funerals

Last week near my house there was a very loud and ostentatious funeral. I asked some questions about funerals, and this is what I found:

A funeral for someone who has died in the area of Hunan, China where I live has many parts, all related to the folk religion beliefs that adherents hold. A passerby knows that a funeral is being held because the family of the dead person erects a tent for people to come and show their respect to the dead person’s family.

The first step of the commemoration process is called “song zhong”. This involves gathering the descendants of the dead person together to meet together. The dead person reveals his/her wishes to the descendants. If the descendants carry out the wishes of the dead person, they are insured a good fortune in the future. This step exemplifies a key aspect of Chinese culture- that of honoring the ancestors and “giving face” to the family.

The second step of the funeral process involves setting off fireworks to alert the neighbors and friends that someone has died. This is called “baosan”, or letting others know that they need to come to the funeral ceremony. During this stage, the family members of the dead person wear white, and wear an off-white piece of thick gauze around their head, in honor of the dead person. At this time family members are expected to cry, having not cried during the days leading up to their ancestor’s death. When visitors come by the tent to pay respects to the family, the family members bow and say “thank you” to the people for coming to honor the dead person.

Third, the body is put in a box to be buried. The dead person’s head is shaved, body washed, and “shou yi”, special clothing, adorned. The body is put in the box within 24 hours of dying, arranged for people to look at.

Fourth, family members begin the “geguan”, or discussion about the day they will go to the mountain to bury the box.

The fifth step in the process is “diao yan”, which is more of people showing their respect to the dead person.

The sixth step is the “jie san”. Three days after a person has died, his soul goes to the afterworld. Family members invite monks to come and read from the “Jing wen”, which is the Buddhists’ holy book. The words that are said are meant to comfort the soul and allow it to go to heaven instead of staying on the earth.

Finally, there is “chu bing”, when the box is taken to the mountain and put into the ground. There are more fireworks at this stage, alerting the people on the streets to what is taking place.

For the next three years, the family observes “ju sam”, which is a peaceful and respectful time acknowledging that someone has died. (In ancient times, the son would stay at home for three years to show his respect.) Thus concludes the funeral process for the dead person.

Interesting, huh?

Team Hengyang Scavenger Hunt

This year, we have 2 new teachers and 5 returning teachers on our team. So far, the enthusiasm and cooperation levels on the team are high. Last week we did 5 days of team building, plus a morning of lesson planning, as an intro to our year in Hengyang. One of the days, we did a Scavenger Hunt of things around town. The old teachers enjoyed showing the new teachers around, and I think everyone learned a lot. Here are some pictures of our day together.

apology

This post is meant to serve as an apology to my very sparce blog entries. As an explanation, when i finally have time to sit down and write an entry, i simply can't think of anything to write about! Part of my problem is that i don't know exactly who i'm writing to, and don't really know what types of things my reader would enjoy reading about. sometimes i read my friends' blogs and enjoy them immensely. This should encourage my writing, but somehow it doesn't. anyway, my apologies for not writing very much. Maybe that will change this year, and maybe it won't. Suggestions for topics would be welcome anytime, however. Please enjoy the pictures i just posted on Facebook of Team the Hengyang Scavenger Hunt.

late night ponderings

Every now and then, I lay awake at night and think about the important people in my life. I wonder if my life seems worthwhile to them, and what they think about the choices i have made. Last night after one such quandry, i realized that my focus had shifted from how it should be. The only One worth pleasing is already pleased with me, i was relieved to remember. Then I remembered 1 Cor 9:24, and reflected, am I "running in such a way as to get the prize"? At the end of my life I want to hear my heavenly Father say, "Well done, good and faithful servant." Am I making use of the resources He has given me in a way that makes Him proud? I sure hope so- His opinion of how I make choices is becoming increasingly important to me. That's why I need Your help in making them, Abba!

6 weeks left

I am notorious for counting down till major, or minor, events. Now we have 6 more weeks till exams are over, and i've already begun reflecting on the semester. Part of the reason the semester has gone by so fast is the fact that Mom, Jim, and McDowell came for a visit a few weeks ago. It was a good visit: We packed in Hong Kong, Hengyang, Yangshuo, and Macau all into 8 days. We took planes, trains, automobiles, and even boats. I THINK my family liked China, for the most part, but you'd have to ask them for their genuine response. I planned for them to be in Hengyang only 1 day, which turned out to be enough because of the lack of English spoken in the shops. Jim expressed his frustration at not even being able to communicate with the shopkeeper enough to be able to buy a drink. I suppose not being able to communicate does present its problems, which is why we quickly moved on to Yangshuo and Hong Kong, where most everyone can speak at least a little English. Yangshuo was beautiful, and we enjoyed a delightful bike ride in the countryside with mountain terrain views. We also took the boat ride down the Li River, which was gorgeous, too. Our last day together was in Macau, where we hiked to the highest point in the city, went to the (fascinating) History Museum, and yes we did stroll through the Lisboa and Wynn casinos. Good trip.
So now our students are watching The Blind Side and putting together skits for class this week. Among others, I know that one of the highlights of these final few weeks of the semester will be spending time with Tina, one of my more outspoken freshmen, and another sister, who is very enthusiastic about influencing Tina. The three of us have studied together once so far, and will continue to do so weekly. I just love our time together.
I hope I can put less energy into counting down and more energy into making the most of these final weeks!

Don't sing when it's that time of the month.

I got a funny email from my friend Brooke, who lives in Beijing, the other day. She wrote the following story about a conversation she had with her Chinese friend:

"I made tacos and it was the first time she'd eaten anything like that. When she realized we weren't going to cook the lettuce and vegetables, she told me she was having her period, so she couldn't eat cold food. I hadn't heard of that before, so thus began a discussion about our cultures' period dos and don'ts. We microwaved her taco, so she wouldn't mess up her body's balance with cold food. She also needed hot water, which is common for most Chinese people. I told her my mother always puts ice in her water and she said, "Even during her period?" and I said yes. "Really? And she's okay?" Yes again! (you're okay, right, Mom? : ) ). My friend brought some jiaozi (like potstickers) for us to eat too and we each ate a whole, raw clove of garlic with it for our women's health.

Later, we were reading the Book and she showed me that she brought her Chinese fellowship song book. I couldn't read the Chinese, and I asked her to sing one for me. She furrowed her brows and whispered, "Do you think I'll be okay?" "What?" , I asked. "Women are never supposed to sing when they have their period.", she said, "That's not the same in America either?" "Nope!," I said, "I sing all the time!" Apparently, it's really bad for your throat to sing while on your period. Her teachers all throughout school always told her that. After we discussed other things (mostly involving staying warm during your period), she said, "So, American women just do whatever they want during that time of the month?" "Basically", I said. I wasn't sure whether to be proud of our freedoms or ashamed that we apparently take such poor care of our fragile bodies. All this is to say, we didn't sing tonight. : )

As she got ready to leave, I told her I'd make spaghetti for her next week. Then I remembered she once told me she doesn't like tomatoes. So, I said I wouldn't make it after all. She said, "Oh! I like to-may-toes. I don't like to-mah-toes." Seriously, ladies, I had the humorous privilege of saying...."To-may-to, to-mah-to. They're the same thing." (like the song...let's call the whole thing off!)."

As my mother pointed out, Brooke's friend is probably telling all of her Chinese friends how weird we are, too!

Tomb Sweeping Festival

Today is Tomb Sweeping Festival in China. That means that families go to their ancestors' graves and honor them by giving food, burning candles, and burning paper money. My students also say that they pray to the ancestors for good luck and good grades. It's a little like the Day of the Dead in Mexico, according to my mother, except in Mexico there's also music and dancing. Isn't it ironic that while Mainlanders celebrate Tomb Sweeping Festival today (we get Monday off), people in Hong Kong get a 5 day holiday for Easter! Two TOTALLY different faiths, operating in the same country next to each other. Oh, that more people in all places would know the resurrection power of Jesus...