous back-and-forths between myself and Bruce, headings were finally agreed upon. The following were chosen with faculty and leader approval: Wall of Distinction; Student Honors; Faculty Honors and Student Work Display.

I was pleased that Bruce had felt my small offerings were do-able and acceptable, although it took us awhile to get to that point. I will say there was a huge sigh of relief on my part when Bruce took my suggestions and agreed with them. No more “back to the drawing board” for either of us. Whew!

New Request

This next ask was a bit more challenging, not to mention daunting.

Bruce was wanting the new school motto to be translated.

“We have different versions,” Bruce wrote. “Which do you like?”

He included the motto in Chinese ( 崇 德, 博学, 尚 俭, 笃行 ) and the English counterparts. His 3 choices were:

a). Morality, Erudition, Frugality and Action

b). Advocating morality and frugality , and Pursue erudition and action

c). Be moral, be erudite, be frugal, and be scrupulous

“Which do I like” he asked me? Hmmm. Well, none of them.

Numerous Hours Later

I am by no means a Chinese language scholar. Despite all my years in China, my language skills are limited to your average daily transactional use, not so much to academia. After several hours of consulting with Bruce, using various Internet translation tools, plugging into synonym mechanisms for better vocabulary choices, and re-arranging, re-thinking English structures to reach a better couplet format to match the Chinese, this is what I came up with:

1. Championing Morality and Prudence; Pursuing Knowledge and Diligence
2. Upholding Morality and Frugality; Pursuing Knowledge and Effort
3. Upholding High Principles through Prudence; Pursuing Knowledge through Effort
4. Achieving High Morals through Prudence; Pursuing Knowledge through Active Effort

Requesting Assistance

As of yesterday morning, I was still waiting to hear from several of my Chinese friends who are fluent in both English and Chinese, with the hope that they could add their 2-cents worth. After all, we’re talking about a world-wide audience here, not merely something contained to the campus.

This motto will be placed on letterheads and seen throughout the college’s website. It will hold a place of honor in campus buildings or be lettered on announcement boards. It will be printed on diplomas, embossed on faculty and student awards, and be featured on powerpoint presentations. It will be seen by English speaking scholars from other educational institutions who have a relationship with our school, and I can guarantee, despite others’ cultural tolerance, our college will be judged by what that motto says. Misspellings, odd word choices, grammatical errors . . .. The Chinese administrators want to present an impressive image, not just through the visual improvements of the campus but through a high standard of intellectual presence being portrayed as well.

Correct English translations are imperative to reach that holistic stately image goal.

The Finalized Head-nod

While I’d like to take credit for the final translation, which both Bruce and I are raving over, I must turn over that honor to Rev. Franklin Wu and his wife, Jean. Both worked many, many years in the China Program through the Presbyterian Church and were my orientation leaders and supervisors during my early years with Amity, 1991 – 94. Their dedication to their denomination, and to the China Amity Program, were a monumental blessing to all of us who went through their loving, tolerant and wise expertise when it came to us newbies living, working and engaging in our Chinese communities. I, and others, are eternally grateful for their guidance and advice given those many years ago.

While now retired, in their 90s, both are still very active in US church circles as Chinese-American scholars. Who better than Jean and Frank to add their two-cents worth to what Bruce and I were struggling with for several days?

Here is the note from Jean Wu, sent to me and forwarded on to Bruce:

Dear Connie,
Sorry for the delay in answering your emails!  These mottos are Confucian values and need much pondering!  The following are Frank’s translation:

崇德 – Embracing Virtue

博學 – Broadening Knowledge

尚儉 – Honoring Frugality

篤行 – Practicing Diligence 

If you do not like Frugality, how about Simplicity?
Frank likes the idea of adding “ing” to the verbs to make them more dynamic.  It is in the spirit of Confucius “The Great Learning” that said “止於至善，ending at the utmost goodness.”  In other words, it is a process that we keep working on, never stopping.
Take care! Jean

Bruce’s Pitch to the Administrators

Bruce and I both agreed “Simplicity” best met the needs of a foreigner’s understanding. Thus the Luzhou Vocational and Technical School’s motto will read as:

Embracing Virtue; Broadening Knowledge; Honoring Simplicity; Practicing Diligence

Below find my college’s website. Although in Chinese, there are so many pictures of our fairly new 5-year-old campus, including new additions since I was there over a year ago. Be looking for that motto to spring up in the next month or so. And know that Bruce and I had a hand in it all.

http://www.lzy.edu.cn

Here’s wishing you Peace ( 平安, Ping-An) for your day, everyone!

Being stuck in America for so long is hard, especially for me, a teacher who spent 27 years in China and now finds herself no longer in the classroom or in China due to Covid. (Yes, I’m still waiting for the ban to lift!)

At Luzhou Vocational and Technical College, as the only foreign teacher on the campus, I was always busy: creating fun, interactive lessons for my students, monitoring our English Language Resource Center, hosting English Corner activities, organizing holiday events with the English Association members, arranging extra lessons for those who were struggling in my classes, working with students for language competitions, judging our yearly school contests (English speech, drama and singing contest), participating in faculty events and adding my expertise concerning language questions my colleagues had.

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While I’m not physically present, I still have the ability to connect and give advice through WeChat, China’s equivalent of Facebook. Every day, my phone is constantly dinging with messages from Luzhou, either from the church choir members, or my students, colleagues and friends. My favorite phrase is: “Connie, can you help me?”

Yeah!! I can once again be useful!

A Message from “Bruce” Lu

“Bruce” Lu is one of our English department’s better vocabulary experts.  While his teaching skills need some adjusting, his language ability is quite impressive.  He graduated with an English translation degree, which spurred the administrators to put him in charge of translating all campus Chinese signs into English.  Three years ago, when we moved to the new campus, Bruce and I worked together to make sure the Chinese had appropriate English counterpart translations.  Such placards on doors (such as President’s Office, Vice-President’s Office, Office of Finances) or important signage (Handicapped Facilities, Cafeteria, Sports Field), made our campus look quite impressive for our overseas partner school reps who came to tour the college.

Of course, there were always a few that escaped my eye when Bruce felt he had it translated correctly and didn’t consult with me.  We still have a couple questionable ones spread throughout our classroom buildings, such as  “Teacher Resting Room” (a direct translation of 教师休息室).   A better fit would be “Faculty Work Room.”   My all-time favorite, however, is the one door that is announced as  “The Secret Room.”   I’ve forgotten what the Chinese was but I do remember that door was always locked, which I guess would definitely make it a “secret room” since none of us were privy to what was inside.

Moving on, Bruce’s message this morning began as follows:

“Connie, I need your help. How to translate ‘荣誉墙, 学生风采, 老师风采, 学生作品欣赏.’ The first phrase is  a wall to display the awards our teachers and students got.  We mean to display the excellent students and teachers, put their photos on the wall.  The photos are mainly about their participation in all kinds of contests and activities. The original translation are as follows:  Wall of Honor, Student Charm, Teachers Presence and Students Work Display. How do you think?”

He next included his computer skills at work, the below which will be posted on the school’s website with a printed version displayed on a campus billboard along our walkways or inside one of the buildings. (Notice my photo in there as well, when I received Sichuan Province’s highest honor for foreigners, The Jin Ding Award, in 2008.)

A Cooperative Effort

All morning, my mom and I have been discussing how to convey the meaning of the Chinese without using the direct translation, which sounds a little off. This is what happens when you directly plug Chinese characters into translation Apps or websites. You often get something that makes little or no sense, plus doesn’t convey the meaning of what’s needed.

So here’s what my mom and I came up with:

1. Celebration of Excellence; Wall of Distinction
2. Faculty Honors
3. Student Honors
4. Student Extracurricular Activities; Student Activities

Next Step

It’s 2 a.m. in China so Bruce won’t be checking his messages until China’s Sunday morning. My guess is that he’ll most likely “but” me on several of these, insisting that the translation doesn’t fit the meaning of what he wants. Bruce does have a tendency to get his back up when it comes to advice: He asks for it sincerely but when it comes down to it, he sometimes goes rogue and ignores my sound suggestions.

We’ll see what he comes up with. When I return, I might very well be walking by my “Wall of Distinction” only to find it touting something else, right alongside that mysterious, enigmatic Secret Room.

When it comes to Bruce, one never knows.

It seems appropriate, as Easter is upon us, that I add this entry from my grandfather’s WW 2 diaries, written in the jungles of New Guinea during the height of the war. The date was April 9, 1944. There were numerous Protestant chaplains, rabbis and Catholic priests within the religious ranks of the service . My grandfather worked with those assigned to his battalion, which could at times cause some confusion as to who was doing what and when.

April 9, 1944 (From the diaries of Chaplain Marvin E. Maris

Easter: 1. A.M. worship service; 83rd QM at Base A – 40 present. 2. P.M. worship service at 4th Depot Chapel with Chaplain Walters McCracken – attended 30.

The Base chaplain and the Depot chaplains had the Easter services in an awful muddle between them. On instant notice, I was called to take the service with the 83rd Quarter Master and last night, I didn’t know whether the Depot chaplain would be there or not, (I) prepared the whole service only to find him there with one which he had planned. It was embarrassing to him as he had not made it clear to me as to just what I was to do. But he didn’t need to speak of the mix-up in the service and tell all the soldiers about it! The chaplain should have its little secrets when administration is concerned.

My Personal Easter Additions from Illinois: April 4, 2021

Today’s Easter services at Marshall First UMC were definitely nothing like that of Marvin’s 75 years ago, or of last year’s where we had no open worship at all. With our bishop announcing higher numbers accepted in the sanctuary, our Easter saw quite a few in the pews for both services.

We did have a connect with my grandfather who was definitely remembered in today’s services. My mother added an “in memory of/ in honor of” potted lily for her parents, Marvin and Connie, as well as my dad, Bill. Our two were among the other 60 plants, including daffodils, tulips and hyacinths, which added so much to the beauty of the church.

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Our Choir Returns

After a full year of no choir, we choir members finally were able to add our voices to the service for both Palm Sunday and today, Easter Sunday. If you are interested in hearing us on Facebook, I add it here. My mom and I are in the front, with me on the right and my mom on the left. If you want to fast-forward to the choir numbers, be looking for four anthems for each.

Palm Sunday

https://fb.watch/4FPlYyQCDB/

Easter Sunday

https://fb.watch/4FO89RhZVe/

Before Closing:  A bit of Worship Anxiety

I will share that the above Easter live-stream recording had me in a panic due to my cell phone.  I have the habit of bringing my phone with me everywhere I go to take pictures and immediately post for my Chinese friends to enjoy.  This includes the Luzhou choir members. These entries I place in my WeChat moments.  “Moments” are short blogs, which include pictures and short write-ups of what is happening.  My Moments are known to get many hits since I have so many Chinese followers.

This morning, I couldn’t help myself but immediately post my church photos and my write-up in between our services.  I left my phone tucked under the pulpit, in front of me, and forgot to turn it off for that second service.  Since the time difference was 14 hours ahead of Illinois time, I figured no one would be up so late at midnight or 1 a.m. to even bother looking at my Easter news offerings.

Wrong!

As Pastor Bob began his message at 10:45 a.m., my phone continued to buzz over and over and over again as choir members, friends and my students began commenting on what I had posted.  It was too conspicuous for me to reach for the phone, two feet  away, to turn it off so I had to just pray that it couldn’t be heard over Pastor Bob’s sermon.

How many remarks and comments was I getting? A lot!

When worship finally did end, I was able to check and see that 21 messages (meaning 21 “Zzz!”s) were waiting for me, including a large number from my Chinese choir members who exclaimed, “Christ is Risen!”, “Hallelujah!”, “Happy Easter!” and my all-time favorite, which was:  “Hurry home, Sister Connie.  We miss you.”

What a lovely feeling, to know even if I’m physically absent, I’m  still in everyone’s thoughts.  Let’s hope that next year at this time, I’ll be back in China, leading Easter egg hunts and egg coloring sessions  with my students, and singing joyfully along with my Chinese church choir.  

Hurry home, indeed.

On Easter Sunday, here’s wishing you 平安 (ping an, peace) for your day.

哈利路亚！(Hallelujah!)

Luzhou Vocational and Technical College Begins a New Semester

The semester has begun in China without me.  

The new president of the English Association (our campus-wide English Club) has been in contact with me already about most recent club members who signed up for the Spring 2021 term.  Her name is Anna and she asked me to create a video for her to show at their “Welcome” meeting, which introduces newcomers to what the club does .  My mom participated by helping me record an upbeat message of warmth and fun. We ended with a song, me holding rescue Bridget in my arms, and wishing everyone good luck in their studies.

Anna also asked for past photos of English Association activities during the last few years. I had to dig a bit on my computer but I found about 40 visuals of different events held throughout the years: Mooncake Festival, Halloween, Christmas, Easter, English Corner and English Center gatherings and the Drama Contest.  

She will put together a slideshow of these to present during that opening meeting so others will see what the Association has done in the past and, hopefully, will arrange for the next few months. 

During our WeChat texts, I shared with Anna my worries concerning the English Language Resource Center being closed all this time. I think the last to use it on a regular basis was me, over a year ago, when several of the Association members and I tidied up the room before leaving for the holidays.

Anna assured me she planned to gather a group together to clean the room and make sure it is open 3 times a week so students could use it.  If I were there, I would have already arranged the volunteers to help with that. Anna seemed very keen to get that started up again so we will be working together to see it’s taken care of, even though I am halfway around the world.

One does have to praise technology on these occasions. How very grateful I am that we can keep in touch so quickly and easily through our cell phones.

Updates of Foreigners Returning

On March 15, new policies went into effect in China regarding those of us stuck overseas, hoping to return.  

Chinese nationals and their families, plus other special interest individuals, can now re-enter the country with the Chinese vaccine having been given. Either certified proof of the full 2 doses is required or a single dose shot is needed, taken 14 days prior to applying for the authorized visa.

Further notice was given that China’s foreign minister Wang Yi has announced that “the country plans to issue international electronic health certificates and implement mutual recognition of other countries’ nucleic acid testing and inoculation, to allow “a healthy, safe, and regulated new order for cross-border exchanges of people.” 

There was no date on when that will be instigated but I am hoping it will be this summer so that I can return in August to get ready for my college’s Fall semester.

My school checks often with the local city government officials so when the above goes into effect, my invitation letter can then be authorized, sent to me and I can begin the visa process from this end at the China consulate.  It’s a step forward, not backward, so that’s always good news.

My Global Ministries’ Position

As a Mission Advocate for the North Central Jurisdiction, I’ve been very busy these past months meeting many wonderful mission groups and church individuals from across the country, all through the wonders of Zoom.

The best hours spent have been attending virtual mission trips. Since Covid has grounded so many volunteers in mission (VIM), we are meeting in a virtual environment.

These are quite wonderful. If you’re interested, go to umvim.org (United Methodist Volunteers in Mission) and sign up. You don’t have to belong to the Methodist church to attend. We’ve had several who are from other denominations yet heard that the Methodists had these trips offered so they joined us.  I signed up for the Congo in April.  

If you’re wondering, these “trips” are taken over a period of a few hours or several days, depending on what kind of format is used. You get to Zoom with others across the States and those in the country where the journey takes place. You’ll learn about the the mission project highlighted, meet the people involved, plus be able to interact with others by asking questions, sharing opinions and learning something new. You’ll feel as if you really have gone somewhere, even though you’re sitting right in the comfort of your own living room.

 And it’s all for free!! Why not try it and join in? Look for me!!

And on that last note, as always, here’s wishing you 平安 (Ping An, Peace) for your weekend.

Every time the phone rings on my mom’s landline, my eyes have been immediately searching out the digital read-out of the caller: First United Methodist (church secretary wanting to relay something), BSW Law (my brother’s law practice, probably brother Paul calling about my taxes), Ashmore Furniture (my mom’s book shelves delivery).

Daytime calls are never a concern but when they come late at night, there’s always a worry that a relative has some dire news to report.

So when the phone rang at 8:10 p.m. last Monday, my mom and I thought the worst. That is, until I saw where it came from: “Clark County Health Dep.”

Finally!! At the age of 56, it was now going to be my turn for the Covid vaccine.

“I’m calling for Cornelia Wieck,” my caller said. “Can you come in for your vaccine tomorrow at 11:15?”

Absolutely yes, yes and, yet again, yes!

Being vaccinated meant several things, but among the most important for me was to bring me one step closer to that China return. Although my city, Luzhou, still is not authorizing invitation letters for returning foreigners, I am fairly certain that once that ban lifts, vaccination will be a must. Having mine started in March and finishing in April will certainly speed up my visa processing once all the papers are in order.

A Well-Oiled Vaccination Machine in Clark County

I had already experienced the process of vaccination for our area after driving my mom for her first vaccination on March 18. It was a family affair: Me behind the wheel, mom in the passenger seat and little Bridget, our China rescue, perched on the armrest.

We drove the 20 minutes required along Route 40, across a wintry, prairie-flat landscape dusted with snow. We whizzed by huge hawks clutching to woodsy bare trees with bluejays and cardinals flitting about among the tall grasses lining the highway. After a 20-minute drive, we turned into Bolin Enterprises, a construction company who graciously allowed their warehouse garage area to be used as a vaccination center.

My mom’s appointment was for 11:30. We were in a line of 4 cars ahead of us, with checkpoint stations along the way for checking names and IDs, handing out forms to complete, directing us to move forward, and eventually entering into the nursing station for her shot. She received her vaccination card with instructional sheets on what to expect for the next few hours and days. No one exited the vehicle and we were told to wait 15 minutes in the parking lot area in case of side effects.

“Honk your horn if you feel anything strange and we’ll be right out to take care of you,” the nurse told my mom.

As it turned out, our parking lot wait was uneventful. Even Bridget was bored. She lay down full length on the armrest, her head resting on her crossed paws, and went to sleep.

My Turn

And now, here it was my turn!  

Knowing my Chinese students, friends and colleagues would have great interest in the vaccination procedure in my small-town area, I took my phone along to record the entire process.  I later posted in my WeChat moments for everyone to share in my joy and marvel at the well-oiled vaccination machine of the Clark County Health Department.  

Here it is below, for your viewing pleasure.  Wishing you Ping An (Peace) for your weekend!  

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The Lantern Festival is a Chinese festival celebrated on the fifteenth day of the first month in the Chinese lunar calendar. Usually falling in February or early March on the Gregorian calendar, it marks the final day of the traditional Chinese New Year celebrations.

The 2021 Lantern Festival was February 26. After 15 days of holiday time, Chinese were ready to get back to work. Millions of migrant workers finally returned to their work places, some arriving at the latest last weekend. Schools opened March 1. Luzhou Vocational and Technical College was no exception. I’ve already heard the first weeks of school are going very well, with no quarantine necessary but a Covid test was required for everyone coming back from their holiday travels. Virus cases are virtually nil in China. To make sure the no-Covid climate remained throughout the Chinese New Year, the government put strict rules in place to dissuade citizens from traveling. It certainly worked. A majority stayed at home, not even visiting relatives in nearby cities. Tourist travel to scenic spots was lower than usual and overseas travel was basically completely restricted.

Touring in China

When I first taught in China in 1991, more and more middle class adults, with fairly steady incomes, were participating in the newly created tourism industry for the Chinese. Before then, it had mostly been foreigners and the very wealthy Chinese who traveled extensively on such tours. They often endured what were considered primitive conditions: hotels with minimal heat or air-conditioning, ratty rooms, squat toilets or no toilets at all at tourist destinations, unsanitary meals which caused stomach problems, no facilities for physically challenged individuals and uncomfortable travel conditions.

But in today’s China, for both locals and foreigners, 5 Star service by touring companies is expected and (for the most part) never an issue. Tourists are treated like kings and queens, with tour guides bending over backwards to make everyone’s experience special and unique.

Spring Festival (i.e., Chinese New Year), with millions on vacation, has become China’s tourism industry’s greatest money-maker. At least, it has in the past. Yet for the past 2 Spring Festivals, Covid has dampened people’s desire, ability, and carefree spirit to spend their money traveling.

A Tourguide’s Lament

My former student, Jason, who is a tour guide for both foreigners and the Chinese, has lost his job.

His speciality trips were taking large groups of Chinese to Sri Lanka and Bali. He also led private 2 to 3-day tours for Americans, Brits and others to the Chengdu’s outer-lying world- renowned sites. (Chengdu, where Jason lives, is the capital city of Sichuan.) Due to his excellent English skills and ability to adapt to, organize and coddle his diverse clientele, Jason was a highly popular tour guide among numerous touring agencies. He’d be called at the last minute and farmed out to lead different tour groups which needed a fairly fluent English speaker.

That was Jason.

He even toured me to Dujiangyan, a city famous for the first ancient irrigation system built in the world. Here we are on that visit, in 2008.

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But a text message from Jason, received last week, revealed his current frustration. Like me, he is stuck in a situation where Covid has turned his world upside down. Without the trips to Sri Lanka and Bali, and without the foreigner tourists in country, he’s been out of a job. His tourism company has scaled back to only a few called in for in-country tours. Being the main breadwinner for his family (farming parents, unemployed sister and her husband plus the couple’s daughter), there has been a desperate need for an income.

Jason’s Tourguide Wisdom Makes Him a Marketable Employee

From Jason’s past stories, I could tell he was an excellent tour guide. His ability to deal with various situations, and numerous personalities, surely would serve him well in any employment, especially one dealing with the public.

How do I know this? Because of all Jason’s tourguide stories which he’d shared with me over the years.

Here are a few.

Dealing with the Culturally Insensitive

Jason’s early experiences as a tour guide were quite challenging, one being the Sri Lankan tour he led for the first time. One of the older women, traveling with her daughter, had nothing but complaints: The food was terrible. (At every meal: “I want Sichuan laojiao (spicy pepper) sauce. How can they not have that?!”). The items were too expensive (She would bargain with great disdain, trying to get rock-bottom prices from the poorest Sri Lankan roadside seller and would often accuse the person of cheating her when actually, it was a reasonable ask. She’d haughtily walk away after a long altercation, not purchasing anything at all. ) The hotel rooms always had something amiss: the floor wasn’t clean, the bedding was sparse, the toilet was a Western style (she wanted the Asian squat toilet), service was slow. (These were top-notch, 5-star hotels that catered to tour groups and whose rooms were quite impressive and nothing to sneer at.) She’d argue with Jason about what was next on the featured daily agenda, saying she was tired and wanted to go back to the hotel. (Impossible to do without everyone else having to go along as well.)

Jason, at every disdainful remark, politely responded with patience and kindness. But it all came to a head on the tourbus when the woman went too far in one of her harping comments, aimed directly at Jason. Others on the bus came to his defense after he pointed out to the woman that her words were insensitive, he’d been doing his best to introduce her to this new culture and yet, she refused to be open to new experiences but was making her Chinese race look bad.

The daughter backed him up, chastising her mom for her behavior.

There was dead silence on the bus as the woman sat fuming. However, that did keep her somewhat in check for the rest of the tour.

Jason later told me he had several take-aways from this experience as a novice tour guide. First was to prepare Chinese beforehand for a new experience, reminding them how they might appear to those of another culture if they act rather arrogantly or without tolerance. Another was not to wait too long to call attention to bad behavior from one in his touring group. Do so in a quiet, polite, understanding way but be sure to nip it in the bud before it ruins the tour for everyone and aggravates them to the point of attacking the ill-behaved person. And, lastly, bring several jars of Sichuan laojiao sauce (or know where it can be purchased in Sri Lanka) to pass around at the dinner table. Even the most well-traveled, tolerant, adaptable Chinese have an issue with what they consider bland food. A happy stomach makes a happy tourist. Jason commented that bringing what appears to be an inconsequential item, in this case being a hot pepper condiment, actually was what could make or break a tour to a foreign country for his fellow Sichuanese.

Beware International Airports: The Call of the Sirens

Another lesson learned during his novice days of overseas tourism had to deal with the enticement of airports.

On his first guided tour to Bali, the airline routed them through Hong Kong. Instead of a direct flight from Chengdu to Bali, they were to change planes at Hong Kong’s International Airport before going onward to the island nation. Little did Jason know that walking a tour group through a prestigious airport, passing shop after shop of dazzlingly displayed international products not readily available on the China Mainland, could become a danger zone. Despite his reminder to stay together, follow his waving bright red tourism flag and don’t stray from the main thoroughfare, he began to lose members as they slipped away “just for second” to buy that special something for Granny Wu or Mother Ji or Uncle Li. By the time he confidently hustled everyone to the boarding area and began his head-count, he realized there were 4 missing. He had no idea where they’d gone off to. In a panic, after having the 4 paged on the loudspeaker, he left the others in the waiting area while he back-tracked to find the ones that had gone missing.

When he did find them, they were still standing in line to purchase their goods. He was lucky they had stayed together to support one another or he’d have really been in a bind.

Jason hurried them along, hustling them onward and getting them on the plane with just a few minutes to spare before take-off.

Since then, Jason is quick to sternly warn his tour members that if they wander from the pack while walking through any airport, he is not responsible for finding them. If they miss the flight, they’re on their own, end of story.

In my words: You follow the Call of the Siren (in this above case the irresistible Siren being the HK airport’s international merchandise), you suffer the consequences.

Jason’s Current Situation

I’m sure Jason is eager to return to his former life, much as I am. Here is our most recent WeChat messaging below:

Jason: I hope the world will be back to normal soon. It has already caused great damage. I lost my job as a guide and now I find another job. It’s kind of Internet technology. My job is the promotion of an App.

Connie: Some of my students did that for a part-time job in the summer. Not as fun as touring.

Jason: That’s true. And less income. But, well, that’s the best situation I can have now. As long as I can survive, there is always hope.

Ah, words of wisdom, Jason. Words of wisdom.

From small town Marshall, Illinois, here’s wishing you 平安 (Ping An, Peace) for your weekend.